Trophies Collect Dust - Relationships Don’t

By Suzanne Hamil, LMSW/RSW

If you walk into my garage, you’ll see a dusty box of old trophies. Softball. Basketball. Volleyball. The Dean’s List achieved during my undergrad in college. At the time, those shiny things felt like the point of life.

But here’s the truth: trophies collect dust. Relationships don’t.

The people in our lives are the real prizes. And just like any trophy, they need polishing - otherwise, things get dull fast.

So how do we keep them shining?

Three simple tricks:

One: Be present. Put down the phone. No one ever said, “Wow, my best friend made me feel so loved when they scrolled Instagram in front of me.”

Two: Small, silly investments count. A random “thinking of you” text. A meme that makes them snort-laugh at work. These little touches keep the connection alive.

Three: Learn the art of repair. Every relationship hits a pothole. The key is not pretending it didn’t happen - it’s saying, “I’m sorry,” or “I miss you,” before pride gets in the way.

Because when we look back, we won’t remember the trophies on the shelf - we’ll remember the people who stood beside us, cheering us on, even when we lost by one run in the championship game.

So, polish your real prizes: the people. They’re the ones that matter.