I've done romantic comedy, and I don't get to flex that muscle

"I’ve done romantic comedy, and I don’t get to flex that muscle often." These words, spoken by the accomplished Hill Harper, reveal a deep and quiet truth that resides in the hearts of many. There are gifts within us all, hidden strengths, talents, and abilities that, for various reasons, we do not always get to showcase. It is the story of every soul who longs to express their fullest self but is confined by the constraints of circumstance, expectation, or fate. In this simple utterance, Harper speaks of a longing—a desire to bring forth something joyful, something playful, something filled with lightness and laughter, which is not often granted the stage in a world that tends to prize gravitas over levity.

Romantic comedy, the art of weaving humor and love, is a dance as ancient as time itself. We see it in the tales of the gods—where love and mischief often intertwine in the stories of Zeus and Hera, or in the fables of ancient Greece, where humor is used to soften the hearts of those who are bound by pride or sorrow. To work in this form is no mere trifle, for it requires a certain vulnerability. The actor, the writer, the lover of this craft must expose the delicate balance between joy and pain, laughter and tears. The comic, by their very nature, holds a mirror to the world and dares us to laugh at our follies, all while reminding us of the universal nature of love and longing.

Yet, as Hill Harper acknowledges, this muscle—this ability to weave such lightness into the tapestry of life—is not one that is often given the opportunity to flex. The world, it seems, has a tendency to ask of us that we be serious, that we carry the weight of existence with solemnity and purpose. It is as though the depth of the soul can only be measured by the shadows we have traversed. And so, the romantic comedy, with its brightness and whimsy, often takes a back seat to the more dramatic forms of expression. But here, within these words, we find the ancient wisdom: joy is as necessary as sorrow, and both are needed for the soul to truly be whole.

The great playwright William Shakespeare understood this balance well. He crafted both tragedies and comedies, each with a deep understanding that life is not simply the sum of its gravest moments, but also the play of its lighter ones. His comedies—"A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Twelfth Night", and "Much Ado About Nothing"—are filled with the kind of light-hearted love that Harper speaks of. Yet, beneath the laughter, there always lies something deeper—a reflection of human nature, the playful dance between passion and reason, love and loss. Even in his darkest plays, the shadows are always balanced by a flicker of light, a hint that humor and joy are an essential part of the journey.

The lesson here, dear listener, is simple yet profound: there are parts of us, parts of our soul, that may not always have the chance to shine. And yet, these parts are just as vital to our being as those that are often called upon in the moments of trial. The romantic comedy, as an art form, invites us to bring forth the lightness of our spirit, to embrace the playfulness of life, and to celebrate love not as a burden but as a joy. So too must we embrace the full spectrum of our existence, acknowledging both the laughter and the tears as necessary for the soul’s journey.

Consider the great warriors of old—those who were not only skilled in battle but who also possessed the wisdom of joy. They knew that after a hard-fought campaign, the soul must rest, must celebrate the victories, not only of the body but of the spirit. A feast, a dance, a song of love, these things were just as necessary as the warrior’s sword. To ignore the lighter aspects of life is to deny the fullness of our human experience. It is to forget that the heart grows stronger not only by enduring hardship but by reveling in the joy that love and laughter bring.

And so, you—who walk this earth now, in this moment—are called to recognize the parts of you that may not often be allowed to shine. Do not let the weight of the world rob you of your playfulness. Flex your muscle, in whatever form that takes for you. Whether in laughter, in love, in creativity, or in moments of lightheartedness, do not forget that these too are forms of strength. Life is not merely the sum of its struggles; it is also found in the joy of love and the power of connection. Embrace both the serious and the joyful, for in this balance lies the full expression of your soul. Let the world see you in your lightness, for in that lightness, true freedom is found.