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The Dash Between The Years

--posted by Letmebealittlekinder on Apr 15, 2009

While busy with work and deadlines and feeling somewhat under pressure, I was sent an advertisement for some inspirational books, one of which included the poem below. When I first glanced at the title, I assumed it was a poem about the race and rush of life, but as I read on it stopped me dead in my tracks and brought tears to my eyes.

I had just snapped at a family member and didn’t take notice when she tried to get my attention. I stopped what I was doing and went over to give a hug to the person I talked to so sharply, and sat down to talk with her. Not only did it clear the air between us and made her feel a whole lot better, but my own mood also brightened. The feeling of pressure lifted and at the end of the day I felt like I had accomplished what was most important, even though I wasn’t able to cross all my to-do’s off my ever growing list.

I hope this poem will inspire you as much as it did me, and that its effect will linger a long time, or better yet, forever, in our hearts!   I hope to make the dash of my life, no matter how short or long it may turn out to be, something worth remembering.

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 of 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 love 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 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 read

With your life’s actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?

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