IT’S THE season to celebrate. In the next 90 days there are at least 60 award celebrations happening – not to talk off the big Christian celebration of Christmas where families gather, friends reconnect and lots of turkeys pay the price.

When we think about it, in spite of the glitz and glamour of the season, what are the things that get the most attention? Doing a quick poll, I think we can safely conclude that the things that have got the most attention in the media, in culture, have been things that have amplified how bad people are, the wrong they’ve done and have cancelled them multiple times. As a society we seem to thrive on negativity. Bad news seems to sell better than good. 

I want to challenge you in this season to go against the grain, as award ceremonies come to life and celebration is in the air. Will you make a choice to be a channel of positivity, and be a conduit for life? Hebrews chapter 10 verse 24 in the Bible says this “let us consider how to inspire each other to greater love and to righteous deeds”. 

Is there someone who in the last year or their work or life has really touched your heart and you want to motivate them to do more? You want to give them recognition and bond with them. Well what better way to do it than give them an award. Now I’m not saying set up a venue, have PR people involved etc.

I’m saying to decide on that person in your workplace that has made such a positive impact on you or that neighbour two doors away from you that you really love what they did and haven’t told them yet. The teacher in your children’s school that’s going over and above. Would you consider buying them a card or a bottle of wine or even a trophy engraved with your message? 

Consider how you can inspire them to greater love and righteous deeds would you consider giving them your own Oscar for ‘Best Neighbour’. Sounds funny and ridiculous but every good deed makes a difference. Romans chapter 15 verse 2 says this “each of us must strive to please our neighbours pursuing their welfare so they will become strong…” There’s a great saying we have in my family “the reason for our being is greater than just us”.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You change your world…I change my world…together we change the world. So while we celebrate in the holidays or we look at the The British Independent Film Awards or the Hollywood Critics Association Creative Awards or the Oscars, the Golden Globes, the BAFTAs, and all the rest of it celebrating the good work that people are doing, while we watch that from a distance can we create our own, where you celebrate the people who you think have made the difference?

Give them their flowers now, not later! Like the writer of  1^st Thessalonians in the Bible puts it in chapter 5 verse 11 “support one another building up each other…” This I think is what the next few months should be about, what every day should be about.

If you didn’t know, let me let you in on a secret. Big brands spend thousands, sometimes millions on the opportunity to be seen in an award ceremony or to win awards because it raises their brand image and it will boost the confidence of the stakeholders. A lot of time, other people think ‘oh if they’re winning such a big award I want to work with them’. 

If brands spend so much, imagine the confidence you give someone that you’ve decided to honour today. So will you think now of three people who over the next month or two you are going to give flowers to? 

It doesn’t have to be a fancy Academy award, MOBO or Brit award. It could just be as simple or complex as you want. The most important thing is them knowing that you appreciate and celebrate them. To be honest I have never been that person that’s clamouring after awards. Over the years there have been several moments where people decided to campaign and argue why I wasn’t included in one award or the other. Honestly it was always quite embarrassing for me. That said, when the OBE award from Downing Street and her Majesty the Queen came, I was so glad and encouraged. 

So imagine the person you decide to honour..how much they would feel seen and appreciated when you or others choose to decide that this person in your family, in your workplace or on your road deserves to be celebrated, applauded and loved. 

Let’s celebrate one another in this season because there is enough trying to pull all of us downtown.

Muyiwa Olarewaju OBE is Station Director at Premier Gospel Radio, a TV & Radio Broadcaster, and Principal of gospel group Muyiwa & Riversongz