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Your Life In Six Words

February 25, 2012 By Janine 32 Comments

Do you remember Ernest Hemingway’s short, short story. For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn.? At the Smith Magazine Larry Smith used Hemingway’s story as inspiration and asked his readers to describe their lives in six words. It was supposed to be a month long competition but now five years later it’s still going strong.

Oprah Magazine ran an article on the six word memoir this month and there were some great ones in there. My personal favourite was Trudy Love Tantalo, 60 who came up with Was hot. Raised kids. Lost cool. Although kudos also goes to Kimberly Kilroy, 53 with Still fit into high school earrings. There were some particularly poignant ones as well, Melinda Hui, 38 Abandoned at 5. Learning to thrive. While Melanie Barbour, 34 shared Stage IV cancer made me live.

How would you define your life in six words?

I’m struggling with the task so far I’ve come up with a few.

Forward thinker, attracts chaos, tries hard.

Or

Always making do while dreaming big.

Or

Laughing through the insanity of life.

Will have to give it some thought and come back later with a more refined final version. In the meantime, what have you got? Six words, your life, go ….

Filed Under: Creativity, Humour, Writing Tagged With: O: The Oprah Magazine, Six-Word Memoir, Smith Magazine

« The Leadership Issue
The Power Of Words »

Comments

  1. Lauren says

    February 25, 2012 at 8:46 am

    Tried this once. Giving up. Again. 😉

    Reply
    • shambolicliving says

      February 25, 2012 at 8:55 am

      Well done. You made me laugh out loud.

      Reply
    • orples says

      February 25, 2012 at 10:17 am

      LOL,uh, I know the feeling.

      Reply
    • miq says

      February 25, 2012 at 11:17 am

      Too funny!

      Reply
  2. SusanWritesPrecise says

    February 25, 2012 at 8:46 am

    I like your definitions.

    Sounds like an interesting challenge. I’m going to try it!

    Reply
  3. Heidi says

    February 25, 2012 at 8:48 am

    Perhaps later, when I can think.

    Reply
  4. stephanie fitzpatrick says

    February 25, 2012 at 8:53 am

    Ummm. This is what I came up with and so far it is true:
    Random life stories: love, laughter, kindness.

    Reply
    • shambolicliving says

      February 25, 2012 at 8:54 am

      Well done. You are a quick thinker. I read the article last night and was still struggling to come up with something this morning.

      Reply
      • stephanie fitzpatrick says

        February 25, 2012 at 12:56 pm

        Thanks, I don’t feel so quick. I’ve been trying to come up with a title for my blog for a little while now that encompasses your question!

        Reply
  5. The Confluent Kitchen says

    February 25, 2012 at 9:12 am

    I love love love this post so much. In fact, I’m going to reblog it, I love it so much. Anyway. Here’s mine.

    No longer living life on standby.

    Reply
    • shambolicliving says

      February 25, 2012 at 9:16 am

      Great memoir. Well done.

      Reply
      • The Confluent Kitchen says

        February 25, 2012 at 9:25 am

        There’s still some work in progress. Thanks!

        Reply
  6. The Confluent Kitchen says

    February 25, 2012 at 9:15 am

    Reblogged this on confluentkitchen and commented:
    I loved this post, and thought of my own.

    No More Living Life On Standby.

    I feel like, for the first time ever, this is true. I live where I want to live, with whom I want to life, WHERE I want to live. We do the things that we want to do. Life is coming together and I feel truly blessed.

    Reply
  7. Sara Martin says

    February 25, 2012 at 9:20 am

    I make things happen. Join me.

    Thanks for the fun exercise!

    Reply
    • shambolicliving says

      February 25, 2012 at 11:11 am

      So you are the girl we go to when we need things done. Well done.

      Reply
  8. orples says

    February 25, 2012 at 10:16 am

    Start with these 6 for now … “Grateful, for all that I have.” … but like you, I’m sure there are plenty of other 6 word scenarios that could describe us all.

    Reply
    • shambolicliving says

      February 25, 2012 at 11:12 am

      That’s a good place to be grateful for what you have.

      Reply
  9. Diana Douglas says

    February 25, 2012 at 10:29 am

    Loved your “Laughing through the insanity of life.” So far I haven’t been able come up with anything better. I’m going to repost this blog because its too much fun not to share!

    Reply
    • shambolicliving says

      February 25, 2012 at 11:15 am

      Thanks Diana.

      Reply
  10. Diana Douglas says

    February 25, 2012 at 10:31 am

    Reblogged this on Diana Douglas and commented:
    It’s harder than you think!

    Reply
  11. miq says

    February 25, 2012 at 11:19 am

    Reblogged this on Three Descriptors and commented:
    What a fabulous exercise!
    I’m still trying to come up with my six word memoir. I’ll keep you updated as I work.
    What about you? Can you write a six word memoir? Care to share?

    Reply
  12. miq says

    February 25, 2012 at 11:21 am

    I love this (hence the reblog). As soon as I come up with something I’ll definitely be sharing. Thanks for posting this!

    Reply
  13. miq says

    February 25, 2012 at 11:58 am

    Bar too high. Should I limbo?
    That’s what I came up with, the help of a comment from my blog 🙂

    Reply
    • shambolicliving says

      February 25, 2012 at 12:02 pm

      Very clever.

      Reply
    • The Confluent Kitchen says

      February 25, 2012 at 12:43 pm

      I really like that one.

      Reply
      • miq says

        February 25, 2012 at 12:49 pm

        Thanks!

        Reply
  14. Sarah Harris says

    February 25, 2012 at 3:53 pm

    Given keys, looking for right door.
    Fun! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • shambolicliving says

      February 25, 2012 at 4:46 pm

      Oh very good.

      Reply
  15. ChrystinaNoel says

    March 1, 2012 at 2:08 pm

    My first thought: Just trying to make people happy.

    Reply
    • shambolicliving says

      March 1, 2012 at 5:59 pm

      Beautiful.

      Reply

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Janine Fitzpatrick is a personal blogger with an untidy house, imperfect children and no celebrity friends.

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