Automotive Recycler’s DASH 

D.J. Harrington

How we work toward helping others is how we will be remembered. When your time comes, how do you want to be remembered? 

Nothing in this life is promised to any of us.

Life sometimes lasts a long time but sometimes it’s so short. These days, the news is full of stories of young and old who have passed. We don’t know when we will take our last breath nor when we will make our last recycling sale. It could be five minutes from now, or it could be years from now. No matter the time when you’re called home, all of us will one day meet our Maker. In the meantime, how we work toward helping others is how we will be remembered. When your time comes, how do you want to be remembered?

In the last few months, we’ve lost a fellow recycler, Mark Hortman, who was murdered alongside his wife, Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman. Melissa is the daughter of Harry and Linda Haluptzok, owners of John’s Auto Parts and Mark was the company COO prior to the sale of the business. They were gunned down in their own home. How about Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on September 10th in front of the world. Surely, they were all called home way too soon, yet we can truly say that they were living out their life’s calling.

At the same time, I can’t help but think about three Past Presidents of ARA, all of whom I loved and that are no longer here with us. Kennie Andersen is one. His book, “Recycled by Jesus,” was given to each attendee of last year’s ARA convention. My two, very dear friends, Mark Buessing, President of ARA in 1999, and Randy Reitman, President of ARA in 2012 also come to mind. These three friends, who were amazing leaders, prompted me to write this article.

Several years ago, I was asked to eulogize someone within the industry, when I discovered a simple poem, “The Dash.” Originally written by Linda Ellis, her poem struck a nerve with me and inspired how I might remember this person who died working within the recycling industry. When Linda wrote her poem, the message was simple. However, after what tragically happened this week in the news, I began to think about my DASH again. When the Lord calls me home, I hope that those people remaining behind – my family, friends and clients – know that they meant everything to me during my lifetime. I hope that those whom I employed through the years also know that I wanted the best for them. I hope they can say that I had their backs and appreciated everything they did for me and my company.

Years ago, Linda Ellis created a poetic masterpiece when she put pen to paper during a stressful time in her life. She says, “It was during a period when I was working for the top executives of a very large and successful corporation. It was a strict company with a tense working environment. I began to watch how the priorities in many lives there had become misaligned. It seemed to me that the bosses were worrying far too much about things that were inconsequential in the scope of life.” She also cites as inspiration the words from a letter that had circulated the office from the wife of an employee. The woman knew that she was dying.

“I was so moved by that letter that I saved a copy of it and continue to live

by her words,” Linda shared. (Read the full story at https://lindaellis.life.)

Linda begins her poem referencing a fictional man at a funeral who is eulogizing his friend, mentioning the dates on his tombstone. One early line in her poem says, “But he said what mattered most of all was the dash between the years.” As Linda continues her poem, she states, “For it matters not how much we own, the cars, the house, the cash. What matters is how we live and love, and how we spend our dash.”

Several times during my lifetime, I have used something like Linda’s Dash poem for some of our Recyclers who have passed on. Each of them gave so much to our industry, and I wanted to remember their legacy because of how they performed during their lifetime. They were special people to me, and I wanted to describe their DASH to others. Here’s what I read after delivering their eulogies.

My Automotive Recycler’s Dash

I heard of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend,

He referred to the dates on his tombstone from the beginning to the end.

He noted that first came his date of birth and spoke the following information with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all for a recycler was the DASH between those years.

For it matters not how much we own: amount of buildings, special industry parts, the cash.

What matters is how we live and love, and how we spend our Recycler’s DASH.

So, think about this long and hard. Are there things you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left in a recycler’s life that can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough to consider what’s true and real,

And always try to understand the way our customers might feel,

And be less quick to anger, and show appreciation more,

And love the people in our lives like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat yard and office people and customers with respect, and more often wear a smile,

Remembering that this Recycler’s DASH might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy’s being read with your Recycler’s actions to be rehashed,

Would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your Recycler’s DASH?

The last line of my Recycler’s Dash asked an important question. It’s my prayer that you will consider how you should be remembered with your Recycler’s Dash.

I promise that you will have a dash one day! How would you like to be remembered when your time comes to leave this earth? Is it for the fame because you built your company from the ground up? Perhaps you hired so many of your competitors’ people because just about every local recycling person wants to work for you. You may be known for your easy-going attitude or paying your people more money.

Or perhaps you are a second-generation recycler who has expanded or diversified what you inherited. That happened in my family because my oldest brother’s children have done that with Harrington Construction Company in New Jersey.

There are many ways to create dashes for recyclers. The main thing is that you want to be remembered for doing good. If you’re satisfied with your dash the way it is now, that’s great. Just continue what you’re doing. However, if you feel your dash needs to be rewritten or isn’t complete yet, you can start working today toward how you want to be remembered.

It’s never too late to work on your DASH.