How Will You Live Your Dash?

I have to say that I am blessed, not only with a great family, but with a great family in law.  I’m so honored that we have loved each other from the very start as if I had been a part of the family all along.  I know from the experience of friends that not everyone can say that this is the case.  At any rate, one of my beautiful aunts wrote this thoughtful piece that I thought was worth sharing with you all.  I know you’ll love it as much as I do.   As you know, I love taking pictures because I agree that this is visual proof of the beauty of my dash.  So to you I ask this question… how are you living YOUR dash?

Read, relax and enjoy!

How will you live your dash? My previous boss would often talk about this in our various meetings. He would bring it up in conversations and in passing in the hallways; it was always the same question, how are you living your dash? You see on our headstones there is a year that we are born and the year we depart, and in the middle there is a dash. This dash represents what we did with our lives in between our birth and our death. Have you ever gave this question serious thought? I can honestly say that after I did, it changed my attitude and quite frankly my life. I have learned over the years that we have a short time on this earth, and I know that we all have a divine purpose for being here which is why there is no time to waste on the trivialities of life. Instead I focus my attention, energy and resources to serving a cause larger than myself.

With so many competing events in our lives, taking the time to find out what truly matters is a necessity. All too often the pressures of everyday life take a stronghold over us, causing so many to crumble under the stress. Our lives were never intended to be that way! God said that He came so that we could have life and have it more abundantly, and I believe Him. I am convinced that He did not go through all that He went through for us to not live enjoyable and productive lives. Take stock in your personal and professional lives, are you truly living your dash to the fullest, or are you existing through life? Is your career fulfilling?  The late Steve Jobs told us the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know it when you find it.

One of the best ways we can live our dash is with family and friends. Someone once told me that having pictures shows that we lived, so I say click away, and remind others to do the same. Thomas Jefferson said “The happiest moments of my life have been the few which I have passed at home in the bosom of my family.”

Live your dash to the fullest and with no regrets! Love yourself enough to take the time you need to accomplish what is important to you and whatever you do from this point forward remember to always Live Your Dash!

Written By Command Sergeant Major Tracey E. Anbiya

Hope you enjoyed this little nugget.  Until next time…