No More Cowbell

So tonight looks like being the first Thursday for a long time that Britain hasn’t stood on the doorstep clapping, beating pots and pans and cheering for the NHS and all the other essential workers who are keeping us safe and caring for us, often with a huge risk to their own lives and well-being.

Odd feelings about this.

First, it leaves a big emotional hole in our social connections – for many of us, Clap for Carers was one of the few times we felt physically and visibly in the world again. Despite the loosening of lockdown regulations, it still had that power to demonstrate connection, that essential feature of being the Super Social Ape

Second, it highlights how much we appreciate that feeling of solidarity. Of fellowship, of all being in it together and safer as a result of just doing something like this.

(I knew for some readers, “solidarity” is a highly charged word, reminiscent of student protests and train strikes, but Clap for Carers gave many of us the feeling of being part of something bigger, part of something that has its values on the right way up).

Third, it shows how deep the need runs in us (and amongst us) for heroes and champions – people who we can believe in.

People who protect us and have our interest at heart. People who have skills and capabilities that we lack. People who have the balls to go where we can’t. People like the amazing Health Care Professionals who are moving towards the danger. People like my brilliant Brother-in-law, Paul. People who have our back.

We are a social species – we depend on each other – often others we’ve never met – to keep each other safe. Coming together in support of them is good for them and good for us, too.

Finally, it shows how quickly and willingly we adapt ourselves to rites and rituals and how much they help us shape our individual and social worlds. It’s all too easy if you view psychology as the best lens on human behaviour to underestimate how important these cultural artefacts our in our lives, both emotionally and practically. When in doubt, we do this round here. Doing it is reassuring, it’s comforting and it’s also defiant – this is us getting the wagons in a circle.

I’ll be listening and watching at the top of the hour. And thinking of you all.

And fiddling with the cowbell.

Stay safe.