Dave Howard one the youngest CEO’s in the United States. Dave is 33 years old highly successful person. He has achieved almost everything which he thought he would achieve them at age of 50 at a very young age just because of his sheer perseverance and dedication. He thought he had a perfect life with his wife Melaine and his two kids. Life couldn’t be better when you have an understanding and beautiful wife, lovable children and few million dollars in the bank account.
July 3rd night was not a very happy one for Dave. He had an argument with Melaine which turned out to be pretty bad one. Dave tried to sleep but he couldn’t. Thanks to the fight between parents the whole weekend was spoiled for the kids and they had to stay home all three days. It was almost pretty dark outside Dave was sitting under a huge tree. Listening to the voice of 80 year old women Dave turned around. The face was not clear as it was pretty bright and he could not see the face but could hear the voice. The voice said “Dave this is not you are sent for. You got to more than what you are doing. Please do not disappoint me any further”. Before Dave could go more close to the women, Dave heard someone calling Dad...Dad…Dad…. It was Dave’s 3 year old daughter Katie. Dave just realized that it was his dream. Dave asked Katie where her mom was she said “mom is in kitchen preparing breakfast”. He kissed Katie and went to kitchen to apologize Melaine. She accepted it almost immediately and everything seemed to be alright between them again.
Dave still can’t stop thinking about his dream. Those words kept haunting him that day. He thought he needs to find a way to get out of this. He went and talked to Melaine for a while and explained her about his dream. She just laughed as soon as she heard about it. But Dave could convince Melaine that he needs to visit his home town Brighton, TN. She didn’t ask any further questions and asked him when he would be back. He said that he will be back by Tuesday morning. He just started his road trip that evening i.e. on July 4th.
Dave is more of a heart driven person. He does whatever his heart says immediately. He kept on thinking about the dream which he had last night all the way through. He thought it was not a normal one. The main reason to make this sudden trip to his home town after almost 10 years was he thought that the old women in his dream sounded like his grandmother who passed away when Dave was in his late teens. Dave was so much attached to his grand mom. He always thought that more than his sincerity and his dedication towards his career it is his grandmother that has been his driving force for his success. She always told him that no matter how successful you are, don’t ever to forget your past and never forget the human values. Dave was too busy with his life he had so many things going around in his life all these years that he barely got some time to think about these things. He kept on driving but his mind was still thinking about lot of things which he hasn’t thought about in many years. He finally reached Brighton after few hours of driving. He is feeling so young right now he just felt like he has gone back 10 years it feels great, He was not the person that time he had some human values he used to visit his friends, their parents, his relatives and lot of people on a regular basis and used to share lot of fun whenever they all get together for thanks giving, Christmas and birthday parties but Dave is not the same person anymore it been years since he has talked to his grandfather with love. He realized that in the process of finding his success he has to compromise the fun and some beautiful moments he had all these years. Every street and almost every other house in that town brought a sweet memory to Dave they were nostalgic. Dave could feel the inner happiness he knew what he has missed all these years. He reached his grandfather’s house, He found his grandpa Daniel (81) in the basement playing a piano watching the picture of his wife. Listening to the voice of Dave, Daniel stopped playing immediately and went to him and gave him a hug. Dave could see the happiness in Daniel’s eyes. Grandpa was pleasantly surprised. Dave had lot of memories with his grandpa. He was the one who taught Dave to play baseball and football and they used to go for hunting together. Dave then prepared dinner and they had it talking to each other that evening. Dave later on apologized his grandpa for not being in touch with him more often. Though Daniel said it was okay…Dave thought his grandpa deserves more from him. Daniel said your grandmother used to think about you daily she loved you lot. Grandpa said “Go to her room she had some message for you, son”.
Dave went inside his grandmother room he found that majority of the pictures in that room were of Dave’s. He found a letter on her desk with Dave’s name on it. He opened it and started reading it.
It says
My dear Dave,
I am doing pretty well in the heaven son but I will always miss you. I wanted you to read this letter when you are at the peak of your career and reached success in life. I knew I will not be alive at this time but I will be always there to help you out when you are in trouble son. I hope you reached your goals and your aims which you always dreamt of by now. But think for a while are you the same person even now? Success and money should not change a person in any point of time. I will be a happy person if you are not one among them. How many times till now did you visit your home town and talked to the people who were always there for you and who always wished for your success? How many times did you call someone who was there for you when you needed them the most? Do you like the same things which you have liked some years before? Is your success and wealth useful to this society and people who are around you who were having a bad period of time? Do you remember when you were 5 years old there was a small cat screaming from a big hole in our backyard? You went inside to help that cat and you also got stuck in it holding the cat in your arms? I still can’t forget that moment. I want to you to stay and live that way helping people and getting loved by everyone. I want you to be perfect Dave.
Love you
Granny.
Dave was almost in tears after reading the letter. He sat for a while in his grandmother’s room and thought for a while. He realized how selfish he became. He might be the most successful persons in the state now but certainly not the greatest human being. He couldn’t even recollect one instance that he has helped someone selflessly his last 10 years. Ideas of parents reflect on the kids, even he found his kids started thinking like him. His wife has never opposed or talked against him anytime. She always gave him the freedom and independence to do whatever he feels good. Dave came to know completely what went wrong with him all these years. He stayed that week end in the same town with his grandfather and visited each and every one’s house that he knew those 2 days. People and his friends felt happy to meet Dave after long time they shared their happiness and told what happened in their life all these years. He noticed the same kind of love and affection which they used to talk that time. There was not even slightest amount of change in their behavior. He got to know few of his friends joined army, working away from home and he got hold of all their contact numbers and talked to all their parents. His heart felt better after visiting everyone whom he hasn’t all these years. He has taken blessings of his grandfather and promised him that he will be with his family next month. He returned home and talked to his kids and his wife and told them how happy he was.
There were no drastic changes in Dave after that day but certainly he was not the same person there was a smile always in Dave. Melaine liked Dave that way so did the kids. Dave became more relaxed and peaceful person his attitude and behavior with colleagues and normal people whom he visits daily changed a lot. He used to act being nice with them before but he really means it this time around. He got in touch with all his school friends in the next month he could contact almost everyone except few who were out of country and he arranged a big get together with all his friends and his families in his home town Brighton. He could convince everyone to attend the meeting. Dave went there with all his family and so did the rest of his friends. It was like festival mood in the small town.
They had fun all day. There were almost 15 families, Grandparents, parents, kids, relatives everyone present that night. Dave thought this was the perfect time to make his confession. He started his little speech. He told how sorry he felt that day when he knew what he has missed in his life. No matter how much successful a person is he should never forget his past and the people where were behind him. Every successful person has a story behind him. Success comes and goes but people come in to our lives and don’t go ever. My grandmother though she passed away she is still with me and she was the one who has opened my eyes and told me what I have missed all these days. I am glad that I had my grandmother with me. I want all my friends to realize this and I request them to be more sensible and responsible. He promised that he will make sure that his kids will be better human beings. Everyone applauded after that short little speech with standing aviation. The rest of the night went on with lot of fun and jokes. It was neither Christmas nor thanksgiving but everyone who was present there at that moment couldn’t forget that night for the rest of their lives. They sure did give a thought about what Dave said that night.
