The Dash - by 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 midrange.")
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If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real, and always try to understand the way other people feel.
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And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.
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If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile...remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
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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 spend your dash?

I can't remember where I found that poem but I liked the words. It made me appreciate my life and the people in it. My wealth and riches come from my personal life, if I invest they can only grow and flourish. A wise investment for the future and the spending of my dash.

It's all on the up........

I only want to post stuff that is positive from now on, happy, happy, happy stuff. I actually started this blog of mine so I would have somewhere to put song lyrics I liked, photos and new words and phrases that I wanted to remember. I have a habit of jotting this stuff down on post it notes, and either forgetting where I put them or hiding them from myself particularly well so that I never see them again.

I found a song by Superchicks on the Internet called "We Live" - the gist of the song is even though tragedies and horrible things happen in our lives we have to appreciate our lives, and the people in our lives even more. We're still here so live it.

"We live, we love, we forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
And today we remember to live and to love."

Maybe a bit corny, but hey, it's my blog.

Phenomenal Woman (just liked the words).

Phenomenal Woman"

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman

Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I read this on Dutch Delights blog and liked it, it's all about self confidence, being comfortable in your own skin and, oh yeah, assertiveness. Hope she doesn't mind my plagiarism.

10th July 2008

alycej took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test! "Wants to make a favorable impression and be reward..." Click here to read the rest of the results.

9th July 2008

Today it was the first anniversary of Darren's death. I still find it hard to believe that someone so alive just isn't anymore. I'm spending it by myself. I went to the hospital's Spiritual Centre and lit a candle. I'm not religious at all, I don't believe in God but I do believe there is something more out there. I recently learnt a new word "Multiverse" which makes sense to me in explaining what I believe. Anyway I lit a candle for Darren's spirit, wherever he is now I don't know, but I know he is in a good place. He is not a tormented soul anymore. I'll always be sorry I couldn't save him from himself, I wasn't enough.

My life philosophy (Or at least two of them)

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming WOO HOO what a ride."

"Life is short and you are dead a very long time."

7th July 2008.

My first real attempt at having my own blog, two months ago I didn't know what a blog was.

It is two days shy of being a year since my husband died. I can't believe it has been that long ago and yet, I've grown so much since then. I still miss him terribly, but not like my heart has been ripped out anymore, just a constant sadness I don't think will ever leave me.

I've come to realise it's just me now, there isn't anyone sharing my life anymore. I have my son but he is on the verge of his own life. So if I'm going to be happy and content again it's up to me.

I guess this is like my computer diary, much neater than my real one. I find whenever I go through turmoil in my life I keep a journal, I have been keeping a journal for nearly two years. What does that tell you?

The photo I have posted if about three years old. I used this one because it was from a really happy time in my life, when I really had it all. A happy marriage with my best friend. I think that was the last time I can remember being truely happy and content, a distant memory.