Truly Live Your Dash

That period of time between your sunrise and sunset

The phrase “live your dash” comes from one of my favorite poems – 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 the tombstone
From the beginning…to the end
He noted that first came the date of 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 they spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved them
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 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?

The Dash calls on us to be mindful that we’re only on this earth for a short while and to live each with passion and purpose while inspiring others. Having lost my beloved mother when I was 5 years old, I learned rather early on that our existence here on earth would be a transient one and to truly take advantage of the time we’re allotted. However, I wonder if we, as a collective, are living our dash as idle onlookers or as active participants, with a sense of urgency to be purposeful in how we live our lives.

“A higher rate of urgency does not imply ever-present panic, anxiety, or fear. It means a state in which complacency is virtually absent”

John P. Kotter

It’s been said that “we don’t remember the days, we remember moments.” Being present and in the moment provides some of life’s greatest joys. Remember life is short, make every moment matter.

There is a danger in the word someday when what it means is “not this day.”…The scriptures make the danger of delay clear. It is that we may discover that we have run out of time. The God who gives us each day as a treasure will require an accounting. We will weep, and He will weep, if we have intended to repent and to serve Him in tomorrows which never came or have dreamt of yesterdays where the opportunity to act was past. This day is a precious gift of God. The thought “Someday I will” can be a thief of the opportunities of time and the blessings of eternity.

Henry B. Eyring

Each day above ground is a gift from God, a whole new 24 hours to use as we choose. We can squander or relish in the gift, the choice is ours. I choose to make good use of my dash. It’s my goal to not tarry and to not merely exist but to live joie de vivre, living with a ravenous thirst for life using my first name as an acronym…

A ~ Adventurous

L ~ Loving

E ~ Empowering

C ~ Confident

I ~ Inquisitive

A ~ Adaptable

Seize the day, never have regrets!

“Go out and grasp the seconds of the day as if you had only that day to live. Experience and enjoy the moments of your life. We only have one life to live, so live it like a champion.”

Jack Canfield, Chicken Soup for the Soul

“The most important thing is to try and inspire people so that they can be great at whatever they want to do.”

Kobe Bryant

Live your dash well. May my capacity to make genuine connections and leave a positive impact on others grow exponentially.

“Alecia – You appreciate the best in every man, wish all of us could do that!”

Dr. Sushma K. (University of Michigan)

Walk good!