There is a wonderful nonprofit here in Washington called “Make the Dash Count.” Its goal is to engage youth as philanthropists and leaders in their communities.

The name of the organization refers to the inclusive dates usually inscribed on a headstone, where the day one is born and the day he/she dies is recorded with a little dash in between. Make the Dash Count challenges us to infuse those years between birth and death with meaningful activity.

I love that concept.

Because, let’s face it, most of us go from day-to-day focused on ourselves. What to have for breakfast? What to wear? Going to school. To work. Tackling tasks important to us, our family, our co-workers, or our boss. Hours, days, weeks, even months rush by in a blur.

How often have you said, “Where did the time go? How did the holidays get here so quickly?”

It doesn’t mean that we haven’t spent our time wisely or with good cause, but we tend to move from one thing to the next without reflection – on auto pilot. And time flies.

What if it didn’t?

What if we paused, not occasionally, but often and reflected on that small dash in our life? Would it make a difference? Would it feel like the dash got longer?

I think so.

If we want to make that dash count, we first have to be aware. We must approach each day with consciousness, with gratitude, and with a sense of expectation for what the next moment, the next hour or the next day will bring. Just like when we were children.

Otherwise, the dash becomes shorter and shorter until it nearly disappears. And instead of looking forward to our 21st birthday, we’re lamenting that we just signed up for Medicare.

Where did the time go?

OK then, you say, what are some ways to make the dash count in our lives?

First, be grateful. Spend a few moments each day expressing gratitude for what you have, the struggles you’ve endured and overcome, and the people in your life. It has been shown that expressing gratitude on a regular basis can enhance your physical and emotional health. It can help you sleep better and improve self-esteem. It can even benefit your relationships.

Secondly, give back. Making those years between birth and death count isn’t just about making money, raising children, and generally being a good person. It’s about looking around you and taking stock of others. Is there something you can do to make a difference in your community or to lessen the burden of someone less fortunate?

If so, do it.

Trust me. This is the best way to stretch the dash. When you give back, you are automatically expressing gratitude through action, and you’re extending that gratitude to the world around you. The more you do it, the more your dash will grow and prosper.

Giving back can be as simple as volunteering an hour or two for a cause you care about. It can be mentoring a young person. It can be lending a helping hand at a fundraiser, or serving on a board. It can be delivering a meal to a senior shut-in, or reading to a third-grade class.

For me, it’s helping to rescue abandoned dogs about to be euthanized. Each and every day I look into the eyes of a little lost dog, thinking, “My dash just got a little longer.”

So this year, make a different kind of New Year’s resolution. Commit to making the dash count. Express gratitude on a daily basis. And then find ways wherever and whenever you can to give back.

Whether you have a short dash or a long dash may depend on it.