Finding Humor and Insight: Embracing the Power of "We Do What We Can"

I originally planned to post a different blog article today. Its draft I finished yesterday. Then, I read this comic strip this morning (one of the 62 comic strips I read daily - maybe more on that later), and it cracked me up in a way that brightened my entire morning. The humor was sharp, cutting through the mundane with clever wit that caught me off guard. The illustrations were bursting with life, each panel meticulously crafted to enhance the comedic timing and emotional resonance of the characters. The humor was so sharp, it sliced through my morning blahs.

I have been reading this comic for many years. The characters of Dogs of C-Kennel are living in a shelter waiting for adoption. Because each of the main characters have their own personalities, the characters are eerily relatable, like they’ve been spying on my life and taking notes. Their quirks mirror those of my friends, family, and yes, even my own weird self, which made me laugh even harder. (The comic strip immediately reminded me of my childhood friend Rick Kuehn and I and some of the things we did in our near poverty upbringing. We had no money, so we utilized what we did have.) It was one of those rare and magical moments when the absurdity of the comic strip mirrored the absurdity of my own life, and I found myself chuckling long after reading it, replaying the scenes in my head like a favorite song stuck on repeat.

This little four-panel comic strip got me pondering the deeper mysteries of humor and how humor is like a funhouse mirror reflecting our daily lives and choices - skewing them just enough to give us a fresh perspective. It’s a lens that transforms our struggles and triumphs into a comedy show starring us. A comedy show that is often lost in the everyday struggles of life. But, on occasion, like today, I am reminded that, yes, there is comedy in our daily struggle. We just have to relax long enough to allow the show to pull us in.

Then there’s this line, "We Do What We Can." It’s a simple yet deep statement, like the punchline to a joke about how our actions are often limited by what we think we can do. It’s a reminder that our perceptions, experiences, and the societal norms we navigate daily shape our reality. This phrase dares us to question whether we’re really pushing the envelope or just doodling on it because we’re scared of messing up or too lazy to try. Or, maybe because we allow someone else in our lives to dictate what we can do. Holding ourselves back because we’re too comfy on the couch of complacency isn’t really doing what we can; it’s more like putting up a "Do Not Disturb" sign on our potential. We might find ourselves in a loop of laziness, convincing ourselves it’s easier to stick with the familiar rather than venturing into the wild unknown where growth and adventure await.

Moreover, this idea raises questions about accountability and self-awareness, which are like the secret sauce for personal growth. Are we truly aware of the superpowers we possess, or are we selling ourselves short because of self-doubt and fear? This phrase challenges us to face the barriers we create, whether they’re society’s unrealistic standards or those pesky internal doubts that whisper we’re not good enough. I encountered this first-hand when I decided to write a three book adult thriller series, a genre I had yet to try. I wondered if I could write in a style that would capture my audience, forcing them to turn to the next page. I feared it would be too graphic for a lot of my readers. Because, deep down inside I had an idea for the series that kept pushing me to proceed, I had to push my doubts aside. I had to remind myself that this series is about me pushing myself out of my writing comfort zone and into an area I like to read.

The phrase nudges us to take charge of our choices and remember that while we might not control everything life throws our way, we do have the power to decide how we react. In a nutshell, "We Do What We Can" is about grabbing life by the horns and realizing that every tiny step we take adds to our life journey. It calls for a can-do attitude, where we actively hunt for opportunities and push against the limits we think exist, rather than letting them box us in. This go-getter mindset not only empowers us to take action but also builds resilience, helping us tackle life’s challenges with a sense of purpose and a dash of determination.

Or maybe, "We Do What We Can" is simply the punch line to a four-panel comic strip, deservant of a chuckle before I move on to the next strip. And all of what I have written above is simply "Ramblings of a Writer." I will let you decide.