Hey everyone, I want to thank you all for your wishes on my 35th birthday and to let you know how amazing it feels to have you all as my friends and family! Each birthday I enjoy reflecting on how life as turned out. The odds were certainly stacked against me growing up in poverty and without a father. If I had played by the rules, listened to the oddsmakers in my life, and folded my hand when everyone said I was going to lose, I wouldn’t be where I am right now. If I had listened to all the people who said that there was no way I could accomplish what I wanted to accomplish because of my upbringing or my personality or my failures and faults and mistakes, I would be in jail or in a casket. But I am not. The main reason is because of one amazing mother and a multitude of amazing mentors and friends. I am an imperfect person with some perfect friends though. Therefore, Thank you, truly each and every one of you make everyday special.
To my twin boys, there is no better ay to spend a birthday hearing your laugh, exploring state parks, and playing inside and outside of our beautiful home. Each day that I wake up you are the motivation to work hard and strive for new heights. I promise you will never have to worry about food on the table or where we are going to live. However, life is not about the fancy house or in your case the biggest playroom or the coolest car. These things are all nice and take education along with hard work to attain. It is all about the “dash.” The dash that runs from the day you are born and the day you die. How do you live your life and what impact did you leave on others? It is the same reason you see your dad pour into other young men with no fathers and why both of your parents go out of their way to help those in need. So, be intentional with how you live your life. Make it a point to never fear death. We are all going to die and none of us know when. Whoever has much gains much responsibility. It becomes a duty to enhance those who are less fortunate. Thus, live with zest, know your creator, connect deeply with others, find it exhilarating to help others, challenge yourself, and make that dash mean something. Hopefully I am living a good dash to those that it matters most to in these 35 years.
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 the tombstone from the beginning… to the end.
He noted that first came the date of 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 they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them 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 still can be rearranged.
To 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 lived your dash?
Comments