When I was a kid and would read Peanuts, I used to wonder, “This is funny?”
As a child, I preferred Family Circus for knock-you-over-the-head lame one-liners.
But I now I realize why I kept reading whatever library-borrowed or second-hand Peanuts anthologies I could find. Peanuts comics contain every life lesson someone could ever want to frame their own (moral) character around: Charlie Brown’s dogged determination to keep trying every time Lucy pulls away the football; the power of imagination in Snoopy’s adventures against the Red Baron; and countless others. The timelessness of Peanuts comic strips lies in the depth of its characters. I don’t know the origins of the following, but when I came across the following note posted on a friend’s Facebook page, it’s clear that the strength of character of Charlie Brown and his friends came from Peanuts creator Charles Schultz himself.
Charles Schultz’s Philosophy
You don’t have to actually answer the questions. Just read straight through, and you’ll get the point.1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America Contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress..
6. Name the last decade’s worth of World Series winners.
How did you do?
The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.
Here’s another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
Easier?
The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.
