You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown

If you've talked to me for any length of time, you've probably been exposed to my obsession with Peanuts. There's something just plain enchanting about finding wisdom where it's not expected, and the sweet old comic strip is such a great example. With its witty social commentary and pint-sized philosophers, it has captured the hearts of millions over the last sixty-two years-- especially mine. And especially Charlie Brown.

Watching A Charlie Brown Christmas tonight, I got to thinking. And in this thinking, I realized that Charlie Brown is pretty much my hero. And in light of this realization, I decided to blog.

So here you go: a few short reasons why everybody should be like that lovable round-headed kid.

He's an optimist. So Charlie Brown's a little gloom and doom sometimes. The bleakness of life gets to us all sometimes. But despite this pessimism act, the man tries to kick that stupid football of Lucy's every single year. How many times has he fallen flat on his back? All of them. All of the times. Does that stop him? NO! Fully aware of Lucy's devious tendencies, he always, always gives her the benefit of the doubt and always, always hopes for the best. 

He's persistent. In the same vein, Charlie Brown fails at pretty much everything, not just kicking that elusive football. He can't fly a kite, he can't win a baseball game, and he can't even spell the word "beagle." (And Snoopy is one, folks.) Such insurmountable failure would be enough to send even the best packing, but not our leading man. Even as he bemoans his own lack of skill, he goes right on trucking. Under that facade of self-deprecation there's enough confidence to keep him going for the last sixty-two years. 

He's true to himself. Despite his lack of Valentines, Christmas cards, and Halloween party invites, our hero never goes out of his way to try to fit in. He's one hundred percent himself all the time. When Lucy demands a shiny aluminum tree, he proudly comes back with his pathetically lovable little evergreen-- not for the sake of defying the norm, but because he thinks it's the right thing to do. That little tree needs him, and doggone it, he's going to take care of it! While he wants people to like him, he's only willing to gain everyone's approval for his real and honest self. If he's unpopular, it's only because he refuses to compromise. And that rocks.

What a man, what a man, what a mighty good man. Keep at it, Chuck. I'll be your Little Red-Haired Girl anytime.