There is a famous poem called "The Dash" (by Linda Ellis) that is often read at funerals that reminds us that the important part of a person's life is not the dates of their birth or their death, but instead the real value of a lifetime is all that is done on the days in between. It is that dash that shows up between the dates on the tombstone where all the amazing stuff happens.
The dates are like the pieces of bread in a sandwich, while the really good part is the meat in the middle.
If you are reading this right now, you are living in the meaty part of your life. How cool is that!!!
Whether young or old, building a career or riding high on your successes, this is the only today that you will ever have. It is important to plan for the future and have goals for tomorrow.....and it is wonderful to reflect on your personal history.... but we can only live in the moment.
No matter what you are doing right now, relish it. Sure, sometimes our days are stressful and frustrating, but that is just part of the journey. Do not allow the grind of life to overshadow the joy that exists in our families, careers, friends, communities and beyond.
This post is just a friendly reminder to encourage you to do something amazing with your day. Even if that something is small and seems insignificant, a million small things add up to unparalleled achievements.
Start small. Give a smile to those who pass you in the street. Then build from there and never look back. Fill up your sandwich with as much of the good stuff as you can possibly muster.
When you are old and nearing the end, how do you want others to remember how you spent your day? Your actions on this day are what sculpts your legacy.
Have A Great Day.
thom
2 comments:
What a great reminder for all of us, and especially today for me. We've had a foreign exchange student for 10 months. We have loved her freely and completely. Her parents are here now to reclaim her, and the pain of letting her go is intense. But the memories we have are priceless, and what we've contributed to her life are things to be proud of.
I'm a big believer in finding the gift in the tears, the lesson in the go-button breaking. This is a nice reminder to do that right this very moment.
Hey Thom, as usual great post and great way of expressing it.
The irony sometimes seem to me that the "today" moments can vary with some people. For those that don't connect, don't engage, don't live life deeply - through fear or intolerance or dwelling on the past - they must go against type and reach to the other side - where excitement, friendship, love, and joy are found. But for those of us who seem to burn the candle as our friend Araminta Everton said to me recently, by "cutting it in half and burning all four ends at once," living for today can mean also going against type - embracing the quiet, close, and relaxed moments in life. I guess we all can find strive for balance. I am seeking some of that myself at the moment. ;-)
Hope you have been able to find some rich and quiet time with your family and hopefully have some vacation time this summer where you can unplug. I think you are better at that than I have been!~
Take care,
jtp.
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