I was directing a funeral one day, and the minister, (who usually say the same things over and over), had an interesting message to give in the funeral service. He said that life is not about how long you live, ya know the two dates on your tombstone. You have a beginning date, and an ending date. Then there is a dash in the middle. What will you do with your dash? If there is anything you can impart on this world and it's people what would it be? What would you change if you could? How would make people pay more attention to your dash on your tombstone than the dates on either side? I found that to be an interesting question. I have pondered that several times over the years since that funeral. I am interested in hearing what all of you have to say to this. Feel free to share your thoughts and why you feel the way you do.

good thought provoking question.

First Id like to say I wouldnt change a thing a bout my past. Every choice i made wether it was good or bad i have learned from. Without those experiences i couldnt be the person iam today. No im not famous, nor am i a billionaire,
but im happy(sings) 'In every life we have some trouble, if u worry u make it double, Dont worry, BE Happy!"

in place of the dash there would be a
or id like to have a tombstone like the one in the movie toys.
the guy that died had a elephant tombstone that looked happy and it blew bubbles out of its trunk. that be cool, cuz when people would see my style of humor, it would put a smile on their faces to think " when ever i was with him he made me feel good and made me laugh and smile, boy we had a lot of fun."

I like to make people feel good a bout them selfs, plus a smile looks good on everyone!

That's a good answer. I don't even know you and you made me smile and think that most people if what you say about yourself is true, will have a smile when they think about you.

That is an interesting question. I've been thinking about death lately, I think because the fourteenth anniversary of my dad's death is coming up and he died in a beautiful April like this one.

Some things I'd like to do before I die: sky dive; see a shuttle launch; travel and see some of the great monuments I've only read about like the pyramids, the Parthenon, the ruins of Pompeii; and I'd like to make a difference in society by helping to change unfair laws or by influencing people to accept strangers without trying to change them and to look for the good in people.

Failing all that, I'd like a beer.

I have read that it is not the destination that matters, it is the journey getting there that matters.

I believe this to be true, but in practice, I have trouble appling it. I don't think about the nice trip-I think about getting there. I am not sure how to force myself to stop and smell the roses as it were, but will keep trying.

I think most of us have that same problem. I myself do quite a bit. I am always in a hurry to get where I am going. I never seem to take time to enjoy getting there. I guess that is why every so often I seem to come back to this idea and mull it over and try to make positive changes in others and my life. Sort of helps keep me grounded. That and my 2 children.

The dash in the middle?

Help others as much as possible. We live in a world that is becoming increasingly overpopulated. One of the downfalls is that it takes us longer to get from point "A" to point "B". And the reason for that is because there are more people in between points "A" and "B".

Ever been chucking along down the highway making GREAT time and you see an elderly couple on the roadside with their car broken down? I have. Did you stop? I didn't. And THAT'S when I realized what an ass I'd become.

The place I needed to get to wasn't crucial to my life. I could have easily stopped and offered them some help, but I didn't.

Not two weeks after that, my own car broke down on the side of the road. Several people stopped and asked me if I needed help, but I refused.

And why? Because I knew that I didn't deserve it.

I would never change any part of my past. If I have no past then I can't possibly hope to look into the future.



Having said that...I consider myself to be a good person. A moral person. Someone who helps others if they need it but never divert all energy away from me. Sometimes onesself needs to be helped too. I'm not denying that in my younger youth I did some stupid things. I've taken drugs, shoplifted, got arrested....but I wouldn't change any of it for the world. The fact is you should be proud of who you are....and never let anyone con you into thinking you have to change yourself or live a "worthy" life before death. Why is life always about pleasing someone else? Be who you want to be.....

...In my eyes that's worthy enough for anyone to live their life.

I want a * placed just after my end year. You know - so "am I REALLY dead?"

What is a worthy life though? That is all in the eyes of the person looking at it. I think that what I took from that particular speech the minister made, was what do you want to do with your life? Do you need a change? Do feel like everything is ok in your life? If you are fine with your life, then that is a great thing. I am only speaking for myself when I say, in my life there is always room for improvement. I am proud of who I am and what I have accomplished so far in my life. Especially from where I started. But, every now and then, I take a look and realize that the entire world isn't all about me, and I need to give back a little of what I have been taking. To maybe be a little more kind and gentle to others. Not taking any BS, mind you, but maybe not being as self absorbed as I have a tendency to be. I am not saying that anyone should change if they don't feel the need. But, I am sure there are many out there that will feel like I do and see that maybe the dash needs a little fine tuning every so often.

You could be right, M. But what I mean is people are always pressured into being different people. And I think the world would suffer a lot less stress if people looked inside themself before making a change in anyone else.

I'm not saying don't help others...but one has to look inside theselves before they try to change other people.

I would simply continue being who I am, for those that know me, and love me, my "dash" is quite dashing.

I agree wholeheartedly.

I'm sure that it is. I think most people feel that way. I threw this out here as a question to see what peoples points of view are on this.

By the way, Mortisha. Love the avatar now it's animated


Apologies if it wasnt animated before...I'm drunk and wouldn't be able to tell the difference. A stationary picture looks animated to me

Yeah thanks for the compliment. I got all I know about animation from the posts from here.