Truth about Awards?

My quest to understand ‘Awards.’

 

Awards are frequently given to people for just about anything and everything. I recommend investing in a trophy shop, because the award business, like a mortician, is guaranteed job security.

Let’s slow walk through the process to make sure we don’t miss a step.

Using my 1945 Encarta Dictionary, I began with the word award and then picked out a particular word within the definition and then check that word’s definition. Sometimes this is necessary to reveal the true rationale of how something came into being

 

Recognition!

Award - something such as a prize that is given in recognition of somebody's merit or an achievement.

Achievement - something that somebody has succeeded in doing, usually with effort.

Effort - mental or physical energy that is exerted in order to achieve a purpose.

Purpose - the reason for which something exists or for which it has been done or made.

Reason - an explanation or justification for something.

Justification – a circumstance that justifies an action or attitude.

Attitude - an opinion or general feeling about something.

Opinion - a view regarding the worth of somebody or something.

 

EUREKA! I figured it out! Awards are opinions!

But if that’s the case, why are people so excited to get an award? And it’s common to hear people state how they don’t care about what other people think about them. But they accept the award, and tell the world how happy they are to receive the award, and post it all over social media sites.

The Truth

It's mostly about recognition. Some folks won’t readily admit it, but deep down inside, they feel good when someone, anyone, recognizes them for something they did that required a huge amount of effort.

A simple pat on the back can be just as important as any award, especially if it comes from a person with experience and who understands the journey.

 

“Mr. Kafka, have you ever won any awards?”

 “Yes, I have.”

 “For what?”

 “Stuff.”

 “Stuff? What does that even mean?”

 “jimmy, this conversation is making me uncomfortable.”

 “I’m certain it is.”

 “Can we go to lunch, now, please.”

 “Okay, Mr. Kafka, but afterwards, can I see the awards?”

 “No. I threw them all away.”

 “How convenient.”

 

-jk-