Running Through Life

Caveat

My Thoughts this week comes with a caveat because it is subject of a hoax titled Slow Dance that has been trending in one form or another since 1997.

The claims in the trending email that it was written by a terminally ill cancer teenager, urging readers to share for which the American Cancer Society will donate 3 cents to her treatment for each share are false.

The American Cancer Society has rebutted on its website that it will certainly not donate money based on how many times an email is forwarded. Sending on the email will help nobody. The email is just one in a long line of absurd hoaxes that claim that money will be donated in exchange for forwarding an email.

"Slow Dance", the poem tacked onto the top of the email, was not written by "a terminally ill young girl in a New York Hospital" or a "teenager with cancer". In fact, the piece was written by David L. Weatherford, poet and child psychologist. "Slow Dance" can be viewed on the poet's website, http://www.davidlweatherford.com/slowdance.html.

The poem, unlike the hoax email is thought provoking hence my use of it for My Thought this week.

Dear Colleague

Slow Dance

This is a poem written by David L. Weatherford, poet and child psychologist.

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground?

Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight?

Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?

You better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly?

When you ask, “How are you?”

Do you hear the reply?

When the day is done, do you lie in your bed,

with the next hundred chores running through your head?

You'd better slow down

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short

The music won't last.

Ever told your child,

We'll do it tomorrow?

And in your haste,

Not see his sorrow?

Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die

Cause you never had time

To call and say,'Hi'?

You'd better slow down.

Don't dance so fast.

Time is short.

The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere,

You miss half the fun of getting there.

When you worry and hurry through your day,

It is like an unopened gift ...

Thrown away.

Life is not a race.

Do take it slower

Hear the music

Before the song is over.