Making my dash

Last semester I was in a class that I, at first, felt very uncomfortable in because it was very personal and I was not used to the teacher being as "into his students" as my particular teacher was. One day he made us bring something that was very meaningful to us into class... I had a hard time trying to figure out what to bring. Finally I realized that I had something that never occured to me as being very sentimental but it actually was... it was my "hurricane cross". Because I am from Florida my house has been hit by many hurricanes and these particular cross is said to protect one's house from a hurricane. It is not hanging in my room here, at school, because I thought that it was cute and never really thought of its true value.
While in the class, and listening to all of my other classmates talk, one girls poem really hit me and has become something very influential in my life. The poem goes as follows:

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 the date of her birth
and spoke of 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.
(You could be at "dash midrange.")

-

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's being read
with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they
say about how you spend your dash?
-

Author Linda Ellis

This poem really opened my eyes to the reality of life and how I can have an affect on someone or something every moment of every day. I now have this poem framed in my room and people often come by to read it... I think that it is a wonderful poem.