Paying it Forward: Future follows Character #116
Can we better than we are today, as individuals, families, communities & a nation? Service man and women died to give us our future. Values & character -- time to uplevel our expectations.
Jack Browne, published Wichita Falls Times Record News, May 18, 2025, posted online by Times Record News May 16, 2025
This Memorial Day, please reflect on the character of those who gave their lives for our future.
Participate in the celebrations of respect for the men and women who died while serving in our military. Some volunteered, others were drafted, but all served for a better future for us.
We must have the character to pass the dreams of America’s future to successive generations or else we haven’t honored those whose sacrifice was given for us.
Thinking about improving your character is a start but not enough. Acting on a thought is good but not enough. Turn enough acts into habits, and your character gets stronger. If you don’t stress your character, then it weakens like an unused muscle.
Our thoughts become acts and then habits, and our character develops. What don’t you like about your character? Most would pick one or two things, but everything you do affects your character. How you interact with others, the rules you live by, as well as how you measure others holistically determines your character.
Like a Greek tragedy, the faults of the person determine their future. Similarly, we often are unaware of faults that hobble our character and prevent the greatness that only a few will reach.
Many think it is too hard. Or why should they try, when others luck into success.
My great-great-grandfather fought as a Northerner in the civil war. He was lynched by Confederates active in Missouri and Kansas. He had named his son, Jack before he went to war.
My grandfather and father served during World War I & II. I didn’t serve; I missed the opportunity for my character to be shaped earlier in life. But while selling computer chips the world over for 40 years, I learned what America means.
More than that, I worked with and sold to others who will work harder than us, study harder than us, and work more hours than Americans will.
Who are we? Where are we going? How are we getting there? My friend Gonzalo Robles uses these questions for families to gain an understanding of the potential futures their children can lead.
Thoughts beget actions, then become habits, and our character develops. Like Greek heroes and heroines, we aren’t aware of our faults. We need others -- family, friends, mentors – to call us out, as they see what we don’t think matters.
But it’s on us to form our character for the future that best moves America forward.
Have a meaningful Memorial Day. Pursue the future others sacrificed for us.
Jack Browne is a community activist and past technology engineer, sales and marketing executive at Motorola, MIPS Technologies and other companies.