Paying it Forward: Dreams or Memories, What’s Next? #113
Which way do you look when you dream, forward or aft? You can't change the past, but can inspire others. Even the tiniest nudge can have great influence. Consideration is the highest form of love.
Jack Browne, published Wichita Falls Times Record News, April 27, 2025
Where are you going? Do you facing your future peering through the fog, or lean into the oars navigating by looking where you have been?
“When memories exceed dreams, the end is near,” said Michael Hammer, organization & process consultant. His organizational theory was regarded as pioneering as the internet and process quality drove productivity gains.
Hammer highlighted the periodic necessity of process driven transformation to increase value in serving customers and society as technologies and expectations reshaped markets, “The hallmark of a truly successful organization is the willingness to abandon what made it successful and start fresh.”
People become part of a community to realize dreams, not to relive experiences of those before them. Visit the Eastside Boys and Girls Club and the Donna Piper Community Center where one in five children in Wichita Falls grow powerful dreams. Correction: Boys and Girls Club of Wichita Falls serves 4,000 children throughout Wichita Falls– more in coming column.
Bob Gunn shared a dream in challenging fellow board members to bring to life an $11.5 million facility serving 4,000 youth members in a 20,500 square foot facility.
Seven years later, that dream is reality, influencing one in five of all children in Wichita Falls between the ages of five and eighteen.
Yesterday I was chatting with the woman in front of me in line at Market Street Deli. I mention I’m there to pick up mac and cheese for my Little Brother over at Cunningham Elementary and his two friends. She’s there to get fried chicken with mac and cheese for the folks at work.
We talk about volunteering with children. Both of us volunteered with the Read to Learn program at Booker T. Washington Elementary.
Thirty minutes quickly passes with your student. After learning how they are, you listen as they read a book. Each time you show up, they are surprised you came again.
Michelle Cramer told me, “Consideration is the highest form of love.”
As she shared her name, I recalled her. When I shared our memory of meeting, the size of her smile grew. In sharing that moment, we enjoyed the shared emotions, each with big smiles.
At checkout I was behind her again. She paid – I was amazed by her consideration.
I took the mac and cheese to my Little and his friends, but I couldn’t join them as Star Tests continue this week. But Keith got the mac and cheese.
He felt the love, thank you Michelle.
Consider fulfilling someone’s dreams.
Jack Browne is a community activist and past technology engineer, sales and marketing executive at Motorola, MIPS Technologies and other companies.