I would like to begin with a poem entitled "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 beginning to the end
He noted that first came her date of her birth
And spoke the following date with tears,
But he 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 that 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 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
