While some people like the public and permanent nature of plaques and trophies, I have never been one to value them. And apparently, I’m not the only one.
Our thrift store has a whole shelf of donated trophies. I donated a stack of wooden plaque backings (and recycled the engraved metal fronts) from plaques that no longer had meaning. I imagine the landfills are full of more of them, plus medals, ribbons, and other awards. And as participation trophies proliferate, I suspect that the fixtures lose significance more quickly than hard-earned recognition.
Personalized acknowledgments have far more value than generic plaques or statues. Instead of adding to the clutter, take the time to provide meaningful recognition. I’ve been preaching this forever (see dot #4!!), but the small tokens that show you know someone have a far greater impact than anything engraved.
