It’s been 13 years since my Mom passed away, and the older I get, the more I find myself becoming like her.
The things I used to make fun of her for, I now do. I eat cottage cheese every day. I send my daughters endless Instagram reels. And, perhaps most importantly, I fully believe in the power of community and giving back.
The Power of Community and Giving Back
I think about my Mom often and the values she instilled in me. One of those values was Tikkun Olam, a Jewish phrase that means to repair or heal the world. Whenever someone asked my Mom why she volunteered so much of her time, that was her answer.
She built meaningful connections through service, support, and a genuine sense of belonging. I strive to do the same in my own work and life. I think she’d be proud.
My Mom taught me that community is something we create, nurture, and contribute to. But community isn’t only about what we give. It’s also about being willing to receive.
Sometimes Community Means Asking for Help
We are often comfortable being the helper—the person who checks in, brings the meal, makes the introduction, or says, “Let me know how I can help.”
But what happens when we are the ones who need help?
Sometimes community means giving. Sometimes it means receiving. And sometimes the most courageous thing we can do is simply say, “I need…”
Asking for help isn’t a weakness. It’s an acknowledgment that we weren’t meant to do everything alone.
The Meaning of the Dash
I’ve been thinking a lot about The Dash, a poem I read at my Mom’s funeral.
The dash between the date you were born and the date you die represents everything that happens in between.
That tiny line holds your entire life.
Your relationships. Your experiences. Your choices. Your impact. The people you loved and the people who loved you.
I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on the tombstone
from the beginning to the end.He noted first came the date of the birth
and spoke the following date with tears.
But he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between the years.
How Do You Want to Spend Your Dash?
So, how do you want to spend your dash?
Maybe your answer is about your career. Maybe it’s your family, your community, the people you mentor, the causes you support, or simply the way you show up for the people around you.
There is no right answer. But it’s worth thinking about.
Because, at the end of the day, a meaningful life isn’t just about what we accomplish. It’s about the connections we make, the difference we create, and the people whose lives are better because we were part of them.
And we don’t have to do it alone if we do it in community.
