Updated: Jan, 24 2024

It was not unusual in the neighborhood we lived in to see a wave of sheep wandering through the fields or setting up for the night on a farmer's field on the side of the riverbanks. The accompanying black scruffy intelligent dogs guard them intently and the shepherds nearby put up the makeshift fences for the night or tend to the sheep infirmary, a covered trailer where the young or injured get to ride to the next location. This nomadic family is part of the Italian landscape in the winter months. The family does not only consist of sheep, there are burro, donkeys and goats mixed into the herd.  We were in for a delight when this charming procession passed right by our very front door and straight down the road, you will hear our delight in our commentary. Please take a moment to watch.

These sheep serve a purpose for the community. If a farmer wishes, they will frequent their fields providing a very organic and natural preparation for the planting season ahead. The animals feast on the weeds and leave behind their own rich fertilizer which in the coming months is plowed into the soil naturally supplementing the fields with the nutrients they need. Makeshift signs appear in the fields which have already been prepped or planted "no pecore' or "niente pecore" simply "no sheep'.  A circle of life repeated year after year for centuries.

For many of us the circle of life is not the same again every year. Carnival was canceled in Italy when I first wrote this in 2020. It was sad to see that in the shops there were only one or two shelves dedicated to costumes, the majority of which were for little children, who may still have been able to celebrate in their Asilos (Italian Pre K). Normally in February the costumes and decorations take over the stores with their vibrant colors and diversity in choice. Streamers, balloon, hats, masks and costumes dominate the aisles. The celebration, festivals and parties were not permitted that year.

The procession which passed my house, reminded me that although a lot of things were not normal that year, life still progressed forward with determination and vigor. Farmers and shepherds were not been deterred by the adversity of that year or any year. They cannot be, through the years and generations they will have fields and livestock to tend too.  The animals I witnessed were led by one shepherd and his dog at the front, to protect them from traffic and one man with and his dog at the back, to keep this beautiful motley, woolly procession going forward. They have a destination for this day and the one after that and for the whole year. Every year.

Occasionally in the video you will see a ram or sheep turn or stop as though performing an act of defiance, or maybe confusion or maybe just locating a family member or familiar face? Some get distracted by a tasty snack. But they do not hesitate for long they soon turn and continue. Walking forwards just as their ancestors have for hundreds of years before them.

Sometimes in 2020 and in subsequent years; I have felt like that odd ram or sheep. I have turned around to see what was behind me. Nostalgic for the old days when my body was younger, when I had less responsibilities, when life seemed simpler.  Maybe I have been confused as to whether I am personally going in the right direction. It is so difficult to know yet so easy to doubt. But ultimately looking backwards has just shown me that backwards is not the way we are going. Our life is like this wonderful procession, and the animals represent the flow of life continually moving forward.  Turning around or even remaining still staying in the past will ultimately leave us exposed and alone in the end. If the sheep in the photo had stayed fixed in her path backwards she would lose the procession of life, lose her nomadic family.

A nomadic family is lucky. At the back they have someone who cares showing them the way. In the video, the shepherd does not have a whip or a huge stick - he has a small branch which he uses to keep the procession going. The dog is not biting or barking he is following behind, guiding them to the next destination. They have a next destination. They will pitch a fence at night to keep the herd safe while they rest. 

Not every one of us is as lucky, sometimes if you stop going forward for long enough you may not only lose your way but, you may lose your own 'nomadic family'. Your 'nomadic family' may be a traditional family or friend group you feel connected to. It is the 'family' the 'connection' which keeps you going forward and prevents you getting left behind. It may be our work, our school, our family, our friends, our pets or may be just the pull or drive which keeps you going forward, gets you up in the morning. It might not be people it may be a set of values and ideals, a self determined community which keeps you going forward. Maybe like the sheep who stop to graze then see they are behind and raise their heads and rejoin the group. Maybe we turn the opposite way for a while until a friendly guide reminds us of our direction. 

Have you ever considered that maybe personally you could even go further than simply being part of the nomadic journey ? Maybe you could become the shepherd in the front, shielding others from danger ahead. Guiding and clearing the way so others can advance, leading and steering your community in the right direction. Or maybe you could be the shepherd at the back, checking no one is left behind, gently keeping others on track and guiding them in the right direction. Or maybe you could be like the dog providing support, assistance and encouragement to the ones leading and the ones sweeping.

But what if you feel as though you have lost your nomadic family? Maybe you have stood still or walked backwards too long and feel as though you have lost the procession/progression of life's parade. Be reassured, it is not too late to turn forward. It is time to look for the leader and the sweep in your community or to become one.

Watch the video again, the leader and sweep are not letting any animal get left behind. There is a goat slightly limping at the back. The shepherd checks on him at one point in the video and I am sure many times during the journey, encourages him gently. Remember there is a trailer following behind with the young and injured, the ones who find it hard to keep up. Look for the helpers, look for the shepherds. It is always okay to check behind you, stand still and assess where you are as long as you eventually turn around. If you are struggling with turning around and going forward please find help, the familiar face, a family member or friend or the shepherd a professional trained to assist. Look at the bottom of the post if you are unsure where to find your sweep or leader.

Look after yourselves. Locate your leaders and sweeps or become one in your community.

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The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. It provides Spanish-speaking counselors, as well as options for deaf and hard of hearing individuals. It is only available in the United States. A 24-hour an Online Chat in partnership with Contact USA is also available.

• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-8255

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• The Veterans Crisis Line can be reached at 1-800-273-8255, followed by Pressing 1.

• IMAlive Crisis Chat line  is a non-profit, worldwide 24/7, anonymous chatline to help anyone in crisis via instant messaging.

• The Crisis Text Line is the only 24/7, nationwide crisis-intervention text-message hotline.

  • The Crisis Text Line can be reached by texting HOME to 741-741.

• Samaritans USA is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in distress or at risk of suicide throughout the United States.

The Trevor Project is a nationwide organization that provides a 24-hour phone hotline, as well as limited-hour webchat and text options, for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.

• The TrevorLifeline can be reached at 1-866-488-7386.

  • Trevor Chat Text can be found at (available 7 days a week from 3PM to 10PM ET).

  • TrevorText can be reached by texting TREVOR to 1-202-304-1200 (available M-F from 3PM to 10PM ET).

Translifeline is a nonprofit organization that is created by and for the transgender community, providing crisis intervention hotlines, staffed by transgender individuals, available in the United States and Canada.

• The Trans Lifeline can be reached at 1-877-565-8860

• Click HERE for an Article on how to find Free mental Health care in the USA from the Healthy Place