I stole the title of this post from Colin!
In fact, I am ‘stealing’ the whole of Colin’s post, albeit with his permission, because recently he posted on his blog Wibble a poem written by Linda Ellis that is perfect. Indeed, it is more than perfect, it is a unique view of our lifetimes: yours; mine, everyone’s.
Here is Colin’s post.
ooOOoo
Posted on June 23, 2020 by pendantry
I learnt about ‘living your dash’ from Robby Robin’s Journey. ‘The dash’ is the one that goes between your dates of birth and death. Mine, for instance, is in “1960-” (because I’m not dead yet). Jane Fritz says:
This expression was popularized by Linda Ellis’s poem
The Dash; it provides a powerful metaphor for your life and helps us think about how our own dashes might be evaluated.
I went googling for the poem. It wasn’t hard to find it. However, reproducing it is subject to licence… which I applied for and was kindly granted. So here it is:
~~~~~~~~
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 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 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 still can be rearranged.
To 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 is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash,
would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?
By Linda Ellis, Copyright © 2020 Southwestern Inspire Kindness, Inc., thedashpoem.com
ooOOoo
Maybe it is because I am in my mid-seventies. Maybe it is because I have never thought of it before; as in the dash! Maybe it is because I am looking for something that is beautifully clear; an antidote to the complicated world we appear to be living in.
I can’t fathom it out but that doesn’t matter in the slightest.
It is a very beautiful, inspiring poem that gets to the heart of living!
Enough said! 1944 – ????
Great poem. Very inspiring.
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So, so true, Susan! Thank you.
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Love it, new way to think about a dash 😊
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That’s wonderful, Kellie. You have hit the nail on the head!
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awsmmm……:)
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I love your reply, Deepak!
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❤❤🤗
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Living “in the dash” is the only (and best) way to live life. Happy weekend enjoying your own dash!
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Thank you, Monika, thank you very much. And a very Happy Weekend to you and your clan!
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I love this poem and have heard of it. I have thought a lot about my dash as I am at the same point in life as you with no guarantee of a tomorrow. I have to admit, my dash has been full of adventure with no regrets. We should all keep that in mind. Thanks for sharing this.
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Marlene, Jeannie and I were only saying a little earlier that it’s a question of living in the present as happily as we can. So much of the news is of vague interest because our life here at home is good, and we are lucky people to say that!
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Such a beautiful poem Paul… We could all learn well from Dash.. ❤
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Absolutely Sue, a very beautiful poem.
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