Willie Wilkerson was a real whiner. He wouldn’t last a day at The Change Companies®, where we’ve posted a sign promoting our solution to life’s little challenges. It says, “Buck up. Eat a banana. Walk around the block.”
This message certainly could have helped my friend. I knew Willie back when I hung out at a bar called Lucky’s. Everyone who wasn’t lucky used to meet there after work to feed off each other’s pessimism and self-pity. Willie’s specialty was being a victim of his boss, his wife, his neighbors and the government. Nothing was Willie’s fault. And when it came to action, he was always a nitpicking spectator.
Today, I think of how Willie stacks up against our sign.
As individuals, we can choose to buck up or keep complaining.
We can eat a banana or drink another beer.
We can walk around the block or twirl dizzily on a barstool.
Whenever I feel like giving up on a worthy challenge, I think of Willie Wilkerson while I’m lacing up my red high-tops.