Everyday hero awards
I used to watch the Oscars every year. I wanted to be a filmmaker, and I imagined I'd someday be in the Kodak Theater. I would take my mom because that's cute. When I won, which obviously I would, I'd act like it was a surprise — that I didn't even want to go up there on stage. It was my 4th or 5th time being nominated, so everyone was really happy for me because I'm such a humble guy in Hollywood.
Would I thank Jesus? I would. And then, in the following interview I did, I'd be hit with questions about my views on guns, the environment, or the election. I would say something that would somehow make both sides angry and be subsequently canceled by the left and the right, ending my career.
But none of that has happened. Because they don't give awards for ordinary, everyday moments. But they should.
Like:
To the couple who have maintained that cast-iron skillet from Target for over 5 years, for all the Crisco and the elbow grease from the stainless steel scrubber, and for googling how to properly season it by baking it in the oven for an hour, bravo, my friends, here’s an everyday hero award.
To the guy who actually asked the girl out: the ball was in your court, and you took a shot: here’s an everyday hero award.
To the people who got screwed by an airline and were still nice to the gate agent: the guy from Atlanta traveling on business said some insulting things to the agent on his way to the lounge, but you, you were kind, went to Auntie Anne's and posted up in the concourse. Sure, you cursed the airlines in your texts to your family, but Amy at the gate doesn't know that. Here’s an everyday hero award.
To the person who disagreed on an issue and genuinely wanted to discuss it with someone on the other side in good faith, it didn't go well, and things got a little heated. But you tried: here’s an everyday hero award.
To the coach who gave up high school football for his son's coach-pitch baseball team: your son will never forget it, and neither will you. Here’s an everyday hero award.
To the Gigis, the Nanas, the Fifis, the Mamaws, and the Grandmamas: You are the greatest amongst us and deserve a standing ovation from 14 Kodak theaters worth of people. Here’s an everyday hero award.
To the mom whose chest is the most comfortable bed on the planet for a newborn, here’s an everyday hero award.
To the female pastor who wants to love and disciple her people well without all the squabbles about women as pastors and what that means, here’s an everyday hero award.
To the person on their third anti-depressant: You keep looking for reasons and ways to get out of bed in the morning. Here’s an everyday hero award.
To the guy who's tried fourteen times to quit smoking, chewing, drinking, porn, etc: maybe fourteen is the number. Bravo, my brave friend. Here’s an everyday hero award.
To the customer service rep who just took it on the chin, they don't see your face and forget you are a human. And yeah, your company messed them over. But you stayed on the phone with them until the end and eventually got them that refund (the accounting department is so slow). Here’s an everyday hero award.
To the teachers who haven't quit: my goodness, here’s an everyday hero award.
I could keep going because so many of you should be walking humbly to a stage, giving a speech, thanking too many people, and getting played out with music while we all applaud.
Bravo, bravo.
Love this concept. I used to toss around the idea of a blog called Ordinary Extraordinaries (or something similar). Basically, like HoNY, highlighting regular people who are just awesome. You got that across way better in significantly less words.