THIS IS HARD vs. HEAR HOW
by Anna Atsu
‘If we know how it’s all going to turn out, then why hang out about waiting to see what happens?’
– Michael Rosen
When I was about half of my current age, I discussed with my colleague, a maths teacher, about the sense of asking ‘How are you?’ Already knowing the answer to the conventional question, is there any point in asking? I argued then for rephrasing: ‘How are you feeling?’ if we want to know and not just exchange greetings. Eventually, after an hour, he advocated that for a more meaningful inquiry, one could ask ‘How is your day going?’. For me, the question asked this way would search for a mere recapitulation of a day, but still, I thought, he tried to shift and readjust his thinking. Since then, I started asking mathematically oriented minds: ‘How was your day?’ and kept: ‘How are you feeling?’ for those who wanted a deeper connection.
Fast forward almost two decades and the question resurfaces for me with the facade of being 'present' on social media, concealing the genuine well-being of individuals. Holiday pictures, cinema outings, and family moments may mask complex emotions hidden behind a filter. We willingly showcase our ‘filtred’ best days while shying away from sharing our genuine feelings when asked, 'How are you?' We don’t want to tell a story. For that, we have to face the person who has time and is willing to listen, so we are willing to throw up what’s on our stomachs.
After waking up to another day starting with literally throwing up the content of my stomach into the water closet, I am ready to talk about yesterday:
A day started with a phrase on the radio, ‘Today is pretty grey.’ I like grey, so I thought ‘Today’s grey’s pretty’ and I drove to experience that grey day. It was a Number Day supporting NSPCC, raising money to support various actions, including Speak Out Stay Safe against domestic abuse. Around the middle of the school day, I was supporting a student in her Science test trying to get through the equation Q=It. Her eyes glared at the beautiful cover of ‘Romeo and Juliette’. I thought ‘We need stories as much as we need knowledge’ and decided to let her only access half of science agony and expose her to ‘The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy.’ She flicked through the pages of a beautifully edited version by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Jane Ray. It started:
“First onto the stage stepped a storyteller.
If, like many people then as now, you already knew the story of Romeo and Juliette, you might have expected the play to begin with the lovers. But no, it began with a picture of a rivalry between two of the top-ranking families in the city of Verona. It was a rivalry so great that it led to a kind of war on the streets, a civil war.
Two households, both alike in dignity,
(In fair Verona, where we lay our scene)
From ancient grudge breaks to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
And then the storyteller told everyone the end of the story:
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes,
A pair of star-crossed lovers take their lives;
Whose misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parent's strife.”
We watched the masked ball, and listened to Romeo saying “O, teach me how I should forget to think” and “You take out your sword and then talk about peace?” A text message interrupted, bringing news I anticipated but dreaded. I left my phone where it was. I knew I would not crack any code today; I needed to get ready to face it. In the safety of Shakespeare's tale, my student already confronted her truth—missing out on education due to the Taliban's actions made life hard to add up.
‘Well, if we know how it’s all going to turn out, then why hang out about waiting to see what happens?’ Because, as Shakespeare and his friends discovered, HOW it happens is the important thing.’" – Michael Rosen
The development of our souls is as crucial as our ability to reason.
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