...just to share something I've read this morning and it took the words from my thoughts... very inspiring indeed! Let's make it a great day!!!
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?
