Middle-Pause Pump-Priming PromptW

What Academy Are You, and What Awards Are You Giving Out?

Not just for those who’ve touched your life but for yourself as well.

I’m writing this on Sunday, March 27–Oscar night!

Or it will be soon.

So despite all the gloom and doom going on around me, there’s some festivity in the air. Folks are dressing up for Oscar parties. In each other’s homes or in local theaters or pubs that have opened their doors for such celebrations. And charging a pretty penny for it.

If you follow me here, you’ll know I’m rooting for Frances McDormand. Come to find out, she’s not nominated for anything. Oops. I misspoke.

Her co-star, Denzel Washington is up or best actor in The Tragedy of Macbeth. But Lady M, of out, out damn spot fame is out of the running. This time.

In her stead, we get to root for Jessica Chastain, Olivia Colemen, Nicole Kidman, Penelope Cruz, and/or Kristen Stewart. All fine performances. All deserving of awards. It’s too bad they have to compete.

Because shouldn’t excellence, bravery, or making a difference be honored and awarded whenever it occurs? Without having to compete against other excellent, brave, or caring people?

If the world needs more of all those things, shouldn’t they be encouraged and incentivized?

Even if the world doesn’t, we certainly can.

And will. If you’re willing

Which brings me and us to this week’s Middle-Pause Pump-Priming Prompt: What Academy are you, and what Awards are you giving out? Not just for those who’ve touched your life but for yourself as well.

Here’s my suggestion for this prompt:

Think about people you would love to honor. And why. It can be for any reason, not just the three I mentioned.

They can be people you know personally. Or people you know of. For our Middle-Pause focus, if they are women in the middle of their lives, all the better. But if there’s someone you’re called to award who is younger or male-er, no problem.

Let your heart speak.

I would say, aim for at least three. They can be in any category, awarded by any Academy. You get to name, i.e. make up the Academy. The Oscars are awarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Maybe you’re awarding your sister for ceaseless devotion to animals that need rescuing from cruelty and neglect. Pick a name for the Academy that would give her an Oscar for her humanitarian work. Such as the Pet Protection Academy. Or the Academy of Friends of St. Francis.

Then name or describe your winner or winners. You can create as many Academies as you need or want to honor as many folks as you care to. It could be a group award. First Responders in a disaster. Or the women of Ukraine for example.

And finally, give yourself an award.

I know, I know. Easier said than done.

But remember, I have to go first. So if I can, you can. Humblebrag is okay. Blowing your horn from the rafters, even better. We all get horny every now and again, right? Use that sexy energy to toot and tout yourself. You have my permission and invitation.

After all, if nobody responds to this prompt, I’m going to be lonely hanging out here by myself.

I won’t know till I try it. So here goes:

For Courage in the face of Disaster

The Academy of Persistence, Perseverance, and Keeping On Keeping On hereby awards an Oscar of Endearing Endurance to my sister, Faith.

She’s raised two amazing daughters while working full time, being both boss and practitioner at her veterinary clinic. She’s kept it open for people’s pets during this pandemic. She’s provided car-side service, to keep folks safe. And works her butt off when staff no-shows.

Not only all that, she’s shouldered her way through fire and flood. When she came home from a vacation, once to a house fire, and more recently to a kitchen flood, she did not fall apart, as I would have.

She modeled courage with a wry sense of humor, as she lived out of suitcases for months at a time. She’s brave enough to plan yet another vacation while renovations yet continue. She is my hero!!!!

For Unwavering Faith, Strength, and Motherly Love

The Academy of Godly Grandmothers and Miracle Makers awards the Oscar of Fearless Faith in the Face of You-Name-It, She-Overcame-It to our Middle-Pause fearless leader and founder, Debbie Walker.

Debbie survived and thrived after being abused, rejected, and abandoned as a child and teenager. Disowned for breaking racial taboos, on her own young and pregnant. She overcame addictions and afflictions most of us will not ever have to deal with.

She’s raised a round of kids, and instead of resting, is raising a round of grandchildren. Against the advice of friends concerned about her health, she rescued a granddaughter who was dying of neglect. She’s now a lively, boundary-testing teenager.

Debbie keeps the prayers going and her faith flowing through personal health challenges and days when pain forces her to rest her body.

Meanwhile, her mind and heart continue loving and leading, writing, and publishing, launching vision after vision. Publications, books, podcasts, and more. Thank you, Debbie! You’re truly an overcoming inspiration for all of us.

For Those who Sing, While the Rest of Us Scream

The Academy of Moving Melodies and Heartfelt Harmonies presents a lifetime achievement award to all those unnamed folk whose response to horror and tragedy includes gifting the world with music.

The man who plays his cello between burnt-out buildings in Kyiv. The woman who played a Chopin nocturne before leaving her bombed-out house. Mommies singing lullabies to their babies in shelters.

The myriads of folks singing their way through misfortune and disaster, reminding us all to have hope. The orchestras and choirs of the ghettos, concentration and refugee camps. The brave German soldiers who rose from their WWI trenches with Silent Night on their lips, and peace in their hearts.

Songs arising from prisons, battlefields, torture chambers, places we expect moans and wails. The ones whose last breath, and indeed their whole lives was a song. Let their lives and music uplift us all and fill our hearts with mercy, grace, and joy.

Oh dear, now I have to give myself an award.

I’ll spare you all the thoughts running through my head, rejecting idea after idea. I had to shut that chatter off, get still, and ask my Higher Power to determine my award.

Once I got still, here’s what came through: the Academy of Noticers and Witnesses give an Oscar Of Awe and Appreciation to Marilyn Flower for holding up a mirror to the world so it can see its own beauty.

I’m sitting humbly with that, so tempted to write, I do not deserve this award. It should go to ___ and ____. Then I have to take a deep breath and remember I designed this prompt free of competition.

We have all made a difference somewhere, someway, somehow. It may take you a minute to remember. That’s okay. Take that minute. Honor yourself. It’s a scary blessing we all deserve. Do not miss it!

All right. Your turn.

Again the prompt: What Academy are you, and what Awards are you giving out? Not just for those who’ve touched your life, but for yourself as well.

Make up the Academies. Make up the awards. And don’t forget to award yourself. Meanwhile, enjoy the Oscars! We look forward to hearing from you!

What are you ‘too old’ or ‘too scared’ to do? Let me show you how!

Marilyn Flower writes humor to laugh the changes she wants to see and make. She’s the author of Creative Blogging: Ninja Writers Guide to Character Development and Bucket Listers, Get Your Brave On: How to Do the Thing You’re ‘Too Old’ & ‘Too Scared’ to Do. Clowning and improvisation strengthen her resolve during these crazy times. Follow my Sacred Foolishness and Stay in touch!