Thinking about the Future

In this, the second Blog of our Inaugural Week, I wanted to open a discussion on "future". Thinking now, and thinking ahead about my own future, I often get too far ahead of myself and forget about the current state of what's around me. How often do we look at the upcoming stop sign, and just miss the squirrel, bird or some other form of road debris that is right in front of us?

Future is defined as "...a time that is to be or come hereafter". Future - for myself, for you, for our children, for friends, family, and even our pets. I just read an article about a dog named "Muffy" who was found in Queensland Australia 9 years after she went missing from Brisbane. These 2 cities are 1,200 miles apart! One must wonder what led Muffy to stray so far from her present state that many years ago. What future did she wander to?

As we launch our Blog about Changing the Face, I want to post a poem I located several years ago. It very much speaks to our future - and our present - called Living the Dash.

Living the 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. (1934-1998)

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?

Author Unknown

Question to ponder: As we all consider our -dash-, what is the thing that YOU want to be remembered for? For me, well, I think I need not look too far in the future, for what I can change is right in front of me today...