Calls came in from people around the country who wanted to share how 'The Dash' had touched their hearts. As an executive, she never dreamed that her childhood wish to become a poet would be fulfilled, but continued to write anyway-until her poem was read aloud on a syndicated radio program and became an instant, meteoric success. 'Linda Ellis unknowingly began a worldwide epiphany when she wrote 'The Dash' poem in 1996. An inspiring look at life based on the fantastically successful poem. Linda shares her message of joy, hope, and positive energy through uplifting stories, essays, and poetry, along with tales of people who have been 'touched by the dash,' including Bob Dole, legendary football coach Lou Holtz, and American Idol winner David Cook. Live Your Dash captures and expands upon the theme of the original poem: It's not your birth or death that matters most, but how you spend each passing year. That was the beginning of an enduring phenomenon.

Calls came in from people around the country eager to tell Linda how her words had touched their hearts.

In 1996, an announcer read Linda Ellis's poem 'The Dash' aloud on a syndicated radio program-and, to her surprise, it became an instant, meteoric success. 'Includes the original poem 'The Dash.' 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 the following date with tears, But he said what mattered most of all Was the dash between those years.

Make the most of your dash poem