Letters From You

Hello — My aunt reached out to you sometime earlier this year or late last year about my grandfather and how it impacted his life. Growing up he told me about always living the dash and how important it was. Me being a kid I didn't understand why it was so important. Ever since his passing in November I now not only spread the word of the dash like he did but also now have it tattooed on my arm in his handwriting. I guess what I'm trying to say is thank you for not only giving my grandfather a wonderful word to spread but also something that made me want to carry on in his name.

Dear Ms. Ellis,

I'm writing to you from Cardiff, Wales. Firstly, I'd simply like to thank you. Until recently, I had never heard your beautiful poem, The Dash. It was my good friend who first introduced me to it. Years earlier, he had read it at the funeral of someone very close to him, and its message had stayed with him ever since. One evening, while we were discussing the voyage ahead of us, he read the poem to me. Like so many people before me, I found it incredibly moving. After spending our working lives on the front lines, we have witnessed both the fragility and the preciousness of life. Your words captured something that we had both felt for many years but had never been able to express so perfectly.

Four years ago, my wife and I bought a 1970 wooden ketch. Over the following three years we lovingly restored her and sailed more than 5,000 nautical miles while circumnavigating the United Kingdom, preparing ourselves and the boat for our dream of sailing her home to Australia. Then life changed. My wife's father, a Vietnam veteran, became palliatively unwell with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Without hesitation, my wife returned to Australia to care for him full-time during the precious time he had left. Overnight, the dream we'd spent years preparing for seemed impossible.

Then my friend stepped forward. Without hesitation, he volunteered to become my First Mate so that together we could continue the journey. We've named our expedition The Dash to Australia. Not because we intend to rush, but because your poem reminded us that what truly matters is how we choose to live the time we've been given. For two men who have spent decades helping people through life's most difficult moments, that message has profound meaning.

Your poem has become part of our story, and we are deeply grateful for the inspiration it has given us.

With our sincere thanks and warmest wishes,

Thank you, Linda Ellis, for sharing your gift of writing with the world. I have shared, during the past 8 months, your poems and stories with a small group of people on Facebook in my video posts, talking about my life journey and how I am inspired to live my dash with self-awareness because of your work.

I have been told in my small group that I have inspired others, but I always give credit to you. I am sure you receive many messages daily, but I just felt a need that if this ever made it to your desk to read, I want to extend an unmeasurable thank you.

God Bless and be well.

I heard 'The Dash' for the first time today at the funeral of a young lady who had died of cancer at 50, having had only 16 months from diagnosis to her passing. As I sat there at this funeral, surrounded by hundreds of people who knew this lady, we all heard things about her life we did not know — from her close family and other friends. It confirmed what many of us had always known, that this young woman was completely love and light during her life, and that is how she will be remembered.

This poem, read out by her sister to everyone there, brought many of us to the tears which we had been trying to hold back. She used her dash well — this was clear from the memories and words that were spoken about her, accompanied by beautiful photos of her life many of us had never seen.

After the funeral this evening I sought out this poem and have been pleased to find it. It is beautiful and appropriate for those of us still here — both a reminder and a gentle challenge to keep moving forward and make the best of the time we have.

This beautiful young lady got less time than she deserved, but filled it with light and love right to the end. Thank you for your gift to the world of these beautiful words.

Good morning. After my husband passed away in 2018, and having heard the Dash read at his service, I went on your website to order a copy and, at the time you had wallet card size which I ordered and was thrilled to receive. I have carried one with me since they arrived and have passed the rest to family and friends who have lost a loved one.

At the time I was having trouble ordering and called — a wonderful, kind young lady helped me figure things out. In addition, when I told her why I wanted them, she also sent me a copy of the poem with my husband's name and dates on it. I have it framed and look at it often.

I am a leader of our church's GriefShare group and would love to give one of these keepsakes to those who attend. Thank you so much for these beautiful words and your assistance. God Bless.

Hi!! My name is Joanne. I am a registered nurse and clinical manager. Your book is the pillar of how we help families process their grief of losing their loved ones and focus on the wonderful memories that are left after they are gone.

Your book has made such an impact on our staff, patients and their families. We hold an annual celebration of life and this year our theme is "The Dash".

Thank you for hearing my story and more importantly, thank you for writing this book. It has touched more lives than you could imagine.

Hi, I absolutely love your work. It's so beautiful and inspiring — it breaks your heart and somehow puts it back together all in one poem. I was wondering where I could find your entire collection of poetry for purchase. I would love to add it to my personal library.

Thank you for your time and all the inspiration you have given me. May you be blessed as your words have blessed me and my family during the hardest times we have been through in the past few years.

Dear Ms. Ellis, I want to thank you for your time and inspirational words that have made a difference in my life over the years. I heard your poem 'The Dash' many years ago and it made such an impression on me at that moment and I have never forgotten the feeling I had the very first time I heard those words — and then I remember thinking about how it applies to me. I knew that day, I wanted to know more about the poem and the meaning behind the words.

I was very emotional about the whole day and how it all worked together and I never followed through with getting the poem in a formal way, but I didn't forget what it meant and how it had made me feel. I always wanted to make a difference in my life to the ones that I loved and I made note of the difference that I wanted to share with them.

Your poem came up again in another service I attended and I listened to the words more clearly and it spoke to me again in another way that day. It showed me how I was able to express myself as a simple but effective loving person to the people in my life and that I can continue to strive to make more positive impact for others as God gives me the opportunity.

I will continue to strive to make my dash meaningful — not for myself but for others in my life — because I will not be here to see the dash left behind and in between my life. My journey is not over, I am still here to make a difference and continue to dream about what may be. But one day I'll have the dash to be remembered, and I am grateful that you have made it so that others can see the beauty of the dash.

Thank you so very much for sharing your talents. God Bless You.

Hello there! I am writing you to let you know the impact The Dash has made on my 91-year-old father-in-law. His story deserves to be told and I feel like you would love to hear it. He first heard this poem at a funeral and it forever changed his life. Ever since that day he vowed to 'live his dash' as best as he could and spread the word of the dash to everyone he met.

Up until a month ago he was still going to work every single day. He purchased a box of laminated Dash poem cards and keeps several with him to hand out every single day. He truly believes the reason he is still alive is to spread the word of the dash to anyone that he comes in contact with. He prides himself on the fact that by reading this poem to people, he has seen tears fall, seen people's bad days turn into good days, seen people's attitude change right before his eyes.

This poem has brought so much joy to his life which in turn has brought so much joy to us as well as everyone who knows him. My daughter wrote her college entrance essay on The Dash and what it had meant to her.

Sadly, his health has taken a turn and we have received the inevitable news that his life is going to be coming to an end sooner than we would ever want. His Dash cards are sitting right next to him on his bedside table in the ICU as I write this.

Please know lives have been forever changed from this beautiful poem and The Dash will be carried on by his grandchildren and by those whose lives he has touched through it. Many blessings to you.

Linda, I first heard this poem being recited on Instagram. It touched me. I had to research The Dash. I have since then shared it with a few friends who have also appreciated it.

Thank you for writing the poem, it's a very timely reminder of what is important in life.

I have loved the Dash poem from the first time I heard it. My Beloved Ma passed away two years ago, and it had so much more significance for me as I read it out loud at her Homegoing! I have now been asked to read it at the funeral of my brother-in-law who passed away unexpectedly of a heart attack.

Just discovering your new poem, trying to decide which one to read. Thank you for making a difference and encouraging us all to do the same through your poems!!!

Hello Ms. Ellis, I hope you are doing well! I serve as President of the nation's second largest student-run philanthropic organization supporting children treated at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. For many years, your poem The Dash has been part of our story. We read it at our meetings and events, and over time, the phrase 'live your dash' became something we often say to one another.

It serves as a reminder to be intentional about how we treat others, how we serve, and how we use the time we are given. Your words have encouraged reflection and empathy among our members, influencing how many of us think about what truly matters, both within IUDM and beyond.

I wanted to take a moment to say thank you. Your poem has had a lasting impact on our organization and the students who pass through it each year, and we are very grateful for the perspective it brings to our community. Thank you for sharing it with the world.

Hello Linda Ellis,

I've been a hospital and hospice chaplain and have read your original 'The Dash' several times over the years. I very recently came across your new version, 'The Dash Between'. I will be reading it tomorrow at a memorial gathering for a friend.

I just wanted to say Thank You.

Linda — The Dash has inspired me for half my 67 years and today I'm beginning work on a business plan for a creative endeavor I'll pursue now that I'm retired. That's pronounced Kenny Dash. Each day I plan to set aside time to focus on this and I will start by exploring how you came to create The Dash.

If you care to, please reach out; otherwise, please just know that you have inspired me for many years. Thank you.

I attended a funeral for my friend today. He had succumbed to his illness which was the result of responding to and operating at the World Trade Center following the attacks of September 11th. He was a member of the FDNY. His brother read your beautiful poem, The Dash, as part of the eulogy. I was deeply moved. I told my wife and son about it when I got home.

Thank you for writing such a profound and inspiring poem. I once gave a eulogy where I talked about the infinite number of points between a start and a finish. I now know that to be The Dash. I'm grateful for the time well spent.

I believe it was Xander Phoenix who said, time is a valued commodity and almost all persons accommodate to conserve its expenditure. Godspeed and thank you.

I found your beautiful poem in a drawer. I got it out to read again because I remembered it was such a lovely poem. I read it while laying in bed before going to sleep. It's very late and a new day — my 76th birthday! You have inspired me to continue trying to live your touching philosophy. Thank you very much.

I absolutely love your poem The Dash! I lost both of my parents within 7 months of each other and they loved fiercely! I am so glad they taught us what love means. Your poem puts that into perspective. Thank you.

Dear Ms. Ellis,

I am a senior at Newark Charter High School in Delaware. I am writing my graduation speech and came across your beautiful poem 'The Dash.' Its message about cherishing the small moments in between deeply resonates with the theme of my speech, where I reflect on the little everyday moments, like having lunch with my best friends and the community I found in my school, that I will carry with me forever.

I would be truly honored to recite a portion of your poem during my graduation ceremony. I am reaching out to kindly request your permission to do so. Thank you so much for your time and for writing something so meaningful. I hope to hear from you soon.

Warm regards,

I've loved this ever since it was shared with me in a Franklin Covey 7 Habits workshop. It impacted me then. It still does. Thank you for sharing this with the world.

I heard this poem today at a funeral eulogy and it struck me so hard and instantly with my own futility. I must make changes, I must make things right and make a significant difference in the lives of others in the best way possible. My life can and should make some imprint of goodness because that is the only way to be — to have a life worth living. Thank you.

Linda,

Thanks for receiving your wake up call and sharing it with the rest of us. God bless your journey forward.

Hello!

I first heard your original poem while working at a cemetery. It has stuck with me ever since and I've encouraged many friends and patients (I became a social worker) to read it. I love your new one too!

I'm starting a book project where others can share times that went away, they took a random side quest, survived something, etc. and what they wish they could tell themselves back then knowing what they know now, as well as what advice they wish others could know. I want to mention your poem on my home page as part of the inspiration that led me to this book decision.

I've been through a lot of crap in my life, which is why I so want to help others get through things too!

Dear Linda,

I worked as a funeral arranger in the UK after my divorce a few years ago. During one meeting with a family they introduced me to your poem 'The Dash'. I was quite literally obsessed by it. Fast forward a few years, after hitting my 54th birthday I have left my 9-to-5 to return to my passion of songwriting. Previously I'd spent over 15 years performing original music around England, gained BBC Radio airplay and released multiple albums and singles...