How to Live Your Dash

By Nicky King

How do you live your “dash”? Let me explain. We are born and then we die. These bookends are a given in everyone’s life. The time spent in between is referred to as our “dash”. However long or short, how well we live will be remembered by those closest to us. We will either leave a legacy that others want to emulate or one that needs to be avoided. The choice is ours. I will be honest; the challenge is an uphill battle that is tough to negotiate most days. Worth it? Absolutely! I don’t like the word regret, nor do I want to live a life full of them.     

These thoughts came to mind many years ago when I first read the poem by Linda Ellis, titled “The Dash Poem”. Little did I know the profound impact it would have in my life. As I take inventory of accomplishments and failures, and try to make lasting changes, it often seems as though I get farther and farther from my intended mark. Even more now as I grow older, I work to improve areas in my life that “fall short” of God’s expectation for me. My goal is to finish my race well. That will look different for every individual. In my case, it is one that is consistent with my upbringing and testimony as a Christian. Past failures are used as lessons learned to promote improvements to change the direction of my “dash. I am a firm believer that if I have breath, I still have time to reach my goals.    

My goals are simple: 

1.       Walk worthy. This simply means to behave in a manner consistent with my core beliefs based on the Bible. I want to finish my race well and hear, “Well done!”. 

2.       Live to please God alone. I have often found it easier to please God than most people. The Lord requires that I act justly, love mercy and walk humbly. I do not believe that I have accomplished any of these goals, but I will continue to work in the hopes that these character qualities become more evident in my life! 

This blog is written in honor of my sister, Amy.  Thank you for being a living example of how to live for the honor and glory of Christ!  Even though I am thankful you are still a part of my life, your “dash” will be long remembered and has provided an excellent example to many, including me.   

The Dash Poem 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 the following date with tears, 

But he said what mattered most of all 

Was the dash between the years 

For that dash represents all the time 

That 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 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 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 spent YOUR dash?