January 20 – Penguin Awareness Day!
Lessons Learned from Chilly Willy:
Perseverance
Be True To Yourself
Resourcefulness
Adaptability
Resilience
In the 1950s, there was a cartoon character named Chilly Willy. Chilly Willy was an adorable penguin who did not like the cold. He wore a red hat and a scarf. Chilly Willy wanted to escape the cold and head south to a warmer climate.
In this one episode, Chilly Willy is very cold. He starts ripping newspapers and throwing them in the fire to stay warm. One of the newspapers shows an ad for a fur warehouse. He finds the warehouse and spends the next few minutes trying to steal one of the furs. Except there is a “Beware of Dog” sign. Each time the penguin steals a fur, the dog chases him. The dog ends up putting all the furs behind a locked door. Then, Chilly Willy finds a razor and cuts the hair off the dog. He somehow manages to sew the hair together for a coat. The show ends with the dog putting the fur coat on his own tail, and then Chilly Willy’s head pops out of the coat on the tail.
In another episode, Chilly Willy is watching television and sees a commercial for an extreme sports competition where there will be plenty of food. Since he is hungry, he sees this sporting event as an opportunity to gain access to lots of food. Chilly Willy tunnels himself through the gate and competes in ice skating, windsurfing, and skiing events. All the while trying to evade the infamous security guard, Smedley, the dog. Chilly Willy goes on to win three gold medals!
Lesson #1 – Perseverance
Despite his small size, Chilly Willy is tenacious. He keeps at it. He has one goal. To stay warm. He takes risks. We learn from Chilly Willy that even the smallest creatures can achieve great things by focusing on new ideas. It takes persistence and determination for a little penguin to find warmth.
Lesson #2 – Be True To Yourself
Chilly Willy doesn’t behave like other penguins who love the cold. He has a charming personality and overcomes obstacles, even in the face of adversity. He often runs from Smedley, the dog who wants to eliminate the “pesky” penguin.
Lesson #3 – Resourcefulness
Chilly Willy showcases resourcefulness by using creative solutions to overcome challenges. He consistently utilizes resources that are readily available to him. Like turning the newspaper into fuel for warmth. Or turning the dog hair into a fur coat.
Lesson #4 – Adaptability
There is no challenge that Chilly Willy won’t try to overcome. Despite being a penguin, he adapts himself to his surroundings. His character emulates the very humanness of us all. He is vulnerable. He shows emotions. He creates humor when facing challenges. Hopefully, there is a little Chilly Willy in us all.
Lesson #5 – Resilience
Chilly Willy outsmarts Smedley, the dog, every time. But it is challenging. Chilly Willy bounces back from all types of circumstances, like the cat who has nine lives. The cute penguin does not let failures deter his spirit. He moves forward and continues his quest for whatever he seeks, like warmth or food.
So, in honor of Penguin Awareness Day, we salute Chilly Willy. This adorable little creature dressed in a tuxedo gave millions of people mindless laughter as he performed his many antics. If you haven’t met Chilly Willy, I encourage you to watch an episode on YouTube.
Chilly Willy Image Credit: Walter Lantz created character
#ChillyWilly #Resilience #Adaptability #Resourcefulness #BeTrueToYourself #Perseverance
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I and Thou Reflections 