Interview with Charlie Brown

1/23/22

I am fortunate today to be able to sit down for a rare interview with Charlie Brown. Mr. Brown is retired and living a quiet life in retreat. He is kind enough to make himself available and although generous, his time is limited.

Me: Mr. Charlie Brown, how are you, Sir.

CB: Good grief, thank you for asking. I am well. I once said, “Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.” With that knowledge how could I be anything else?

Me: Such positivity.

CB: (smiles)

Me: Looking back on your life, how common was it to feel positive?

CB: Oh brother. That’s a good question. I don’t fe(e)el life was always negative. I feel like there were times where I was walking on jagged pieces of carved pumpkins, but they were always followed by lessons that softened the pulp. I famously declared that I suffered from pantaphobia,…

Me: The fear of everything, yes. I recall.

CB: Right!

Me: Back at a time where, I imagine, life was still somewhat of a blanketed mystery draped in pantaphobia, you said, “I only dread one day at a time.”

CB: Yes. I was very young and green. I saw life narrowly and only in terms of how it affected me. I learned that my misery needed to be paced or I could be overrun by it. Taking it one day at a time, even with dread in mind, made sense and enabled me to manage.

Me: Is that statement still true today?

CB: Good grief! I hate to imagine still believing that at this stage in my life. Despite my bumpy roads and phobic existence, I strongly believe that there’s so much to appreciate. Linus said, “Learning to ignore things is one of the great paths to inner peace.” I took that to heart and realized that letting go and going with the flow was my way through. And that’s how I live my life till today. You might change my quote to, ‘I only dread not appreciating each day I have.’ That, and ignoring the things I have no control over, allow me that ‘peace’ Linus is referring to. Knowing myself allows me to dismiss the silly’s of life. At the end of the day, we have to be able to look at ourselves as WE see us.

Me: Do you feel loved, finally?

CB: Snoopy said, “I don’t have time to worry about who doesn’t like me … I’m too busy loving the people who love me.” Yes, I feel loved and I love hard back. It’s the essence of life, isn’t it? Having one person who loves you gives you the strength to get off the ground and keep trying to kick that football.

Me: Mr. Charlie Brown. I want to thank you for this rare opportunity to speak with you. I am certain that your life is an inspiration to many. Any last thoughts?

CB: “In the book of life, the answers aren’t in the back.” I felt that when I first said it and do so to this day. I believe that the answers are in our experiences. You have to find the ones that make sense for you.

Me: All the best to you, Sir.

CB: Thank you for this gift today. It feels like Christmas and I am happy!

Peace and Keep Rising!