Here are four philosophies to live by in 2004

Saints & Sinners by George Plagenz

If you're like most people, you will "take life as it comes" in 2004, and you probably won't need any philosophy of life to see you through the year.

If, however, you want to have a hand in shaping what the new year brings, a philosophy of life might help. Here are four to choose from:

ISI NEWBORN'S PHILOSOPHY -- The late Isi Newborn was a handicapper of horses for a newspaper. But his attitude toward betting on horses stamped him as a philosopher as well.

When we were colleagues in The Cleveland Press sports department years ago, I noticed Newborn never seemed dejected when a horse he had bet on lost a race -- unlike most other people. I asked him what system he used to beat the horse player's blues.

"Simple," he said. "I do my best to pick the winner but when I pay my two bucks at the window, I consider my money gone -- just as I would if I had spent it on a box of cigars or for getting my car washed. I never expect to see it again."

"Of course," Newborn added quickly, "I never tear up my ticket. My horse just might surprise me and win!"

The unhappiness of many people is due to the fact that they feel life hasn't repaid them for the good they have done. They feel cheated.

They might do well to adopt the Newborn philosophy: "Do your best and expect nothing in return. But don't tear up the ticket you hold on life's race." That is, don't become cynical. There may be surprises in store for you.

On a Christmas card I received was this message that reminded me of my old friend: "To believe in God is to know that all the rules will be fair and there will be wonderful surprises."

NANCY'S PHILOSOPHY

Nancy is a 25-year-old friend of mine whose philosophy is, "Expect the worst." She says it shields her from disappointment.

For example, she tells herself every Saturday night, "Nobody will call me to go out." If nobody does, she is not disappointed like the girl who sits by the phone all evening waiting expectantly — but in vain — for the phone to ring.

Many people have Nancy's philosophy. They set their hopes and goals so low that they never have to risk the chance that these hopes and goals will be disappointed.

This, however, is really not a satisfactory philosophy of life because there is a difference between being happy and merely keeping disappointment from the door. We'll just leave it as the Saturday Night Philosophy.

CLERGYMAN NORMAN VINCENT PEALE'S

PHILOSOPHY

"Expect the best," Peale advised, "and this will tend, like a magnet, to draw the best to you."

This philosophy seems to have worked for some people but not for others. In the case of the latter, although they confidently expected the best, they didn't get it. Thus they became disillusioned. Nothing is worse than that. Even Nancy is better off with her Saturday Night Philosophy than the person whose illusions have been shattered.

The people who are successful with Peale's philosophy realize that expecting the best is something like expecting a baby. The expectant mother doesn't have a baby simply by expecting it. She does something about having a baby and then she becomes an expectant mother.

Expecting the best would be a good philosophy, therefore, if it combines "doing" with having an optimistic attitude on life.

OPTIMISTS CLUB

PHILOSOPHY

The objectives of the Optimists Club include encouragement of youth, inspiring respect for the law, promoting an active interest in good government and developing optimism as a philosophy of life.

This is the Optimists' Creed: Promise yourself:

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your piece of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel there is something worthwhile in them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best, to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give a smile to every living creature you meet.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

In a city where I once lived there was an Optimists Club that had a luncheon meeting once a month. Oddly enough, there wasn't a single clergyman in its membership.

In any case, may these four philosophies help guide you through your new year.

George Plagenz is a national religion writer whose column, Saints and Sinners, appears every Tuesday on the Religion page.