NIAGARA, Wis. — I have been thinking a lot lately about how we, as a society, can face the same crisis in our lives yet make such different decisions about how to navigate through it. How is it that when facing a killer virus, some of us decide to stay at home while others hit the beaches and bars with such a carefree attitude? How do we balance freedom and responsibility? When we hear the phrase “We are all in this together,” what does it mean to us? Do those words still inspire or have they already become a worn-out mantra?

As I pondered this dilemma, once again the Monday Morning Memo from Roy H. Williams hit my inbox with some helpful perspective. He began this week’s message with a quote from author Leo Tolstoy: “The more we live by our intellect, the less we understand the meaning of life.” It was a way of introducing a discussion about the difference between the heart and the mind. Williams points out that many of our beliefs are not supported by facts and uses a sports analogy to prove his point. He makes the case that we all have a favorite team and that our team favorite is not at all grounded in anything factual. We choose the facts that would “prove” our team to be the best while ignoring just as many facts that would show our team doesn’t stand a chance of going to the Super Bowl or the Big Dance.

In trying to understand the reason why we seem to have so much dissention in the world right now, Williams states, “Mostly we choose a perspective, a way of looking at things, an angle of view. Belief is not rational, it is heart-felt. Belief is not logical, it is intuitive. But that doesn’t mean it is wrong.”

If we accept this, then it becomes a little easier to understand why we have such a clash within our culture in the face of this virus. We have individual perspectives butting up against scientific facts, and they are in conflict. Perspectives on freedom and responsibility are not based upon scientific fact so are subject to individual interpretation and naturally invite controversy.

Williams continues as he explains that “the voice of Freedom shouts to my mind, ‘It’s my life, and I can do with it what I choose.’ But the voice of Responsibility whispers to my heart, ‘I should be careful, not for myself but for all the people I care about and who care about me.’ Explosive issues can always be found at the intersection of two perspectives.” It is no wonder, then, that in this time of the coronavirus we have such dissention.

Another tool to help understand the reason why people have different reactions and beliefs when faced with what appears to be the same life challenge lies in the Myers-Briggs Temperament Sorter. This is a survey tool that assesses personality type by examining answers to questions designed to determine dominant personality traits within four different quadrants. How one “scores,” for lack of a better term, within each quadrant determines their personality type. The quadrant most applicable to this discussion is the “Thinker — Feeler” quadrant.

The “thinker” personality enjoys scientific and technical fields where logic is important and is quick to notice inconsistencies. Thinkers look for logical explanations or solutions to most everything and make decisions with their heads. They want to be fair and believe that telling the truth is more important than being tactful. They sometimes do not value the “people” part of a situation and can be seen by others as being too task-oriented, uncaring or indifferent.

The “feeler” personality has a people or communications orientation. Feelers are concerned with harmony and are nervous when it is missing. They look for what is important to others and express their concern for others. They make decisions with their hearts and want to be compassionate. Feelers believe being tactful is more important than telling the “cold” truth so sometimes miss seeing or communicating the “cold, hard facts” of a situation. Others may view them as too idealistic, mushy or indirect.

My husband and I were first introduced to this survey tool in our early years of marriage. We had volunteered to teach religious classes, and the director of religious education at our church was a big believer in this assessment tool. One evening, he administered the assessment to all of the teachers.

To say there were many surprised people in the room that night is an understatement. But there were just as many “light-bulb” moments as well. We were one of the very few couples who scored exactly opposite in every category.

Sensing we may be concerned about this, our director said, “When you find a way to work with your differences, yours will be a very strong marriage. No matter what life throws at you, one of you will be able to cope and help pull the other over the rough spot.” Truer words were never spoken.

I lead with my head most of the time. I plan, make lists and am in my element when I am solving a problem. I crave answers and am most comfortable when life’s pieces fit together into a nice, orderly whole; my sister commented to me once that I was a “fixer” who needed to find solutions for everyone. My husband has always led with his heart; if he hadn’t, we would not have met, let alone gotten serious. At the time, a thinking young man would have realized having a girlfriend 40 miles away was simply too inconvenient! He is the most unselfish person I have ever met and the most considerate, always putting his own needs at the bottom of the list. Over time we have learned from each other and have moved a little closer to each other on the thinking-feeling spectrum. But he still tears up at Hallmark commercials, while I still outwardly groan from my recliner.

We all go about our lives leading either with our heads or our hearts; we are thinkers or feelers. We are all a combination of the two, for sure, but each of us has a preferred, or a dominant, method of dealing with life. And we tend to stick to our comfort zone as we meet life’s challenges. It is also interesting to note that we really do not necessarily choose to follow one trait more than the other but that we are simply “wired” to take one approach more often than the other as we navigate along life’s journey.

Ours is currently a culture in crisis and a way of life ripe for controversy. Historically, our culture has promoted freedom, democracy, patriotism and the American dream, all attained and maintained through rugged individualism. All are attributes of our very individualistic society defined generations ago, and their worth and value as definitive of our culture have been passed from generation to generation.

But the challenge of our modern world — this new normal that includes an invisible virus — now asks us to possess a broader view of what it means to be an American. Our survival depends upon our ability to forsake that rugged individualism that served us so well in the past for a more inclusive consideration for our fellow man. Freedom goes beyond personal freedom to wrap its arms around our neighbors and protect their health along with our own. The American dream must seek to build a safe future for all … or risk becoming our biggest nightmare.

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The usual senior living activity calendars and senior center menus will not be published this week in an effort to avoid confusion. Due to the coronavirus and the vulnerability of the elderly population, daily life in the senior living facilities and senior centers has changed dramatically.

All living facilities have closed their doors to public visitation, and the activity calendars have been modified to allow for one-to-one room visits only and individualized activities to keep residents engaged and active as much as possible while remaining within the health and safety guidelines provided by state health experts.

Group games are being substituted with individualized activities residents can do in their respective rooms. Staff are providing supplies as well as “overhead announcement bingo and trivia” games and “hallway games” that can be played in individual rooms or by sitting within individual room doorways. YouTube and DVDs are being utilized to provide religious services. A big dose of gratitude and appreciation goes out to all senior care staff for their creativity, caring and perseverance through a difficult situation.

All senior centers have also been closed to any center-based activity. Meals continue to be delivered. Some centers also are preparing meals to be picked up.

SENIOR CENTERS

Alpha-Mastodon Center

906-875-3315

Amasa Center

906-822-7284

Breen Center

906-774-5110

Crystal Falls Center

Head cook: Lucy Korhonen

906-875-6709

Crystal Lake Center

Iron Mountain

906-239-0278

Home-delivered meals only. Menu for the week:

Monday: Smothered pork chops, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots.

Tuesday: Cheeseburger, potato wedges and baked beans.

Wednesday: Chicken cordon bleu casserole and California blend vegetables.

Thursday: Chicken alfredo, noodles and Italian blend vegetables.

Friday: Baked fish, rice and green beans.

For questions on the center’s meal program, call Christine McMahon at 906-774-2256.

Felch Center

906-246-3559

Home-delivered and/or take-out meal menu:

Monday: Raviolis, dinner roll and green beans.

Tuesday: Ham and swiss sub sandwich, chips, coleslaw

Wednesday: Beef stew, salad and garlic bread.

Thursday: Pork roast, mashed potatoes and carrots.

Aging and Disability Resource Center of Florence County, Wis.

715-528-4890

Director: Tiffany White

Monday: Parmesan chicken breasts, rice pilaf with peas, squash, tomato juice and fruit.

Tuesday: Bacon cheeseburger, tater tot bake, three bean salad and Mandarin oranges.

Wednesday: Spaghetti with meat sauce, spinach and strawberry salad, garlic bread and fruited Jell-O.

Thursday: Salisbury steak, mashed potatoes, candied carrots and fruit.

Friday: Fish Fry Friday! Baked fish, oven fries, beet salad and fruit.

Fence Center/Town Hall

715-336-2980

For meal reservations, call 855-528-2372

Same as ADRC menu. Home-delivered only.

Florence Community Center/Town Hall

For meal reservation, call 715-528-4261

Same as ADRC menu. Home-delivered only.

Tipler Town Hall

715-674-2320

Call for meals. Same as ADRC menu. Home-delivered only.

Hillcrest Senior Dining Center, Aurora

For meal reservations, call 715-589-4491.

Same as ADRC menu. Home-delivered only.

Hermansville Center

Coordinator: Pam Haluska

906-498-7735

Iron River Center

906-265-6134

Home-delivered only. Meal menu for week:

Monday: Veggie pizza, cottage cheese, fruit and milk.

Tuesday: Sweet and sour chicken, rice, Oriental vegetables, roll, fruit and milk.

Wednesday: Hot dog, tossed salad, chips, fruit, milk

Thursday: Lasagna, California blend vegetables, garlic bread, fruit and milk.

Niagara Northwoods Senior Cafe and Center

Meal site manager: Corrie Maule, 715-251-1603

Senior center director: Jill Anderson, 715-251- 4154

Norway Center

Director: Susie Slining

906-563-8716

The center will remain closed. Take outs available, must call ahead. Menu for the week:

Monday: Sloppy Joes, tater tots, mixed vegetables, fruit, juice, milk, bread and dessert.

Tuesday: Monterey chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, cream corn, fruit, juice, milk, bread and dessert.

Wednesday: Stuffed cabbage rolls, winter blend vegetables, fruit, juice, milk, bread and dessert.

Thursday: Enchiladas, refried beans, rice, vegetable toppings, fruit, juice, milk and dessert.

Sagola Center

906-542-3273

Call for home-delivered and/or take-out meal menu.