Written By Suave D of Liberator Magazine

Comedy: “A dramatic work that is light and often humorous or satirical in tone and that usually contains a happy resolution of the thematic conflict.”

Tragedy: “A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances.”

It’s really sad and somewhat depressing when you reach the tragic realization that you just can’t do certain things anymore. Once you pass 25, these things start to become more and more apparent the older you get, and you notice them more and more frequently. Some things we force on ourselves, for example, all of the things people say, “I’m too grown for this” or “I’m too old to be doing that.” These are limitations we put on ourselves because if you can still do it physically, you can still do it mentally. But then, there are the things that you physically cannot do or simply aren’t as efficient at anymore. This is the beginning of the tragedy of getting older. From simple things like not being able to grow hair in certain places, to not being able to hang out as long, to bigger things like arthritis: our bodies change.

The comedy of this change is that, mentally, we get stronger! Our minds draw from past experiences to create a different perspective and/or approach to solving problems and completing tasks. This approach is usually more productive because it is, as the old saying goes, “working smarter, not harder.” Another comedy of this process should be that, we no longer care as much about the judgment of others, allowing us the freedom to decide what works best for us, as opposed to seeking guidance or acceptance from peers or based on what’s popular. While at the same time, social organizations that resemble the divisive high school social structure can overwhelmingly stunt the growth of this phase of maturity. I don’t want to name these social structures individually in fear of offending anyone who is a part of one or many, but we all know what they are. We can’t let any of them mold or define us because, if they do, we’ll never understand who we are as individuals. Instead, we’ll spend most of our time just figuring out how we fit into the group, while rarely taking the time to figure out ourselves.

So, I beg of you, can we please use this opportunity to our full advantage to work smarter and not harder? Can we use the knowledge we’ve acquired to challenge the system and create opportunities for ourselves? Can we use it to gain an entrepreneurial spirit without getting fooled by pyramid schemes, get rich quick plots, and other “fast money” endeavors that will more than likely get us locked up or worse? Can we use the knowledge we’ve acquired to challenge our government without getting fooled by politicians who promise “change,” but are obligated to look out for the banks and corporations that pour millions of dollars into their campaigns? Can we educate ourselves and our children without relying on the school system, and it’s limited/biased version of education? Can we train our minds to stop getting fooled by the programming of advertisement and marketing agencies? Can we stop attempting to impress each other with material nonsense that makes us broke and keeps them rich? Instead, can we attempt to impress each other with factual knowledge and abstract ideals that can move us forward as a society rather than keep us dormant in the place we are now?

Lastly, can we learn to accept the ideas and perspectives of others without dismissing, fighting, hating, or arguing? Instead, can we listen and have healthy debates while trying to figure out the best way possible to solve problems and come up with real solutions?