Sheila D. Boynton, LSW, MDiv, CTCP, CAMS-I

 Hello Soul Family,

Encouraged by a conversation with a client, I began to reflect on what it means to live in the dash. How we live between the day we are born and the day we leave this earth. The Dash is the phrase that comes from the poem written by Linda Ellis, which encourages readers to reflect on how they lived their lives and what they would like to change about them. The poem’s message is that it’s more important to consider how we live our lives than the years we were born and died. While we cannot control the length of our dash, we can control how we live within it.

How will you spend YOUR dash?

Live Your Dash! offers a powerful reminder that life is measured not just by the years we spend on this earth, but by the moments we create and cherish in between. The dash represents all those small moments that often go unnoticed—the laughter shared with friends, the joyful mess of your child’s bath time, the quiet evenings spent with your partner, or the heartfelt conversations with friends or game night with the children that ignite our spirits. For example, there is no feeling like spending time with my grandchildren. Recently I took my two fourteen-year grandchildren to the Mall. Oh boy! What an experience! I learned about the latest trends and where young people hang out and they learned I want to capture every moment with a picture. At the end of the day, we shopped (I know all about LuLuLemon), we dined, laughed and I sang to the oldies all the way home. Priceless memories created!

Living in a world that puts great demands on our time, energy and resources, it’s important to focus on what truly matters. Those small moments that often go overlooked, are where true meaning is found—whether it’s in acts of kindness, personal achievements, relationships, or even the quiet moments of reflection. Each decision, no matter how seemingly insignificant, contributes to our legacy, shaping how we are remembered and the impact we leave behind.  Create memories. Make the necessary changes to create a life full of purpose and meaning. Celebrate the moments of life that seem mundane. Let’s make things happen to Live Your Dash!

 JOURNAL PROMPTS

1. What does “living your dash” mean to you, and how do you plan to embody that in your daily life?
2. How do you prioritize what matters most to you in your personal and professional life?
3. What legacy do you hope to leave behind as part of living your dash?

 THE SOUL’S CORNER…

 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 first came the date of the birth and spoke 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 they spent life 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 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.
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 spent your dash?

Thanks for reading The Soul’s Newsletter!