Living up to your dash…

I was recently watching a motivational video on Youtube, and came across a concept that has kind of stuck with me.

The short version is, when we die, as we all inevitably will, what is on our tombstone? Usually your date of birth, a dash, and your date of death.

The beginning and the end of the journey are marked on the stone, however the most important part of the stone is often overlooked: the dash.

The dash is the life lived, complete with heart aches, triumphs, and tragedies.

Between dealing with my mental health issues over the years and my career in emergency services, I have dealt with my share of each. I knowI have had my struggles over the years, but I can’t help but feel a certain level of contentment with my dash so far.

I eased people’s pain, and practised with kindness and compassion when I worked on the ambulance. In my post ambulance life I’ve lent my voice to a growing number of voices speaking out about mental illness. I’ve managed managed to battle my demons, and while I have yet to be outright victorious, I am holding my own.

I know that I have made a difference in my life. I also know that my life isn’t over yet. Chapters of my life have ended, but new ones remain to be written.

Kevin