The Dash - you can’t extend it, but you can make it count
Tomorrow. One day. Some day. Maybe down the road. If I had a million dollars…
How many of our hopes and dreams do we quietly tuck on a shelf, convincing ourselves we’ll get to them “eventually”? We say we’ll start when life slows down, when the timing’s better, when we feel ready. But the truth is, tomorrow isn’t promised to any of us and yet we live like we have all the time in the world.
I remember a season, not that long ago, when six people I knew passed away within nine months. Some were older, some were far too young. Some had fought long battles with illness, others were gone in an instant. But the common denominator was the same: they died. It reminded me that we only get the dash, that small, simple line between the day we’re born and the day we leave this world. If we’re lucky, it’s a long one. But luck isn’t something you can earn or control.
What I know for sure is this: if there’s a dream, a purpose, a nudge in your bones that won’t leave you alone — don’t wait. Want to move across the country? Go. Start the passion project? Begin. Take the extravagant trip? Book it. You can’t take it with you when you go anyway, so live it now.
Please hear me, I’m not saying to blow your savings or torch your life (although sometimes, let’s be honest, blowing it up like a firework is exactly what you need). What I am saying is: get clear on what you really want. Live on purpose. Make choices that align with who you are and what matters most. Fill your life with “I’m glad I did” instead of “I wish I had.”
When I look back on my own dash so far, I’m grateful for the things I said yes to: climbing Kilimanjaro, skydiving on my birthday, spending four days on horseback in the Idaho backcountry, visiting South Africa, saying yes to being a Godmom, moving out west. Big and small, those moments shaped me.
A few years ago, I created a class called The Dash: A Simple Plan for Intentional Living. I’ve since turned that into a self-guided workbook to help others live more intentionally, too. I’ve attached the Quickstart Guide to this email (my gift to you) as a simple first step toward living your own dash with purpose.
If you love it and want to go deeper, you can purchase the full Dash Framework for $47 [here]. Inside, you’ll find space to:
Get clear on your values; the compass that keeps you true to yourself.
Build habits that align with who you want to become.
Lean into experiences that stretch you and shape you.
Consider the impact you want to leave behind.
Because the truth is, you can’t extend the dash, but you can absolutely make it count.
