Between the date when we arrive
and the date we go away,
there exists a horizontal line
that captures every single day.

And because these days we're living
seem to vanish in a flash,
we need to make the most of
that special little dash.

(excerpt from The Dash Between by Linda Ellis)

It’s often said there are two certainties in life: taxes and death. We’re all given a birth date, and though death is inevitable, none of us know when our last day on Earth will come. But there’s another certainty for most of us: we all want to make the most of this life and live it well.

In this episode, I reflect on the life of my dear friend, Valerie Ramos, who truly lived her dash to the fullest. Valerie approached each day with intention and purpose. I recently attended her funeral and listened to her beloved family—her children and husband—share the lessons she imparted and the legacy she left behind. In this episode, I share some of my personal takeaways from that experience and reflect on how we can all live our lives with the same intentionality and love.