Linus said there are three things we should never talk aboutโpolitics, religion, and the Great Pumpkin. Woo boy.ย I think the only thing we can safely talk about right now is the Great Pumpkin. This is theย ideal time to take a deep breath and remember thoseย childhood lessons from Linus. Because of all the Peanuts gang members, Linus was the calm, thoughtful one. When the spotlight shined on him, his soliloquy moved a gang of kids everywhere.
And he did it without ever raising his voice.
But oh my gosh, it’s hardย to be like Linus. It’s easier to be bossy, loud-mouth, know-it-all Lucy. No matter the topic, weย have a festeringย need to convertย people to our way of thinking. From guns to God to GMOs, we have an opinion and ours is the right one.
Everyone can’t always be right.
I know our country facesย serious problems,ย and I’m not making light of the issues. Passions run hot and rightfully so. And while everyoneย deserves toย be heard, I believe we can be kind and open-minded and recognize we all bring different experiences to the conversation.
Different is good.
Linus was different. Even when the Lucys of the world poked fun at him, Linusย clutched onto his trusty blanket, the blanket that defined him. He stood strong asย his own person. He acknowledged his insecurities and knew he’d pack away his blanket if and when the time was right.
Our own insecuritiesย may be behind much of our ownย hatefulย rhetoric.
Linus was an optimist, and I love that about him. Each Halloween heย waitedย and watched for the Great Pumpkinย in the most sincere pumpkin patch he could find. He sacrificed for his beliefsโno trick or treating with friends, no candy, no costume.
Linus taught us to keep the faithย and believe in the goodness of people and pumpkins.
As we pay homage to another gloriousย fall and head into election season (finally), we should aim to be more like Linus, at least a little. Think before youย speak (or post on social media). Try to be more compassionate. Really hear what others have to say. Consider the possibility that maybe the person across from you has a good point.
The person across from youย might even be r-r-r-ight.
Now, anyone want to talk about the Great Pumpkin?
Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.
P.S.ย Ifย you need a complete refresher on Lessons from Linus,ย It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown airs on October 19, 2016, on ABC.
[tweetthis]As we head into #Election2016, remember the lessons we learned from Linus @Snoopy #ThursdayThoughts #bekind [/tweetthis]
Musical Pairing:
Vince Guaraldi Trio – The Great Pumpkin Waltz
Colene says
Amen!
Barbara Tate says
Well said, my daughter. We all should strive to be more like Linus. Where’s my blanket?
Dorothy Johnson says
Amen! Amen! Amen!
Ken Johnson says
I think I learned more about life from that group of kids than from all my years of school.
Talya Tate Boerner says
haha so true! They taught us a lot.
Barbara thompson says
I hope Hillary and Donald read your story. A good refresher for all of us…
Talya Tate Boerner says
Oh you know they won’t LOL.
Cindy Lu says
Excellent! Linus is my hero!
Gary D. Henderson says
I think I’d rather be Snoopy. If the real world makes you ill, just create your OWN world and go live there, for a while.
Well, have a nice day. I’m about to get in this-here Sopwith Camel and go fight some Nazis!
Talya Tate Boerner says
Snoopy had the right idea too. Plus, he was the coolest.