Lasting Impact!

It’s the beginning of another year. What does this mean for you? Have you established goals or a New Year’s resolution? The beginning of a new year provides an opportunity to reset. Like most people, I started the year with a list of personal goals. However, recent events, family health challenges and the tragic death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter and others caused me to pause, reflect and re-prioritize the list. My thoughts have been centered around purpose. 

Denzel Washington once said, we should not aspire to make a living but to make a difference. As a PMP, I’m certainly in favor of setting goals and promote personal growth and development.  We have a responsibility to provide for ourselves and should maximize our earning potential.

With this being said, we need a manner to earn income. Hence, make a living. However, I think what Denzel is saying is we should be equally passionate about giving back and making a difference. 

Most of us reach a point in life where we start searching for a purpose. A purpose that is greater than ourselves. A purpose where your life impacts others in a meaningful way.  In the book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, the advice of the second habit is to always “start with the end in mind.” Once you know where you want to end, then you can start, and learn how to get there.

Recently, I listened to a podcast titled “Living  for Legacy” by Chrystal Evans Hurst. The host encourages listeners to spend each day with the end in mind. Legacy is about life and living. It’s about learning from the past, living in the present, and building for the future. The theme of that message reminded me of a thought provoking poem titled “The Dash” by Linda Ellis. The poem has been included in this post for your review and consideration.  

THE DASH

I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend. He referred to the dates on the tombstone from the beginning to the end. He noted that first came the date of 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 they spent alive on earth and now only those who loved them 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 still can be rearranged. To 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 lived your dash?

This poem is a reminder that we have a limited time on earth. As such, we should be intentional and aspire to bloom where planted in order to make a lasting impact. While our focus may shift based on the season of life we’re in. We should aim to to live enriched and fulfilling lives that make a difference today and for generations to come.

With gratitude,