Listen here pilgrim

This week some of us witnessed a rather mild debate over who would win in a showdown between John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. And you know why that’s such a difficult one to call? Because these heroes seem to do everything right. John Wayne challenges four armed men on horses—and wins. Eastwood saves a man from a hanging by shooting the rope in two. If I had to pick a winner, I would predict it to be just like the Batman v Superman fight. A big, spectacular fight with one of them finally getting the edge, but just when you think it’s all over but the crying… they team up and face a big ugly monster.

It can be discouraging looking at these heroes. They can do no wrong. Tonight I watched The Peanuts Movie with Joy and the girls (There was a pile of kids outside playing basketball. You think Luke would miss that for a computer animated movie?), and I thought about just how much I can relate to Charlie Brown. Throughout the entire movie everything he does turns to a steaming pile. And honestly, sometimes it feels like I can’t do anything right either.

• I’ll spend hours on a project in my business that should have taken one.

• I’ll pay off a big bill only to incur another one.

• I’ll blame one of my kids for something their sibling did. Or, most often, something that I did.

• I’ll decide to spend the extra money for quality, and whatever it is breaks down. Then I lose the receipt.

• I’ll try to fix a problem and create ten more in the process.

The worst is when I let this stuff brew inside me. I think about these things over and over again for long periods of time. It just simmers. It’s only a matter of time before it’ll start boiling.

But tonight that ol’ blockhead inspired me. Not only was I cheering him on tonight like I did when I was a kid reading comics, but I was also revisited by those “Happiness is…” posters that were making their rounds in libraries, school classrooms, and kids’ bedrooms.

• Happiness is five different crayons.

• Happiness is a warm puppy.

• Happiness is a stack of comic books.

• Happiness is sharing a sandwich.

• Happiness is coming home again.

I fail. I fail a lot. But so do you. And you—you reading this right now—if I know you, then I probably look at you as someone who is more together than I am. Better than I am. Yet you shake your head wondering how I could think that. Yes, I fail. But happiness is all around me. I’m not Clint Eastwood or John Wayne, but neither are they. They are Clinton Eastwood Jr. and Marion Mitchell Morrison, two men who I’m sure have lost a receipt at some point in their lives.

Congratulations This is your week.

And the Oscar goes to…

Best Actress: Natalie Wood as Debbie Edwards in

Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio as Calvin Candie in

Best Quote: “There are two kinds of people in the world, my friend: Those with a rope around the neck, and the people who have the job of doing the cutting.” — Eli Wallach as Tuco in

• Happiness is making a stranger laugh.

• Happiness is Mini-Wheats and coffee in bed.

• Happiness is the first snowfall.

• Happiness is familiar faces.

• Happiness is writing whatever’s on your mind.

Movie of the Week