Your Own Personal Awards Ceremony (Suzanne Forster)

As I was watching the Academy Awards on Sunday, it occurred to me that we ordinary folks ought to have our own awards ceremonies. And why wait a whole year? Make it once a week. Gather your family or friends around the dinner table and hand out awards. Celebrate your small victories and your unsung acts right along with your major triumphs, which are always too few and far between.

I don’t see any reason why actors and film makers should get all the awards. Everyday life is lots more challenging than acting, as far as I’m concerned. Most if not all of us do award-worthy things every day. Some days just getting up is an act of courage. Did you get up this morning? Get dressed? Give yourself an award.

It’s probably hard to find someone who doesn’t do at least one honorable thing every day, even if it’s just holding the door open for someone. Or smiling at a stranger. Did you resist throwing that litter out the window of your car today? Bravo! Most of us have built into us the desire to aid our fellow man and to preserve the planet. Thank goodness, or we might not have survived as a species.

I would also suggest that you name the award. Maybe your own name? I think I’ll go with the name I grew up with, Suzi.

This week I’m awarding myself a Suzi for surviving the crud. Damn bugs may have won every round so far, but they haven’t kayo’d me yet. I’m still fighting, and I honestly feel a bit like champ for hanging in there this long. It did occur to me this weekend that I should probably see the doctor and get some ammo to help me do battle against the little nano-terrorists that have invaded my nasal passages and sinus cavities and taken up residence in my lungs.

No doubt they consider this a great vacation. And here I am, flat on my back, while they’re doing the backstroke in my fluid-filled chest.

I’m already making mental notes of various kudos for the dh at our next ceremony. He will definitely be getting a round of applause for searching out the best possible deal on a new washer and dryer. We may have to drink a toast to the appliance sales man, too, who steered us away from a name brand that’s become questionable. He actually recommended a less expensive set from another maker, to the detriment of his own commission. Better quality and service, he told us. Now, that’s honorable.

My Storybroad compatriots are also deserving of awards. They’re courageous women all, and each a survivor in her own way. Maggie Shayne certainly deserves an award, not just for surviving, but for rising like a Phoenix, again and again. Literally, this time. If you read the blog about Maggie recently, you know her house was badly damaged in a fire, and her two dogs were lost. It was a terrible tragedy, but at least Maggie wasn’t hurt, and we were grateful to know that her sweet dogs fell asleep, expiring from carbon monoxide and not from the fire.

There probably aren’t enough awards for courage where Maggie’s concerned. This week, I’m also going to try and tempt her with an award for letting others show her their love and support, which I know is a little tougher for Maggie. She’s an earth mother of the first order, always sharing inspiration and loving advice.

Which brings me to you, gentle blog reader. What are you awarding yourself? How did you show valor and courage this week? Or was it patience? Did you clear the way or hold the door for someone older or disabled? Did you brave the grocery store with your brood? As for valor, even parallel parking the car counts as far as I’m concerned.

It’s a new week. Celebrate yourself!

Suz