Are You Happy You Are Here?

HOW DO YOU LIVE YOUR 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 her date of birth
And spoke 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’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 spent your dash?

I was introduced to this poem in Hospice Volunteer training. It's interesting how much of an impact a few days of that has had on me. I suppose thoughts of mortality will do that ;) How are you living your dash?

The idea for the title of this blog comes from a book by Thich Nhat Hahn entitled True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart. One of his mantras has really touched me. It can be directed towards self, others, things and even parts of the body. The mantra is, "I know that you are here and it makes me very happy." Ideas like this have a way of finding a home in my classes. I offer the idea of playing with this during Savasana (final relaxation). Scanning through the body and saying to each part, "I know you are here and it makes me very happy." I believe the body loves to be acknowledged with loving thoughts as such. When I play with ideas like this, I am very happy I am here :) I'm also happy to hear your experience with this.

I believe that we all enjoy being acknowledged as the body does. It may even be a human 

necessity to be acknowledged by others and ourself.  In Yoga Therapy we acknowledge the client after the session for what they brought to it, for their work and whatever was present. I love this part because it's such a great way of witnessing someone... seeing them as they are in the moment. To acknowledge exactly what shows up, just as it is in any situation, is beautiful and feels so much better than judging what is and thinking of how it should or shouldn't be. When I am acknowledged, I feel seen, recognized and accepted. So, to you I say, I acknowledge you for being present here. Thank you for witnessing and any comments you may share. 

Core asset... living your dash and acknowledgment.