Problems are like onions; they need to be peeled one layer at a time to get to the core -EL

​To steal a reference from Shrek, “The problem is like an onion; it has layers”!
Welcome to Monday’s Musings with Trench Classes United. Today we have a special blog for you from a board/trench member who has witnessed a lot in the first response arena and the aftermath of people’s choices. I love how he combines the reality that problems, more often than not, have roots, a genesis, a beginning. The issue he’s sharing about today while becoming more and more televised and talked about didn’t just show up. Please, come on in…with an open mind and heart which will enable you to look past the first layer of this issue.
Is all of the action and attention directed toward the school shootings and gun control focusing on the wrong layer? Yes, these shootings are tragedies and guns are being misused, but I think what we are missing is the “WHY”?
Why are these kids taking the actions they are taking?  I feel we should be looking deeper at the “why” of this issue. Why are we making it all about a gun issue and nothing about an emotional/mental health issue? While the gun is the tool being used in these horrific tragedies, what is it that got them to the gun?
Until we get that figured out, it won’t matter what you ban, it will still happen.       
I feel we need to look at the root of the problem, the “why,” which in my opinion is mental/emotional health. Why or how does it get to the tragedy of killings with a gun and yet NOBODY noticed? Perhaps it’s time we all become more cognizant of the people around us; then we might see problems in the home, bullying in schools, over medicated and under treated mental health issues.
Mental/emotional health is not like a broken arm. You can’t always see it; it’s not always obvious…but it’s real! Unfortunately, for most, emotional/mental health is out of sight and therefore out of mind.
Until we dare to try and understand the root of this problem, we can’t endeavor to fix the problem. The sooner we start to identify and treat the root of the problem, the sooner we can make a difference. I’ve learned in life, and with the help of the Trench Classes that to get to the root takes helping one to understand his or her feelings, validating those feelings in a way that brings value and helps the person see their need for a change of direction. This will help develop healthy coping skills to deal with life on life’s terms.
It sounds so simplistic, but the truth is it takes work. Until we are willing to peel back the layers of this problem, no matter what you ban, what you try and control, it will still happen.
Musing,
John Jones