The Dash

Here is a poem by Linda Ellis that pushes you to live your life to the fullest.

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 the beginning to the end

He noted that first came her date of her 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 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 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?

Thoreau Quote #1

Here is a quote from Henry David Thoreau's Walden (i.e. my favorite book): "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away."

Facts of Life

I wrote this down for my About page. I liked it. Hopefully it will motivate some of you to get moving through life's obstacles:

Everyone! Hello! Let me begin by saying that each and every one of you is worth it. Some people say that IQ points mean everything; without a high IQ, you're stupid and worthless. Let me tell you something: smarts aren't everything. Yes, smarts will get you money and a good education, but that is about all that smarts will guarantee you. What really matters is you. You can guarantee your own future; not other people, not your socioeconomic status, and definitely not smarts. What makes a big difference in the long run--peaceful marriage, good family, high-paying job, good education, a happy life--is your attitude. Not just your attitude, which should always be a positive one, but how hard you work. If you decide to stay home all day and get high, you're never going to get anywhere. No, there's nothing wrong with doing what you enjoy, to some extent. But unless you work hard for what you need--what you truly need--in life, you're never going to get that good job or that good spouse or the good family or that happy life. You can be from a poor family living in the ghetto, with no money or education, but still make it through life one-hundred per cent successful. I can probably name about five people from the top of my head that went through the same kind of situation and are, or were, happy and successful. The fact that if you're stuck in the ghetto--or stuck in the poor family, or stuck in a racial repression--is false. It's an illusion. An illusion put up by society and by those arrogant and hateful toward those in poverty. 

The only thing that will guarantee your success in life is you. 

If you want something in life--be it love, money, or fame--reach out for it and grab it.