How will you spend YOUR Dash?

This week was a tough one. On Monday, my school lost an amazing co-worker, Kim, to cancer. She was 43. She left behind 3 beautiful children and her amazing husband. Yesterday was her service - and I was touched in every way. The message of the service was very, very clear: life is short, so enjoy every single second of it. Make a difference. Impact someone. Appreciate everyone. Love everyone. Say thank you.

Kim's husband said this the night before the service: " please know that the tears that you see will be ones of joy, for the 33 years that I was blessed to have known Kim and for all of the incredible times we shared. I cherish them all..." I am beyond amazed at his wisdom, attitude, positivity. I have so much to learn! What an amazing family.

They began the service with a poem, which I would like to share with you:

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The Dash
A Genealogical Poem by Linda Ellis

I read of a reverend who stood to speak
at the funeral of his 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 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.
(You could be at "dash mid-range.")

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 being 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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I have never, ever been so touched and moved by a poem. So powerful and yet really, so simple.

I hope you will take the time to share this with people you know, and we can all grow and learn (and become better people) from Kim - one of the kindest, most caring people I have ever met.

It is for Kim that I am running my marathon - doing my best to make a difference. I am only $225 short of my goal (see my previous post), thanks to so many of you. Together, we will all help fight cancer!