4.7.2010 (the 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 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?


-Linda Ellis

3.19.2010 (take 2)

Time's Square Kiss. 1945
Alfred Eisenstaedt

3.19.2010

Live in the moment.


In this world we are so caught up with technology; Internet (facebook, email etc) cellphones (texting, talking etc) the list goes on. We sit around and play on the computer (as I'm doing now) and send messages or comments to our friends. That is crazy, we're not living in the moment, we're merely experiencing it from the sidelines as it's wasting away. Get up and go talk to your friend, have a cup of coffee, sit and chat, truly ask your friends how they are - listen to what they have to say. Be there for them not just a comment on the Internet or text in their phone.

"Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around in awareness." - James Thurber

3.12.2010 cont'd

Love with your whole heart. Not a piece of it, the whole thing.


You'll even have your heart broken, not that I want you to, but I think everyone does, sometime. And it makes you who you are...and it's another experience that you should have. It will make you're "true" love even stronger.

"Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own (will), is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." - Apostle Paul

Commitment is commitment is commitment. If you commit, stick with it. No matter what. No quitting. No half-assing. You're in it for the long haul. 110%.

"An ounce of performance is worth pounds of promises." - Mae West

3.12.2010

Life isn't always fair.
-It sounds so cliche, and you'll hear it a lot, but it's true. We don't always get what we want. Sometimes it works out for the better even though it's almost impossible to accept at the moment, later you may look back and realize that it all worked out okay.


People will let you down.
-Even when they don't mean to. The hard part is learning who didn't mean to, who's really sorry, and who cares about what they did...

“Do more than belong: participate. Do more than care: help. Do more than believe: practice. Do more than be fair: be kind. Do more than forgive: forget. Do more than dream: work.” - William Arthur Ward

3.8.2010

Turn up the music and dance.


Listen to all kinds of music and don't let someone else convince you that what you like is right or wrong. Sing at the top of your lungs, who cares what you sound like! Dancing is good for the soul.

There are short-cuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them.
-Vicki Baum

3.5.2010

"Do to others as you would have them do to you."
Luke 6:31


Live by The Golden Rule. Think first before you act...what effects will your actions have on someone else?


Practice empathy and compassion.
Be courteous and respectful.
Take the time to listen to someone.