This is Sheriff Peanut Butter Brickle. I am all about work. I even work when I am asleep. Punching the time clock is natural for me when you are naturally the best at your job. And naturally gorgeous. But that’s a different story for a different day. Today? It is all about a man that deserves respect. A man that knows punctuality is important. A man that knows he isn’t just any man. He is an alligator. He. Is. Ollie Gator.
It’s been said that all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. I don’t know who Jack is, but Ollie Gator would beg to disagree. Actually, he doesn’t have to beg. He just does. A nine to five job? Neither Ollie Gator or I knows what that is about.
We have 24 hour jobs. And we are pretty good at what we do. It is just that Ollie Gator and I have an understanding. We understand that we each have to run our own companies without interference. I respect his line of work. He respects mine. And we don’t cross paths. No. We don’t cross paths. He sticks to the lake. I stick to the beach.
When I think of what Ollie Gator could put on his resume, I hope that it is up to date. You always need an up to date resume to take care of business in case your business goes out of business.
The first strength that Ollie Gator has is his time skills. Every morning when we take our walk here at camp, he is on the same path in the lake. He isn’t speeding. He is going the correct speed. And although I am not so confident of a driver, I know that he deserves to be in the Daytona 500. No, not for his speed, but for his sense of direction, his stealthiness, his calmness under pressure.
The first time that we saw him, I suppose that we didn’t appreciate his work ethic. Imagine our surprise when he was there…every…morning. And so as the days went on, we knew where to look for him. We saw other persons looking at him. And I wondered. Do I get enough praise for my job well done? Should I be envious of this alligator man named Ollie Gator? Because as much as I sit on the beach every night, no one is watching me that closely.
I think that we all have an Ollie Gator in our lives. Someone who may or may not be an alligator, or a man, or an alligator man, and who we may think is doing better in life. Maybe we think that they are a better success at what they do. Maybe we think that they get more peanut butter cookies in pay, or raises in pancakes. But we have to understand. There is no room for envy. There is no room for jealously. If we all are doing the best that we can at what we do, then we will be happy for the ones that are doing the same.
Life isn’t about competition. It is about being the best that you are in your own lake or on your own beach.
Ollie Gator may be the best at what he does. But it goes without saying, but I will say it, that I am the Sheriff. The speed limit around here is known. And I have a road block, Ollie Gator, on the trail that leads to the beach. Don’t make me arrest you. I’ll be watching.
-Sheriff Peanut Butter Brickle
