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December 2004
Annual End of the Year Poem

It can't be! It's the month of Christmas, and I have no idea where this year went to. As with most years, it was filled with joy and with sorrow. It was also filled with happiness and fear and all the other emotions we go through as we live our lives. For me personally, I said good-bye to a dear friend. She was a woman who was 86 years old, and she had lived a busy and fulfilling life. She and her husband had two sons but no daughters, and I lost my mother when I was quite young. So 18 years ago we "adopted" each other. She was my adopted mother and I was her adopted daughter. We spent many hours talking, laughing and crying with each other, and at 86 she still told me the best off-color jokes I have ever heard. She passed away two weeks ago quite suddenly, and I will miss her very much.

My husband had a number of health challenges this year, but as I write this Newsletter, he is fine and looking forward to the holidays. So it is with much gratitude and appreciation for the people who have enriched my life that I share with you the poem I came across last year. It was my December, 2003 Newsletter, and since we have so many new subscribers, I will make this poem my Newsletter for this month. It seems so fitting as we look back on one year and plan for another. I hope this poem makes you stop for a moment and think about your life, it made that type of impact on me.

- The Dash -
by Linda Ellis

 
I read of a reverend who stood up to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the date on her tombstone
from the beginning...to the end.

He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the 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
You could be at "dash mid-range."

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,
show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives like
we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,
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 pleased with the things they say
about how you spent your dash?
 

I love this poem, and it had a particularly poignant message for me this year. If you know someone who could use the sage advice contained in this poem, please feel free to share it with him/her. If that person would like to receive my Newsletter, please e-mail me at bmintzer@barbaramintzer.com and I will put the name on our database. All my best wishes to you and yours for a joyous and peaceful holiday.

About the Author

Barbara Mintzer is a nationally recognized speaker and consultant with over 30 years in business and health care. She speaks from experience! Her how-to programs provide participants with immediately applicable skills and strategies for getting buy-in and commitment from staff and staying on top of their professions in today's competitive and constantly changing workplace. Barbara presents keynote talks and breakout sessions for international, national, regional and state Conferences. She also conducts management retreats and in-house seminars. She facilitates panel discussions and roundtables at the same meeting...a good investment for your meeting budget. To explore the possibility of having Barbara speak at your next event, or work with your staff/leadership team, please contact her office.

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