Tribes

“The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself.”

Friedrich Nietzsche quotes

This weekend we enjoyed a trip with our Tribe, The Z Car Association of Richmond. Four cars and six members traveled to The Hampton Roads Regatta.  Fast cars and fast boats seem to be of the same ilk. And for our club members who enjoy beautiful,  high performance vehicles, the boat race was a trip we all loved.

The outing made me think of Tribes, families, and groups of people who come together via blood and biology or common interests. I still think of Tribes as a Cherokee girl would; my native ancestors who lived peacefully with mother nature until they were removed from the land The Great Spirit gave them and forced into enclaves and forgotten while a nation was built.

Tribes has taken on a new meaning. Seth Godin recently wrote the book Tribes: We Need You to Lead Us. For Godin, Tribes refer to groups of people interested in specific things. Just as our car club likes Nissan Z’s, there are Tribes of coffee lovers, computer geeks, iPad or iPhone users.

 I just downloaded a free copy of Tribes on audible.com and can listen on my computer during this dreary, downpouring Southern summer day.  What a sweet treat- a free book.  But typically, I’d visit the library to check out a book I wanted to read. I’ve now become a member of an online Tribe who enjoys audio books on my computer.

The dynamics, habits and habitats of Tribes have changed.  A Tribe is no longer confined to one geographical area or defined by race or creed. The new Tribal mentality blurs these lines particularly if its members come together online.  Tribes figure into our daily rounds, our choices of services or merchandise, where we hang out, how we spend our time, what we do and how we play.

But in the midst of this new world of Tribes, we must remember to treasure our individuality.  It’s fun to be a member of a Tribe, but not at the expense of losing what makes you a unique human being.  We can go along with the crowd for only so long and only so deeply.

Enjoy Tribal connections, but don’t lose yourself along the way.