Everyone can always use some kindness. A smile, a nice word, reassurance, support — all these things can make someone’s day, week, month, year — or even life. As Emily Dickinson so beautifully said, “Forever — is composed of Nows.” Add kindness to every now, and you’ve got yourself a pretty wonderful life.

Team Trophy Central was in need of a little kindness and positivity last month. As you may have read, the trophy we sent to Random Acts of Trophy-ness “Show Us Your Sue” winner Karen Emma Hall got held up at customs in the UK, and we were feeling pretty glum about it. We wanted to send her joy and smiles along with her shiny trophy — not stress and headaches! We shared this sentiment with Kristy Jo Volchko, the talented children’s book author who nominated Karen, and she made everything better!

Kristy, previous Random Acts of Trophy-ness “Show Us Your Sue” winner for “Outstanding Philanthropic Spirit,” said:

“That’s crazy about customs! I’m so sorry it’s held up like that, she must be so bummed. When she finally holds her golden gift of kindness in her hands she might cry and hop up and down like I did. It STILL sits on my mantel and once a week I sparkle it up with a dishcloth and tell it hello. (I’m totally serious.)

“You really do spread joy to the hearts of so many in so many ways, and if you only knew how much that trophy means to me… It’s not the same kind of trophy you get from playing softball when you’re young or anything like that…this is different. I hope she gets as much pleasure from it as I have. Thank you for being YOU.”

Kindness and Positivity are Contagious

And suddenly, Team Trophy Central was jubilant! Kristy managed not only to cheer us up and alleviate our guilt over Karen’s package being held hostage, but also to so eloquently make us feel our mission has succeeded.

When Team Trophy Central started our Random Acts of Trophy-ness “Show Us Your Sue” campaign to deliver smiles — and trophies! — to underdogs, dreamers and everyday heroes who inspire, we wanted everyone who wins one of our trophies to feel as special as Kristy! Sue Heck, the fictional character from The Middle that we named our trophy campaign after, is not the type of person who wins trophies in traditional trophy categories. She’s not the best athlete, she’s not a gifted actor or singer, but she is trophy-worthy in our eyes because she’s the kind of person who never gives up. She makes her own dreams come true by being persistent, creative, ambitious and perpetually optimistic. And she inspires others to follow their dreams as well because her positivity is contagious.

Plus, can’t you just see Sue Heck polishing her trophy every week to keep it extra shiny, and saying hello to her trophy as she shines it, just like Kristy?! That is SO #ShowUsYourSue! Getting Kristy’s note was just the boost of optimism we needed!

It propelled us forward to send a new trophy to the latest Random Acts of Trophy-ness “Show Us Your Sue” winner, April Lynn.

Congratulations to Trophy Winner April Lynn!

Engraved on April’s trophy are these words: “The Uplifting Spirit Award: Making Days Brighter with Support and Kindness.”

More kindness in the world! What could be better?!

April Lynn received two nominations to win a “Show Us Your Sue” trophy from two past “Show Us Your Sue” trophy winners — Kristen Lamb and Brijana Prooker.

Kristen Lamb, author of the Dani P. Mystery series for children and “Show Us Your Sue” trophy winner for “Excellence in Inspiring Kids to Read and Write.” nominated April on Twitter using our #ShowUsYourSue hashtag, saying: “Her positive attitude definitely embodies the #ShowUsYourSue spirit.”

Brijana Prooker, an award-winning writer and filmmaker, and “Show Us Your Sue” trophy winner for “Excellence in Bravery, Determination, Creativity, Kindness & Pit Bull Advocacy” (which she shares with her mom and sister who, along with Brijana, make up the KOTAW Girl Gang) nominated April by saying: “I nominate her for being very supportive and kind. She went out of her way to share my new LinkedIn page with her followers across social media to connect me with good people.” Brijana then used the hashtag #trophyworthy along with our very own hashtag, #ShowUsYourSue.

Rewarding Good Deeds and Paying it Forward with Kindness

Upon winning her Random Acts of Trophy-ness “Show US Your Sue” award, April said that it’s “seriously one of the greatest and most inspiring awards I’ve ever received. It was an amazing, happy reception on arrival!! I proudly display it so when I wake, I can see it as a great reminder!!!”

April also said: “My heart is recharged by those like you who remind us all how worthwhile good deeds and compassion truly are.”

You are very welcome, April, and our hearts are recharged by your good deeds and compassion as well! As Team Trophy Central said at the beginning of this blog, everyone can always use some kindness. You never know what someone is going through — if they’re having a bad day or feeling blue — and sometimes an act of kindness really can turn everything around, if even for a happy moment. Here’s to a happy forever, composed of many, many kind nows!

Now it’s YOUR turn to spread some kindness, Trophy Central readers! Help us with our mission to deliver smiles — and trophies! — to award-worthy recipients by nominating our next Random Acts of Trophy-ness “Show Us Your Sue” winner either in the comments section below or on Twitter using our hashtag #ShowUsYourSue! Please tell us WHY your nominee is trophy-worthy. Thank you so much for helping us reward good deeds and kindness!