How You Live Your Dash

It’s strange how you meet some people and in a short space of time they can make an impact in your life. I met Malik very randomly one day riding a lift down from Pierre’s place in Wembley Square with my folks. My dad noticed him wearing an Okinawa University T-Shirt and made a comment about it, he introduced himself to us and that was the last time we thought that we’d bump into him.

As luck would have it; a few weeks later I saw him again at a place called Karma, we started to chat and shared a few drinks. Him being from New York and me on my way to go live in Johannesburg at the time, I thought again that this would be the last time we would cross paths.

But this was not to be, a couple of days later I bumped into him again, at Wembley. I then introduced him to some of my mates. When I left for Johannesburg, he became really good friends with the rest of my friends… weird how these things work out.

Anyways I haven’t seen Malik since, but we’ve stayed in contact. Today he sent me a poem, which has now become some of my favourite words:

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 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?”