The object of a New Year is not that we should have a new year. It is that we should have a new soul . . .  – G. K. Chesterton

T onight the New Year begins. Perhaps our readers may like to browse again the words of G. K. Chesterton, "The Wisdom of Charlie Brown" and a collection of “Native-American  Wise Words to Live By." Perhaps these words will inspire our Dear Readers and the Filipino and American leaders to do better in the coming year. For at stake is our collective future and their respective nation’s patrimony is not just worth the equivalent of peanuts. (As updated on Dec. 30, 2013.)

H ere is the rest of Mr. Chesterton’s message: That aside from “a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes. Unless a particular man made New Year resolutions, he would make no resolutions. Unless a man starts afresh about things, he will certainly do nothing effective. Unless a man starts on the strange assumption that he has never existed before, it is quite certain that he will never exist afterwards. Unless a man be born again, he shall by no means enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.”

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The Wisdom of Charlie Brown
By Jim Allen

Editor's Note: Reprinted with permission from Mr. Allen, who is a very prosperous business-success coach. He can be reached at jim@coachjim.com. Mr. Allen also publishes a very informative web site, http://www.CoachJim.com.



The Top 10 Lessons I Learned from Charlie Brown 
By Jim Allen

F or 50 years the daily comic strip "Peanuts" entertained millions of readers. Every day, the adventures of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus and the whole gang provided many laugh-out-loud moments while at the same time offering a daily inspiration and lessons on life.

With the  recent death of "Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz, I reflect on how much I  enjoyed sharing the adventures of the "Peanuts" gang and I remember the many  lessons they taught me...

1. It's okay to be afraid... just don't let your fears control you.
Charlie Brown often sat  in bed and spoke of his fears, but no matter how scared he was, he always did the things he wanted to do.

2. Persistence wins out. 
Charlie Brown often lost, failed at much, but he never gave up. Even though he knew Lucy was going to pull the football away before he could kick it . . . Even though he knew the tree was going to eat his kite . . . Even though he knew his team would lose the ball game, he kept on trying.

3. It's what you think of yourself that matters most. 
Linus carried a security blanket for years and his friends laughed at him. They also laughed at him because he believed in the "Great Pigpen," was a walking cloud of dust and dirt and was often regarded unkindly. Both characters, however, were always proud of themselves and believed they were as good as anybody else -- and they were  right.

4. Sometimes you need to talk. 
One thing the "Peanuts" gang understood was the importance of talking things out. Whether leaning up against Schroeder's piano or atop the brick wall, they always had someplace to discuss what was  of concern to them.

5. Sometimes you need to listen. 
Even crabby, self-indulged Lucy knew the importance of listening. She started the famous "Psychiatry Booth" where any and all could come and be heard.

6. Do what you love to do. 
Through all their adventures, Schroeder remained constant in his appreciation of Beethoven and his love of playing the piano. He loved to play piano and that's what he did, regardless of the circumstances. Charlie Brown flew his kite, played baseball and football, not just to win (he knew he wouldn't), but because he loved to do those things.

7. It's important to have friends that care. 
The "Peanuts" gang was made up of individual characters, each with their own foibles and talents, but through it all they  were always there for each other.

8. Big dreams lead to big things!
Snoopy was the biggest dreamer of them all, but his wild imagination often led to even wilder, more fantastic adventures in real life. Snoopy knew that you must have a big dream if you are going to lead a big life.

9. Action creates reality. 
As Charlie Brown was reminded time and again after prodding from Linus: it takes action to bring about change. Though he often failed, Chuck took action quite regularly . . . and every now and again things would go his way.

10. Laugh every day! 
While the kids themselves might not have seen the humor in the things they did, Schulz made sure that WE did. Life is only as serious or as humorous as YOU make it . . . Lighten up. Go play softball.  Fly a kite. Dance with your dog. Smile . . . it makes people wonder what you're up to.

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Native-American Wise Words to Live By

Editor's Notes: The "Native-American Wise Words” were sent by our Contributor Mike Kolberg, who in turn received this compilation from Ms. Linda Layton.

· Each person is his own judge. Pima
· Silence has so much meaning. Yurok
· Do not allow anger to poison you. Hopi
· Knowledge that is not used is abused. Cree
· The greatest strength is gentleness. Iroquois
· Deeds speak louder than words. Assiniboine
· Do not only point out the way. Lead the way. Sioux
· There is no death, only a change of worlds. Duwamish
· With all things and in all things, we are relatives. Sioux
· Don't let yesterday use up too much of today. Cherokee
· No one else can represent your conscience. Anishinabe
· We will be known forever by the tracks we leave. Dakota
· Walk lightly in the spring. Mother Earth is pregnant. Kiowa
· Inner peace and love are the greatest of gifts. Tenton Sioux
· The more you give, the more good things come to you. Crow
· Be satisfied with the needs, instead of the wants. Tenton Sioux
· Life is not separate from death. It only looks that way. Blackfoot
· Listen to the voice of nature, for it holds treasures for you. Huron
· Love one another and do not strive for another's undoing. Seneca
· Take only what you need and leave the land as you found it. Arapaho
· Don't be afraid to cry. It will free your mind of sorrowful thoughts. Hopi
· When a man moves away from nature, his heart becomes hard. Lakota
· We are friends. We must assist each other to bear our burdens. Osage
· Strive to be a person who is never absent from an important act. Osage
· Everyone who is successful must have dreamed of something. Maricopa
· What is past and cannot be prevented should not be grieved for. Pawnee
· Do not speak of evil for it creates curiosity in the hearts of the young. Lakota
· Speak truth in humility to all people. Only then can you be a true man. Sioux
· Ask questions from your heart and you will be answered from the heart. Omaha
· Judge not your neighbor until you walk two moons in his moccasins. Cheyenne
· You must live your life from beginning to end. No one else can do it for you. Hopi
· It is no longer good enough to cry "peace". We must act peace, live peace and live in peace. Shenandoah
· There can never be peace between nations until it is first known that true peace is within the souls of men. Oglala Sioux
· Love yourself. Get outside of yourself and take action. Focus on the solution. Be at peace. Sioux.

T he columnists, contributors, writers, editors and webmaster of the www.mabuhayradio.com wish one and all, especially our Dear Subscribers, the very best in 2014 and the years to come.

Lynn Co (as shared in the Facebook)