It seems like I’m seeing a slideshow for some celebrity award show every other week in the media.  Nominees of all shapes and sizes.  It’s fun to celebrate the winner, but you have to feel for everyone else in the category. People who also did good work, even consistently, but somehow didn’t get the nod.  There was an item today about Michael Fassbender’s GQ cover where he talks about his possible Academy Award nomination: “At the beginning people [say], ‘You’re going to be going to the Oscars,’ and you’re like, ‘Whatever, doesn’t matter, don’t think so.’ But after a while it does penetrate. After a while you’re like, ‘Anyway, so I’m going to the Oscars…’ ” He laughs. “And you start to believe it. And I did. I thought I was going. And then I found out I wasn’t and I was upset. I was very upset by it. It’s a vanity thing. It does become important to you. And it shouldn’t.”

Do you ever feel like this is happening to you?  Keep your chin up if you happen to be the person getting passed over at the moment. Traditional prizes rarely take the meaningful things into consideration.   When I look at some of the favorite people in my life, they’ll never qualify for the awards they should:

Best vegan baker.

Kindest daughter.

Favorite Summer BBQ host and fantastic grillmaster.

Team member who always responds to their colleagues messages first.

Incredible Coach-Dad.

Most imaginative storyteller.

In case you don’t hear it from anyone else this week, let me be the first to congratulate you on your extraordinary accomplishment, whatever that is.  Don’t worry if you’re not getting a standing ovation everywhere you go.  As Denzel Washington’s Mom liked to remind him, “Man gives the award.  God gives the reward.”