“..and mirrors of
success reflect in me”
A trophy is a reward of
evidence and recognition for a specific accomplishment. They are symbols of
victory and merit. Trophies are most often handed out to the winners of
sporting events. Seldom few elite tennis players rise through the ranks without
being recipients of at least a few trophies along the way. Their trophies are nothing
more than prizes, an endgame for the work that produced recognition.
My first trophy was
awarded to me as an eleven-year-old Little Leaguer. As a group, our Phillies
softball team earned the trophy for the Major Girls’ title. The golden-colored
softball player that stands on top of the marble platform is a symbol specific
to the sport of softball. It is symbolic of hard work and effort. Not every Little
Leaguer receives a trophy just for showing up to the ball field every game. No,
the trophies are dedicated to those few who accomplish victory. But some of us
are victorious in other ways, in ways that don’t always warrant a trophy. Trophies
are designed for winners, but the real reward comes long after the trophy
begins collecting dust.
What would your life’s trophy
look like? Our true contributions, the ones that touch people’s lives, most often
go unrecognized. Has someone ever “won you over” without a trophy? There are
folks who never know their effort has produced a winner. Think about all these intangible
actions for a moment: A smile or understanding gaze. A few words spoken to
change someone’s mind. The silent prayers. The friend who gives gracefully. Battlefield
soldiers long forgotten in good season. Relationships joined together without
proof or reason. It’s so easy to declare
a winner in sports. The tennis player who tallies the highest amount of games
will earn that trophy. The player who prevails always receives the highest
recognition. There are accomplishments
in life too. Merit awards. Talent trophies. Career recognitions. These symbols
are all very special, but I argue the most important trophy of all is the one
no ever places on a mantle. The trophy unseen, the one earned not just by
tangible contributions, is the true reward.
“…I’m that star up in
the sky”
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