This post is a little different from my usual travel stories. As I celebrate turning 62, I wanted to share some personal reflections on what it means to “live your dash,” and how my Texas adventures have shaped the way I see life, loss, and new beginnings. I hope you’ll find inspiration in my journey, and maybe even reflect on your own.

Why the Dash Matters More Than the Dates

After more than 30 years in the travel and tourism industry, I’ve learned it’s not the years in your life, but the stories in your dash that truly count. Today, as I turn 62, I’m more aware than ever of how precious that dash is, and how important it is to fill it with meaning.

If you walk through any cemetery, you’ll see every headstone marked by two dates separated by a single dash. That dash is your life. Your story. Everything between “born” and “gone.”

I’ve spent decades exploring every corner of the Lone Star State. I’ve referred to myself at How Big Is Texas as the “#1 Quester,” and I’ll proudly answer to “road trip queen.” As a native Texan and destination storyteller, I know some of the best adventures begin with a question and a willingness to take chances.

A Dash Remembered: Susan Q’s Lesson

I lost my dear friend, Susan Q, in July 2015. She was only 57 years old. We became fast friends during my time in Hillsboro, bonded by a shared sense of humor and, believe it or not, a mutual connection to Willie Nelson. (I once gave Willie an award at the annual chamber banquet, and Susan’s uncle used to play cards and dominoes with him when he was in the area.) Q and I laughed often. We also discussed travel and adventures.

About a year before she passed away, we talked about all the places she wanted to go. Sadly, she never got to visit many of them. Her early passing was a stark reminder that the dash really is short, and we never know how much time we have to fill it.

Eight months after saying goodbye to Q, I made a decision that changed my life. I left a job I loved to take a year off and travel the country by RV with my husband as Eccentric Nomads (Living simply. Loving life.) He’s 15 years older than I am, and we realized that if we waited until my retirement, he might not be able to do things like long walks through the Grand Canyon. That year on the road shifted my perspective. It started my focus on my “live your dash” journey.

Literary Lessons on the Road

Three books have especially shaped my understanding of the journey and the meaning of the dash: Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck, Goodbye to a River by John Graves, and A Good Long Drive: Fifty Years of Texas Country Reporter by my friend Bob Phillips.

Steinbeck’s journey across America with his dog Charley taught me that the road is both a place of discovery and self-reflection. Like Steinbeck, I’ve found the best way to truly know a place is to travel its backroads, meet its people, and embrace the unexpected.

Texas author John Graves, in Goodbye to a River, writes about remembrance, change, and the deep connection we have to the landscapes of our lives. Graves’ reverence for the Brazos River inspired me to honor my roots, cherish the places that shape us, and recognize that every journey is both an exploration and a farewell.

Bob Phillips’s A Good Long Drive is a personal memoir that details his life, his early days, and the creation and history of Texas Country Reporter, the longest-running independently produced TV show in American history. Bob’s influence started long before we were friends. Back when I was a teenager, I watched Texas Country Reporter and imagined the adventures waiting out on those Texas roads. Reading his memoir reminded me how powerful it is to share not just the destination, but the journey itself. Now he and his wife, Kelli, are broadening their horizons as they Own the Road with Kelli & Bob, and continue to live their dashes, too.

The Four Words that Guide My Dash

As I reflected on my own journey, shaped by friends like Susan Q, by my life in Texas, and by the wisdom of John Steinbeck, John Graves, and Bob Phillips, I kept coming back to the idea of the dash. That dash represents a lifetime.

Thinking about what it means to truly live my dash gave me a new perspective. I wanted something I could hold onto, a way to remind myself, every day, to live with intention. That’s why I created an acronym not only as a personal guide, but also to share with you, in hopes it might inspire you to make the most of your own dash.

Dare. Aspire. Seek. Honor.

Each word is a reminder, a compass, to help me fill that dash with meaning, adventure, and heart. Let me share what each one means to me.

DARE: Say Yes to New Adventures

Daring is where the adventure starts. Let’s be honest. Most people don’t launch a new business at 61. But I did, but not without fear. In fact, I had talked about doing exactly what I’m doing now more than a decade ago, but it took years to overcome self-doubt and uncertainty. Overcoming that fear was my biggest challenge. I experienced firsthand that life occasionally puts you in a situation where you have to leap, even when you’re not sure what’s on the other side.

After decades of working for cities and tourism organizations, I decided to turn my hobby, How Big Is Texas, into my main event. I’m sure some of my friends and family thought I was having a late midlife crisis.

But daring isn’t just about big leaps. Sometimes, it’s little moments, like driving the entire perimeter of Texas because I wanted to answer the question for myself: How Big Is Texas? Or finally making it out to Big Bend and the mountains of Texas for the first time at age 50, proving that it’s never too late for a new adventure. Every time you dare, especially when you’re scared, at least from my experience, your dash gets a little more interesting.

ASPIRE: Reach Higher for Yourself and Others

Aspiring is about reaching higher, not just for yourself, but for your community. When I lead the destination marketing teams at Tyler and San Angelo, I didn’t just want to put those cities on the map. I wanted to fill the map with reasons people should visit. We earned Tyler the Music Friendly community designation and San Angelo received the Visual Arts Capital of Texas designation.

But aspiration isn’t only about awards. It’s about building something bigger than yourself. That’s what keeps me writing, photographing, and sharing stories even now.

SEEK: Curiosity Makes Life Interesting

Seeking is what keeps your dash interesting. I’ve visited tiny towns most Texans have never heard of, eaten more varieties of pie than I care to admit, and learned that the best stories are usually found where cell service still can’t reach.

My job, and truly, my joy, is to find the hidden gems, the untold stories, and the people who make Texas what it is. Whether it’s the international side of Texas, small-town festivals, or the world’s largest (fill in the blank), I seek out the quirky, the heartfelt, and the unforgettable.

HONOR: Celebrate Roots, People, and Stories

Honor is the heart of it all. I honor the people who’ve mentored me, like those whose names are on awards I’ve been lucky enough to receive, and those who have taken the time to share how they accomplished something I was struggling to figure out.

I strive to honor every community I visit by telling their stories with respect, authenticity, and a little bit of humor.

And I honor myself by giving myself permission to start over, to keep learning, and to make my dash as bold and bright as I can.

Make Your Dash Count

So, what about you? What will you dare today? What will you aspire to? Where will your seeking take you? And who or what will you honor along the way?

Remember, it’s not the start or the end that matters most. It’s what you do with your dash. Fill it with stories, laughter, pie, road trips, and memories worth sharing.

Time is short. Take the trip. Eat the pie. Share the story. Make your dash Texas-sized.

If you’re ready to live your dash a little bigger, start today. DARE to try, ASPIRE to grow, SEEK out adventure, and HONOR everything that’s shaped you. Your dash is yours to write. What’s your dream? How are you living your dash?

Until next time from Texas…safe travels!