"How do you live your dash ?"

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

~ author unknown