1953-20?? Happy Birthday To Me

Nothing makes you more aware of your mortality then celebrating a birthday. As those years click by you wonder more and more about the life you are living. The life (your life) is immortalized by a dash separating the year you were born and the year you died.

THE 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 the 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 now, 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.
Remembering that this special dash
Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy's read

With your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say
About how you spent your dash?

On your birthday I hope all of you have a long "dash" filled with all the dreams you've made come true for yourselves as well as others. How is your dash looking right now? How do you most want your life to be remembered?