In the Peanuts cartoon, Snoopy wishes he could be the Head Beagle. It is a position made up similar to a judge, prime minister or president. Snoopy wished at being in a position of authority and being a boss. Respect was his to be demanded and he was going to enjoy every second!
One day, Snoopy’s wish came true! He was elated and appointed Woodstock as secretary. What was once pure joy quickly turned into despair. Snoopy and Woodstock worked day and night without any appreciation. One day, Snoopy complained about making over 100 decisions.
“All of them wrong!” he exclaimed.
Later, he admitted, “I hate being the Head Beagle!”
How many of us have felt like Snoopy? We try our best, but sometimes the decisions we make are not the best. The world comes tumbling down. Everyone complains. No one is appreciative.
Whether you are a politician or a parent, a worker or a supervisor, we are faced with decisions each day. But how many do we make? I Googled the question and the following answer came up:
“Studies suggest the average adult makes about 35,000 remotely conscious decision each day. This high volume includes both conscious choices and sub-conscious micro-decisions – such as what to wear, eat, or look at. This averages about 2,000 decisions per hour or one every two seconds.”
Note to Snoopy: you made a lot more than 100 decisions! Not all of them wrong!
Just joking! It goes without saying the decisions Snoopy is referring to does not include what time to eat supper, when to dictate a letter to Woodstock or torment World War II, the neighbourhood cat next door. These are decisions in the make-belief world of comics that affect the lives of other dogs which is very important to Snoopy. In his world an unhappy dog is an unhappy world.
In the end, Snoopy cracks under the pressure and disappears. No one, including Woodstock, knows where Snoopy went. Many are worried until Charlie Brown goes to the telephone and rings up Peppermint Patty. She answers the phone and there is Snoopy dressed in World War 1 flying ace costume, complete with goggles, relaxing with a big smile in Patty’s lap. The pressure is off!
Many of us wish we could find a lap to crawl into when times get tough.
The creator of Peanuts, Charles M. Schulz, was a master. Like many cartoonists, I believe he was trying to teach us a lesson through humour. Careful what you wish for!
Not all of us are destined to be leaders. Like Snoopy, we may think we are, but it is certainly not the case. When reality hits us, it hits hard and sometimes with vengeance. It is difficult to take prompting many of us to search for a release. Like Snoopy, many run away and find a place of great comfort. Others just quit.
There is no shame in failing as a leader. We are not all meant to be leaders. The world does not run on leaders alone, just like the beehive does not run only on the queen. The workers have their place which is vital to the operation of the hive. A dominant female lion leads the pride in the hunt. Such is the way in the animal kingdom and in the human world. Some of us do not realize it, however,
So Snoopy realizes he is not a leader! Big Deal! Schulz just turns the pages and goes onto the next cartoon. How many of us wish it was just as easy?
Chris Clegg