A Six Word Memoir
Health and Wellness IssuesJanuary 1, 2018 – What better time of the year to think about this project than the first day of a New Year. Josh Walker over at NextAvenue.org wrote about their 2016 Facebook challenge to create a very short memoir. The challenge was to write down in six words or less a phrase that summarizes your life or philosophy. While a touch narcissistic, is a very good way to reflect on who you are right now, what you have accomplished, what and who you care about. Better than that, it is a chance to mindfully consider how you want to change.
How to get started. Everybody probably has a different way of starting on something as important as a writing a seven word description of their life. Our suggestion is to close your eyes and consider how you would summarize yourself, your personal philosophy, or motto. Compare that to how your spouse, children, family members, and friends would describe you in 6 words. How would what you say differ from what your colleagues would comment about you?
Your editor just did that exercise, and it was hard, but rewarding. You will get a jumble of thoughts, and you can write those down. The struggle will be to weed out the important from the nice to know. Good luck. It doesn’t have to be polished and perfectly written, just accurate. We are going to share ours at some point in the Comments, name disguised.
Samples. If you are a truly famous person known for a major accomplishment, the task is pretty easy, and you don’t need 6 words to say it. For example, George Washington: Father of Our Country. Thomas Jefferson: Wrote the Declaration of Independence. Mother Teresa: Friend of the Poor. Here are some samples that the NextAvenue readers came up with. They might be helpful in getting you started:
- “I saved the best for last!!” —Janet H.
- “I hope I made a difference.” —Randy B.
- Childhood, darkness, struggle, growth, peace, wisdom.” —Sally W
Try to make it personal and about you, rather than a pithy remark about life in general. But whatever your output, we look forward to reading it.
Please Share Your Memoir. When you finish writing yours, please share it in the Comments section below. You can enter a phony name or pseudonym if you like. Just remember, 6 word max!
Farm girl successfully pioneered city life.
by Dorothy from Kansas — January 2, 2019
Live like I will die tomorrow
by Patricia reynolds — January 2, 2019
Dorothy and Patricia – these are great! Thank you for being the first people to respond to the challenge – you both definitely catch the spirit.
by Admin — January 2, 2019
Envisioned daydreams becoming reality very soon.
by Alan E — January 2, 2019
A live well used and lived.
by Mal Harling — January 2, 2019
Life…let’s do it again sometime.
by Art — January 2, 2019
Idea person, sportsman, family guy
by Rick — January 2, 2019
His dumplings came from a box.
by Peder — January 3, 2019
Living life today, tomorrow not guaranteed.
by Jennifer — January 3, 2019
Travelled the world with a wonderful family…
by Mary11 — January 3, 2019
I have lived in interesting times.
by Tim — January 3, 2019
Not 6 words but a short poem I wrote many years ago. When you live your life in the past you may find that things never last, and when you live your life for the future you may find there’s simply no cure, but once you begin to live you life in the here and now you will soon see that love always comes somehow.
by Greg — January 3, 2019
Life happens, adapt, try to anticipate.
by RichPB — January 3, 2019
Loving single mother, independent career woman.
by Maimi — January 3, 2019
Moderation every day but have fun
by Lorraine — January 3, 2019
Explore the world and enjoy life.
by Mike Craig — January 3, 2019
Worked hard, loved much, retired happy.
by Ellie — January 3, 2019
Smile and be filled with hope!
by Sally — January 3, 2019
I DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST
by Roger Alfano — January 3, 2019
Made one person’s life much better
by JD — January 3, 2019
I live to make it better!
by Nancy R. — January 3, 2019
Keep It Simple Stupid!! ( The KISS Principle )
by Bubbajog — January 3, 2019
I love being retired!!
by Benjamin Reed — January 3, 2019
Love, kindness, gratitude: practice these daily.
by Marie — January 3, 2019
I moved to the USA for England in 1981 so mine would be”
I came, I saw, I stayed.
by Bob Rumsby — January 3, 2019
A gentleman and a gentle man.
by Kris — January 3, 2019
The Golden Rule was my guide.
by John Fazio — January 3, 2019
Gave more than I received.
by Steve — January 3, 2019
Learned to love myself. Thanks Lord!
by Dave C — January 4, 2019
Can’t take credit for these words, but on a stone “bust” of Malcom Forbes on his estate in NJ, “While alive, I lived!”
by Doc Stickel — January 4, 2019
Be true to yourself and others!
by gssmithusn — January 4, 2019
Not what happens, how I respond.
by Mark — January 4, 2019
I saved one at a time
by Tomi Huntley — January 4, 2019
To God, give all the glory.
by Elizabeth Cerri — January 4, 2019
Life is a game of numbers.
by Richard — January 4, 2019
Life happens. God is with me.
by Michele — January 5, 2019
Know thyself. (Socrates)
by Ann — January 5, 2019
To thine own self be true (Shakespeare)
by Ann — January 5, 2019
Retirement is challenging yourself every day.
by Kathy — January 6, 2019
Tried hard, mixed results, life is precious
by Monica — January 7, 2019
SOMETIMES HAPPY, SOMETIMES DOWN, ALWAYS HOPEFUL
by Cindi Lou — January 11, 2019
Thanks, folks, for your great, oh so creative memoirs.
Art, you make me smile!
by ella — January 12, 2019
It mostly boils down to luck.
by Clyde — January 13, 2019
Clyde got it right in one word
by Monica — January 14, 2019
And how we respond to luck.
by Clyde — January 15, 2019
It isn’t luck, it is Karma.
by Richard Anderson — January 16, 2019
Did my thing, with care, consideration.
by LS — January 17, 2019