I'm a Scotsman living in exile in England (not much into exile I know but....). I'm a mental health professional who's looking to challenge himself whilst helping others.
I’ve been riding bikes for many years but have very limited experience of off-
ENDUROAFRICA 2010
Age: 44
Address: Near Reading in Berkshire
Occupation: Senior mental health nurse
Favourite books: Long Way Round, Long Way Down, Disc world books by Terry Pratchet.
Favourite DVDs: Long Way Round, Long Way Down, Blade, Pushing Tin, Jaws (only the first one), The Last Samurai.
LIVING THE DASH
I have have had people ask me why I chose this way to raise money, or more accurately the real question is much shorter and reduced to “WHY”?
The stock answer is I love riding my bike and I get to help others while I do it.
A more meaningful answer comes in the form of a poem I first became aware of at the funeral of a friend a couple of years ago.
While the situation was particularly sad especially as she was only 45 years old, the meaning was quite profound. She had done and experienced so much in those few years that I began to ask of myself “what have I done”? I wanted to make sure the dash in my life meant something. Read the poem to see what I’m talking about.
The Dash Poem 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.
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 spent your dash?
© 1996 Linda Ellis