my "dash"

I think mandatory attendance at random strangers funerals on a periodic basis would do good things for mankind.

I attended the funeral of my friend L's mum on Fri and first, I must say, though i never knew her, it is obvious she was an amazing woman. Witnessing the celebration and rememberance of ones' life is an awesome and awe inspiring experience. One that causes a great deal of contemplation about your own existence.

There was a beautiful poem that fits rather nicely with the philosophical space i've been inhabiting for the past few months.....

How do you live your dash?

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 L's mum - 1948 - 2005)

The poem goes on, but needless to say since the service, I've been thinking a lot about whether i'm in fact, living my dash the best that I can...if I'll be proud of how i'll be remembered.

And not because it matters what people think of me, rather, the ability to be at peace with how I'd be remembered means I'm at peace with who I am...it means i'm proud of who i am.

and you know what....i think i'm almost there.