As all readers in the UK will know only too well, the snow has brought large swathes of the country to a halt over the last few days and there’s no doubt that we are less than well equipped to cope in such extreme conditions. That’s hardly a surprise because this rarely happens here anymore and it’s been a long time since we saw such a sustained cold snap. Because it’s so unusual I’ve been thinking about how our behaviour is being affected and have noticed some definite patterns.
I’ve seen several examples of people showing real kindness and community spirit to help fellow citizens over the past few weeks. Now, I know this is happens throughout the year, but not on this scale. Whether it’s people stopping in the street to help drivers to move cars that are snowed in or helping the elderly to walk on the icy streets, it seems like the season of good will has been extended by nature this year.
I think that this is a reminder to us all that however sophisticated we have become as a species and however advanced our technology, we are still just animals when we face the extreme side of nature. Those elsewhere who have survived earthquakes, tsunamis or hurricanes will know this well, but in Britain these things happen rarely and it’s easy to forget how fragile our existence can be. When we are reminded of this fact it brings out the tribal side of our nature – that deep seated evolutionary behaviour that drives us to protect ourselves and our own when we are threatened by other aspects of nature.
I think that’s what we’re seeing this week – a massive collective re-prioritising. That meeting you need to travel to; getting the kids to school; making it to church; doing the weekly shop no longer seem so important. Without overstating it, in subtle ways our focus has shifted to concentrating on survival – our own and that of others around us. The upshot is a surge in community spirit and more positive feelings towards those we come across day-to-day. Sure, the weather can be inconvenient (unless you’re a child) but it’s also humbling and provides a useful reminder that we can’t control everything in this world no matter how clever we think we are as a species.
It’s nice to hear someone present an upside to inclement weather! I think that we do need to be shaken up a bit every now and then so that we do remember that we are all part of one human family