“How Do You Live Your Dash” Author Unknown

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend.

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From 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.

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 most is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard…

Are there things you would 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 is 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 with 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?