Vol. 13  No. 6 – Feb. 2016

How Do You Live Your Dash?

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 her date of birth

              And spoke the following date with tears,

              But he said what mattered most of all

              Was the dash between those years. (1934 -1998)

              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’s being read

              With your life’s actions to rehash…

              Would you be proud of the things they say

              About how you spent your dash?

                                                                                               Unknown