I read of a reverend 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 the 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 mid-range.")

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 apreciation 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,
will you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?