What We (Should Have) Learned From Charlie Brown
Charlottesville
November 12, 2026
Reading this article reminded me of the Charlie Brown TV specials of my youth. The played one night a year and if you missed them, it was wait until next year. The two I remember the best are the Great Pumpkin and the Christmas one. I can still see them in my mind's eye.
I thought this article was a great reminder of what I might have learned from watching those specials.
Since its creation in 1950, Peanuts has been one of the most influential comic strips in history. Charles Schulz's famous characters and their adventures have been ingrained in pop culture, from movies to TV shows. One reason they've managed to stay relevant is Schultz's philosophy of life that he portrayed through his characters, especially Charlie Brown.
While Charlie Brown wasn't always the most competent or even the coolest of the Peanuts cast, Charles Schulz found ways to make him shine by having Charlie experience relatable situations. He's a voice of reason that can be passed from generation to generation. The timeless narratives Charlie and his friends went through have educated many people, and some still impact children and adults to this day.
Don't Rush Things
Charlie Brown has always struggled with jumping the gun at any new venture, even if it's something he's not familiar with. One of the best examples was from the classic Christmas special, where he's picked to lead his friends in a school play. However, Charlie has no experience in directing, resulting in disastrous rehearsals.
Jumping headfirst into new ventures can lead to new experiences, but unless one is prepared for the undertaking, it's best to avoid charging headfirst. Everyone should take their time when dealing with big choices in order to make sure it's what they want and that they have a decent plan for success.
Show Kindness To Others
Even though Charlie Brown may be an unconventional hero, one of his biggest attributes is his heart for others. Charlie may not get it right every time, but he truly does care about others. This includes those who regularly pick on him, like Lucy.
Showing compassion to others isn't always easy. In times of trauma and pain, this may be too heartbreaking to bear. Similarly, it can be difficult to share love with anyone after a heartbreak. Showing kindness to those who may not deserve it or who need it the most is what makes a person human. If Charlie Brown can show compassion to others, then readers can take inspiration from that and do the same.
Surround Yourself With Good People
For someone like Charlie Brown, readers wouldn't suspect him to have many friends. As it turns out, Charlie's surrounded by a unique cast, ranging from the smart Linus, little sister Sally, and the sporty Peppermint Patty. Sometimes they may seem at odds with each other, but they resolve their differences and care about one another.
Having strong friendships opens one's mind to new experiences, but they also help others learn about different worldviews and philosophies. Friends won't always see eye to eye, but they'll always stick by each other during good and bad times. Friends like these truly are worthwhile treasures.
Find Happiness In The Small Things
Because Charlie Brown is a simple-minded character, it makes sense for him to prefer the small, simple pleasures. Whether it's choosing an inadequate tree because it's a real tree or pitching one strike out in a baseball game, Charlie Brown seeks the little goals of life that others take for granted.
Life is filled with little things to enjoy, but people can overlook them if they're focused on significant events and desires that happen only once in a while. The drive for more only makes one feel more empty and unfulfilled. It's by appreciating the little moments that people can obtain satisfaction and gratitude for life.
Be A Good Listener
For Charlie Brown, he was never outspoken or brash among his peers. Rather, he usually stayed silent and quiet, either pondering to himself or enjoying a brisk walk with his friends. This served as a great opportunity for his friends to come clean and share whatever was on their minds or hearts with him. Oftentimes, Charlie listened to their problems and found solutions for them.
In life, some people like sharing everything with other people, expressing their feelings and emotions openly with others. However, it's also good to listen to others for a change, learning about their lives and helping them grow as people. When people learn when to listen and when to share, friendships deepen.
Reach For The Stars
Like every child, Charlie Brown was never too shy to dream and use his imagination. Although most comic strips involving dreams centered on Snoopy and Woodstock, Charlie Brown shared these notions too. Sometimes, his dreams looked like more menial fantasies, like being able to talk to the Little Red-Haired Girl.
Charles Schulz never shied away from encouraging his readers to dream big in life. From small children using their imaginations to adults looking for new challenges and goals, Schulz always motivated fans to make their visions a reality, no matter how impossible they could be.
Everyone Faces Anxiety
A feature most Peanuts fans recognize about its main character is Charlie's pessimistic outlook on life. Even when there's the possibility of happiness, Charlie Brown typically adopts a "glass half-full" perspective. In all fairness, this struggle makes him very relatable.
Anxiety isn't something that people should feel ashamed of having. It's completely normal, and there are healthy means of overcoming any sense of fear. If Charlie Brown can tackle anxiety, so can you.
Many face inner struggles and fears, and it can take intentional effort to view everything through a positive angle. Schultz makes it clear with Charlie Brown that everyone has doubts, even the ones who hide it the best. However, he also encourages people that behind every dark cloud, whether big or small, there is a rainbow of hope waiting on the other side.
Laughter Is The Best Medicine
One of Schultz's greatest strengths was his ability to portray humor in the mundane. Sometimes expressed through Charlie Brown's experiences, Charlie always managed to find his failures and worries silly, sharing a laugh with himself or with those he cared about.
One can't take life seriously all the time without the worries and stress of the world hanging around them. Instead, trying to find the joys in life, such as doing a fun activity or playing with others, helps remove the stress of life. As Charlie learns, having fun and laughing makes one human.
Never Give Up
Over the years, one of Charlie Brown's memorable staples has been his misfortune. From failing to kick a football to getting his kite stuck in a tree, his streak of bad luck knows no bounds. Even with all his failures, Charlie Brown possessed a quality that many desire at one point or another: determination.
Throughout his many losses, Charlie Brown always manages to dust off his shoes and try again. Although he may doubt himself at times, he perseveres, hoping that one day luck will be on his side and that he'll succeed at least once. While his wins are few and far between, readers know Charlie will keep at it until he wins.
It's Okay To Be Normal
In several forms of media, the protagonist usually gets overshadowed by their more fascinating side characters. For someone surrounded by other interesting kids and a comical dog, Charlie Brown is no exception. However, it's through his casual demeanor that one of Schultz's greatest lessons comes forth.
In life, readers will meet people who seem more talented, are better looking, or have more compelling lives than they do, making their lives seem mundane in comparison. This doesn't mean that they matter less than other people. Sometimes in life, it's alright to simply be alright. All that matters is being oneself, and the best way to do that is to practice being content. If Charlie Brown can be accepted as he is, without having to act like those around him, then so can anyone else.
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