Sue, this is such a compelling excavation—not just of memorabilia but of identity, values, and the throughlines that connect who we were to who we are. It’s powerful to see how these childhood moments, like quoting MLK Jr. in that oratorical contest, weren’t just fleeting achievements but reflections of a deeper conviction that still guides you today.
Your DEI trophy isn’t just an object; it’s a touchstone—a moment in time that continues to ripple outward, shaping the way you move through the world. That connection between past and present, between what we once believed and how we enact those beliefs now, is at the heart of real transformation. The echoes of our experiences inform not just our personal evolution but the larger systems we engage with.
I also love how you challenge the idea that leaving a faith tradition means leaving behind the core values it instilled. Belief isn’t about rigid adherence to labels—it’s about what still vibrates as true within us, what continues to shape our actions, and the way we contribute to the world. That awareness, that choice to engage consciously with our past instead of just storing it in a box, is where growth happens.
The way you weave personal history with the larger cultural and political landscape is striking. Examining our own stories doesn’t just help us understand ourselves better; it creates space for others to do the same. That’s how we disrupt outdated narratives, challenge inherited beliefs, and move toward a more just and inclusive world.
Thanks for sharing this—it’s a reminder that the past isn’t just something we sort through but something that continues to shape us. And on a practical note, thanks for the trophy recycling tip! I imagine quite a few of us have a box (or several) waiting for that kind of solution. 🏆✨
Thank you for reading, Tom! And for this thoughtful reply. I feel seen. :-) I really enjoy the essay form for the way thoughts can hop around in time and make connections that might not readily be apparent. It's a form that helps us better understand ourselves and even explain ourselves to ourselves, not only to others. Cheers!
Thanks for another thought-provoking essay, Sue. I'm starting to realize why I enjoy your writing so much. Besides the fact that you write well, we have more than a few things in common. I also have a large box of trophies that need to go (thanks, Kate, for the donation idea). As a result of winning all those trophies, my knees don't work quite as well as I would like. I, too, went to Catholic grade school (also St. Al's… in my case St. Alphonsus) and Catholic high school. I am a “fallen away” Catholic who long ago abandoned the theology and the institutional church but who still pretty much operates by the “be good to other people, or at least don’t be an arsehole” values that I was taught in Catholic school. Those values, however simple, seem to be in short supply lately. We’ll get through this. Onward.
Thanks, as always, for reading, Tom. And for sharing all those things we have in common. I did not know most of them! But I certainly did know that we share the same core values. We are going to need them to pull us through. Yes---onward.
Well done, Sue! I love learning about your former achievements and interests, sports being so foreign to my personal realm. It's your writing that drew me toward you and, I must say, your compassion for others. I guess that's leadership—much admired by me. Carry on! I trust you to not get rid of essential research!!
Thank you for reading, Char! I realize I never said what I would hold onto or let go of in this post. I will go back and edit that… But you can be sure I am not getting rid of essential research. Some things will be left for my children to dispose of when the time comes!
Keep all those trophies you possibly can. Due to my own circumstances, I have nothing from my childhood other than memories and one baby photo. Nothing to pass on to my childern and grand children. Nothing.
Sue, this is such a compelling excavation—not just of memorabilia but of identity, values, and the throughlines that connect who we were to who we are. It’s powerful to see how these childhood moments, like quoting MLK Jr. in that oratorical contest, weren’t just fleeting achievements but reflections of a deeper conviction that still guides you today.
Your DEI trophy isn’t just an object; it’s a touchstone—a moment in time that continues to ripple outward, shaping the way you move through the world. That connection between past and present, between what we once believed and how we enact those beliefs now, is at the heart of real transformation. The echoes of our experiences inform not just our personal evolution but the larger systems we engage with.
I also love how you challenge the idea that leaving a faith tradition means leaving behind the core values it instilled. Belief isn’t about rigid adherence to labels—it’s about what still vibrates as true within us, what continues to shape our actions, and the way we contribute to the world. That awareness, that choice to engage consciously with our past instead of just storing it in a box, is where growth happens.
The way you weave personal history with the larger cultural and political landscape is striking. Examining our own stories doesn’t just help us understand ourselves better; it creates space for others to do the same. That’s how we disrupt outdated narratives, challenge inherited beliefs, and move toward a more just and inclusive world.
Thanks for sharing this—it’s a reminder that the past isn’t just something we sort through but something that continues to shape us. And on a practical note, thanks for the trophy recycling tip! I imagine quite a few of us have a box (or several) waiting for that kind of solution. 🏆✨
Thank you for reading, Tom! And for this thoughtful reply. I feel seen. :-) I really enjoy the essay form for the way thoughts can hop around in time and make connections that might not readily be apparent. It's a form that helps us better understand ourselves and even explain ourselves to ourselves, not only to others. Cheers!
Thanks for another thought-provoking essay, Sue. I'm starting to realize why I enjoy your writing so much. Besides the fact that you write well, we have more than a few things in common. I also have a large box of trophies that need to go (thanks, Kate, for the donation idea). As a result of winning all those trophies, my knees don't work quite as well as I would like. I, too, went to Catholic grade school (also St. Al's… in my case St. Alphonsus) and Catholic high school. I am a “fallen away” Catholic who long ago abandoned the theology and the institutional church but who still pretty much operates by the “be good to other people, or at least don’t be an arsehole” values that I was taught in Catholic school. Those values, however simple, seem to be in short supply lately. We’ll get through this. Onward.
Thanks, as always, for reading, Tom. And for sharing all those things we have in common. I did not know most of them! But I certainly did know that we share the same core values. We are going to need them to pull us through. Yes---onward.
Such a good reflection, and a timely message and call to action. We will never back down from MLKs call to action. 💪🏻💪🏿💪💪🏾💪🏼
PS https://www.today.com/parents/parents/childhood-trophies-rcna122101
I’ve donated all of my medals and trophies to groups who reuse 🏆
And to the more substantive matter—no, we will never back down!
Kate—thank you so much for this idea to donate! I did not know what I was going to do with them. I will keep a couple and the rest will go!
Well done, Sue! I love learning about your former achievements and interests, sports being so foreign to my personal realm. It's your writing that drew me toward you and, I must say, your compassion for others. I guess that's leadership—much admired by me. Carry on! I trust you to not get rid of essential research!!
Thank you for reading, Char! I realize I never said what I would hold onto or let go of in this post. I will go back and edit that… But you can be sure I am not getting rid of essential research. Some things will be left for my children to dispose of when the time comes!
Keep all those trophies you possibly can. Due to my own circumstances, I have nothing from my childhood other than memories and one baby photo. Nothing to pass on to my childern and grand children. Nothing.
Pass along whatever legacy you can.