Thursday, January 1, 2009

The New Year...

When I was younger, I faced each new year with much hope and optimism..and eagerness of what was yet to come. Now, though I always have hope and am usually optimistic, sometimes I am not so eager. Ya know? Must have something to do with the passing of time...with getting older. At any rate. Here it is - the NEW year! I try to not make resolutions, but I do always intend for things to change. Sometimes they do...and sometimes not. It mostly depends on my focus. But, there are always new experiences and friends just around the corner to shake things up a bit. And, though this past year was difficult in some ways, I am thankful for each and every moment.


That brings me to two things.

First...this poem. I saw this on another site and looked it up. Tends to make one stop and think.

Click here to see the little movie. Or, read it below...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Dash

copyright 1996
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 the date of her birth
and spoke of 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 is being read
with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they
say about how you spend your dash?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This poem is available in a gift book, as a DVD & a framed print here.

Just remember the old adage...if at first you don't succeed, try, try again. That's all we can do. Let's try to fill that dash with moments we can be proud of.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Second...

Saw this on Bren's blog and went to check it out. A 'challenge' of sorts. Check out Ali Edwards' blog.


ONE LITTLE WORD 2009

The idea is to choose a word
that will help you to focus on
where/who/what you want
to be in this coming year.

One that will act as a reminder.

A powerful word.

I have decided that my word is...



Truth is just that...truth.
Truth is that which simply is.
Not one's perception, but the facts.
(just the facts, ma'am)

How does Truth affect me?
Only in everything I live,
eat, and breathe.
Truth of the Word,
truth in my relationships
truth within myself
and others.
Truth from others.
Not half-truths,
not omissions...

Truth.
The whole Truth.
And nothing but the Truth.
So help me, God.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's my word...what will your
ONE LITTLE WORD 2009 be???


6 comments:

JoJo said...

My goodness, Jacque, you ARE chatty today! But I like your posts. Very thoughtful and thought provoking. Huuummmmm, I wonder what my dash will say? I've always tried to be the best mother I could be. Perhaps I've not always suceeded but I tried. And I've always tried to be a good wife. But a good Christian? Not always, but God's not done with me yet. There's lots of room for improvement.

As for my word for the year, oh, heavens, I don't know. I might go with "Loving." I want to be more loving with all of the people in my life.

But life is already making all of this difficult. Just as I'm starting to feel like I'm going to live, I just got an email from my cousin tonight. My aunt is in the hospital with pneumonia and congestive heart failure. After the initial wave of sympathy, my first thought was "oh, I really don't want to make the drive to Omaha when I'm feeling this badly and not knowing what the weather will do." And we're really getting too old to make the drive up and back home in one day, but if we stay, we need a cat sitter and the money for a motel, etc.

Would it be bad of me to whine just a bit and say "I don't want this!! Not now! I'm just not up to it!"

This isn't what I had hoped for New Year's Day.

Anonymous said...

Wow, I liked the poem very much. And I think that my word for 2009 will be faith. I must have faith in God and in the people in my life.
Joyce

Alice ~ Folk Art Primitives said...

Hi Jacque ~ I love the poem and I, too, hope that I'm making my 'dash' count for something!! And I read Ali Edwards blog and love the idea of a word to live by for 2009 ~ mine is 'change'. So we're all on the same track ~ the trick will be to put it into motion!
Alice

Anonymous said...

I understand that as we age we aren't as eager for the New Year because time seems to be speeding up! Where does it go!?! I am trying to think of a single word, but have come up with several words that I should work on. My biggest one would be "motivation", as I tend to procrastinate both at home and at work. Another would be "tone". Sometimes the tone of my words comes across as harsh when I don't mean them to be that way at all. I am able to choose the tone of my day (relaxing, stressful, happy) but often let others make that choice for me. I need to be in better control of the tone of my life. No matter what word I choose, I hope to be a better person at the end of 2009. There is always room for improvement!
Lauri

dexmangoldens said...

I can not think of just one word now. A couple of the top ones would be smile, tolerate, relax, the golden rule....
Like most people I always strive to be better and treat others better.
Love the puppy pictures and the toys!! I bet Tango did walk lopsided!! the poor dog.
Love, Jua

Anonymous said...

I tried to think of an appropriate word for myself...SANITY...that was the first, but then gave it some thought, and SERENITY seemed like a good one for me...the eternal quest for that inner peace...I shall try, try, try...
Love,
Janer