Happy Thought for 22 May 2026

Have a Happy Thought:

A few weeks ago I shared this year’s winners of the “Green Nobel Prize.” And that got me thinking a little bit about the names of prizes – how some prize names are… a bit uninspiring (let’s be honest – “Goldman Environmental Prize” doesn’t resonate with most of us); others have become inspiring (I’m betting the Nobel Prize didn’t have the same ring to it 100 years ago that it does now).

Meanwhile, other names just sound inspiring from the get-go.

India has the Bharat Ratna, or “Jewel of India”

Kenya has the Order of the Burning Spear. Its highest honour is to recognise someone as the Chief of the Order of the Golden Heart of Kenya.

Malta, holding to Catholic traditions, recognizes Knights Grand Cross of Justice Professed of Solemn Vows.

Japan brings botanic poetry to its decorations with the Supreme Order of the Chrysanthemum and the Order of the Paulownia Flowers

Image: Paulownia imperialis (Syn. Paulownia tomentosa) from Siebold/Zuccarini, Flora Japonica, 1870 published by Kurt Stueber http://www.biolib.de

Bangladesh recognises বীর মৃত্যুঞ্জয়ী; literally, "The Immortal Braves".

Bulgaria for a time recognised the Grand Cross of the Order of the Balkan Mountains.

Ethiopia recognises the Order of Solomon and the Order of the Queen of Sheba.

The Kingdom of Hawaii recognised the Royal Order of the Star of Oceania.

Tanzania can award the Torch of Kilimanjaro

Order of the Torch of Kilimanjaro, Ji-Elle - Own work. CC BY-SA 4.0.

 

 

 

None of these take away from the accomplishments of those who earn less poetic-sounding awards like a Bronze Star, of course. And in searching for the ones I listed above I found so many medals and honours that I’m sure have deep spiritual and historic meaning to the peoples of those countries.

But as someone who struggles to come up with meaningful and exciting names for things… consider me inspired.

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