Your Dash

I went to a funeral this afternoon, which was a bunch of mixed emotions. If you know me, you have probably heard me say that I'm excited to die, not that I am suicidal, but that I'm excited for the next part of life, after this one.   A roommate of mine shared a book with me that she has, and it had this poem in it. It's not the first time I've heard it. It was read at a funeral for a friend of mine that passed away in high school. I'm glad that I was able to reacquaint myself with it. It makes you reevaluate your life, and what your doing. Is it worth the while? Can you really put off today for tomorrow? Are you going to live for yourself, or for others?

 

The Dash 

by Linda Ellis

I read of a man who stood to speak
At the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on her tombstone
From the beginning to the end

He noted that first came the date of her birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all
Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time
That she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;
The cars, the house, the cash,
What matters is how we live and love
And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.
Are there things you’d like to change?
For you never know how much time is left,
That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough
To consider what’s true and real
And always try to understand
The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives
Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
And more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read
With your life’s actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?