The Dash Between The Years

I'm making a choice to embrace my 'dash between the years.'  ...and chronicling my adventures with this blog.

My mom, always the inspirational cheerleader, gifted each of her kids the book 'The Dash' when we celebrated HER dash between the years.

It was a reminder to truly live our lives, love and not be afraid to make the most of the time we have on this earth.  This book has always held a prize spot on shelf in my home.

I was pulled to re-read it a few months ago and it hit me ... it was time.  

It was time to go, see, explore and do everything and go everywhere that I had dreamed about going since I was a little girl.  It was time to shake up my life and fit in as much as I possibly could in my own 'dash between the years.'

It inspired me to pack up my life, sell my condo and create a life that I am excited to live.

I'm choosing the next chapter in my life to be my 'digital nomad' chapter.  

A chapter that will prayerfully take me around the world to experience life from different perspectives, be in awe of Mother Nature and meet new and interesting friends along the way.  It is a chapter to embrace the knowledge and wisdom offered through travel, exploration and adventure.

I invite you to journey along with me as I work, play and explore my way around the world.  

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For those who may not be familiar with the poem, The Dash, I am including it below.

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 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 

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 never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect

and more often wear a smile...

remember 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?