I think what every upset is missing, is a bridge of understanding.
There are many people who are builders of these bridges of understanding, but many of them are not building these bridges because the work is so tedious.
The builders of these bridges take a look at all these upsets - upsets that are so big, and so loud, and so unsightly, and so dismissive - and they say to themselves that it’s probably a much better idea to keep these upsets in their separate islands, to let them sort it out on their own in quiet agony.
In many classrooms around the world there are islands of upsets and no bridges of understanding being built, because the job is too tedious, takes too much time from the lesson plan, and besides, it’s not exactly in the job description.
Many of these teachers are already islands of their own upsets and might not even be aware that they are the source of other islands of upsets in their classroom, simply because they aren’t building bridges where bridges need building.
There are islands of upsets everywhere you turn. Grown ups and children handling things on their own with limited tools and lots of imagination.
There are people everywhere who know how to build these bridges of understanding, and they are walking right by the people everywhere who really need these builders to get busy building.
Bridges of understanding are rarely easy to build. Each one is costly, requires different materials, and they are always needing upgrades and repairs.
It seems like such a better idea to just never bother.
But those who do bother will tell you, exhausted and used up though they may be, that on the bridge where two upsets meet in the middle and understand each other for the first time, that it’s effort not wasted.
Upsets are islands waiting for bridges of understanding to be built. There are people right now who know how to build these bridges. Maybe you are one of them.
—JLK
All episodes written, performed and produced by Jessica Laurel Kane, and the music was made by Jerome Rossen at Freshmade Music.