My six word memoir

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I recently bumped into a “story” of a story, that became a book...

“Not Quit What I Was Planning ~ six word memoirs by writers famous and obscure" by Larry Smith and Rachel Ferschleiser, was inspired by the legend/story of how someone challenged Hemingway to write a story in six words or less, his response:

“For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” If YOU had to write the story of your life as it was, is and as you hope it to be, in six words or less what would you say? What words, impulses, visions, themes, experiences, thoughts, feelings, emotions, memories, dreams, desires, losses, hurts, perceptions, fears, and associations would you express within those few words or sentence? What unspoken words would be shared? What would be denied or implied in the gaps between those words and thoughts?

This story inspired me to “coin” my own six word "memoir", which I have included below; I invite you to share your own on this blog…

Struggled,survived,surrendered;

dreamed,played,gave,thrived…

Note: for those of you who like to play the “perfectionist” game; you’ll have noticed there are seven words ~ I gave myself permission to add a word; the rebel inside me does not like to feel he "has" to play any game in life with preset rules or conditions…

michael sean symonds

posted by msean on 6/30/2008 4:48 pm | COMMENTS (84)

Comments (84)

I woke up. Just now. Again.

posted by Internalarts on 7/ 1/2008 10:36 am

Free(!) from my self-made exile.

posted by shellies19 on 7/ 1/2008 4:31 pm

Loved, grieved, saw with God's eyes.

posted by EthicsMaven on 7/ 1/2008 4:49 pm

I blinked and suddenly felt LIFE..again

posted by blink on 7/ 4/2008 3:51 am

Forest road...Setting sun....Croaking toad.

posted by Durango on 7/ 4/2008 7:59 pm

Ever-learning, growing: compassion, love, vitality.

posted by jennyeagley on 7/ 7/2008 2:43 pm

Never a father, always a son

posted by PT on 7/ 8/2008 6:10 pm

So this is how it started...

posted by Carrot_Cake_Education on 7/ 9/2008 4:59 pm

Everything happens just at it should

posted by LightEye on 7/10/2008 12:54 pm

new, little, entertaining, tired, lover

posted by guitarman on 7/12/2008 4:59 pm

Enjoyable ride, still learning to steer.

posted by jpatrickyoung on 7/15/2008 8:13 am

He hit her, but we stayed.

posted by cmumma on 7/17/2008 11:38 am

Got Amster-damned, woke up in Madrid

posted by JadedTraveler on 7/20/2008 5:59 pm

On my way back to Love

posted by darrelroth on 7/25/2008 12:23 pm

"Something needs to be fixed... Urgently!"

posted by Nazia Mallick on 7/29/2008 3:58 am

The answer to life is life itself

posted by nat9 on 8/ 9/2008 4:55 am

always consistent, practical........ searching for passion

posted by s.k.mora on 8/ 9/2008 4:19 pm

I must live, awake, with joy.

posted by Leiah on 8/10/2008 11:19 pm

future past present past present future

posted by madmonster on 8/11/2008 3:24 pm

The Best Is Yet To Come :-)

posted by ksieber on 8/11/2008 10:02 pm

Gleeful wonder, asunder, wonder less blunder

posted by tontko on 8/12/2008 5:52 am

Born, learned, loved, grew older, waiting....

posted by dlabore on 8/12/2008 3:23 pm

Whatever happens, be happy, content, grateful.

posted by Beethoven on 8/12/2008 7:54 pm

Embrace consciousness, discernment, empathy, perception, silence...

posted by havemoresoul on 8/13/2008 7:09 am

Now my life transcend the now.

posted by xellon on 8/13/2008 11:35 am

I know it's here somewhere.

posted by j.a.s. on 8/13/2008 12:31 pm

Six words are not enough, dear.

posted by casellajm on 8/13/2008 11:41 pm

Ken Who?

posted by GandalfDDI on 8/14/2008 12:46 am

Hope begins in the dark (LaMott)

posted by zaid1966 on 8/15/2008 5:14 pm

One more time around the sun.

posted by devguy on 8/15/2008 5:48 pm

Thou Mayest; Thou Mayest Not

posted by cgoodman on 8/15/2008 5:52 pm

Thou Mayest; Thou Mayest Not (Timshel/Steinbeck)

posted by cgoodman on 8/15/2008 6:01 pm

Life is what you make it

posted by lifepath22 on 8/15/2008 6:09 pm

Intellectual gypsy, tired of peeling onions.

posted by Priscilla on 8/15/2008 6:49 pm

Life, love and the pursuit of happiness.

posted by poseymann on 8/16/2008 7:37 am

More layers, more complexity, to everything.

posted by gina_v on 8/16/2008 8:23 am

There was love around every corner.

posted by MissStereo on 8/17/2008 8:46 am

The future is my friend.

posted by cloud29 on 8/17/2008 10:50 am

fear self loathing I'm alright $ecurity

posted by TigerMoon on 8/17/2008 2:17 pm

Lived, loved, lost, learned, loved again.

posted by Anodea on 8/18/2008 7:08 pm

My past brought me this present.

posted by csells on 8/19/2008 8:23 pm

There are No Coincidences, No Accidents...

posted by LightEye on 8/20/2008 2:14 pm

circumstances changes perspective and love endures

posted by mettafor on 8/20/2008 11:58 pm

Charming effluvium begets success. Beware; embrace.

posted by strawberryday on 8/22/2008 3:03 pm

She created and inspired, despite everything.

posted by dSavannah on 8/23/2008 9:09 pm

Finally transforming into who I am.

posted by epona on 8/24/2008 11:33 am

Enjoying the journey; evading the destination.

posted by ArtCgrl on 8/25/2008 2:03 am

The preponderance of the small.

posted by earthnotes on 8/25/2008 2:45 pm

Listen to others but obey yourself.

posted by PumpkinSpice on 8/25/2008 9:40 pm

innercity girl turned buddhist kicks ass

posted by dangeriousgrrl on 8/26/2008 1:34 pm

comparison is source of all unhappiness

posted by theirishman on 8/26/2008 8:58 pm

The only constant is change.

posted by junglerat2 on 8/27/2008 11:59 pm

Love to live my life

posted by vannierop on 8/29/2008 8:42 am

Hey, this is Larry Smith from SMITH Mag & the six-word memoir book. These are really great, and I'm a longtime fan of Ode. If anyone wants to have their six worder in the mix to possibly be in another book we do, also submit it on SMITH, smithmag.net/sixwords.

And my six-word memoir is: "Big hair, big heart, big hurry."

-Larry

posted by lsmith on 8/29/2008 8:22 pm

Not afraid to die, anymore.

posted by Jocelyn on 8/30/2008 8:56 pm

Still searching for my identity.....

posted by colourofmagick on 8/31/2008 4:50 pm

Living & Loving Fiercely - MUCH MORE coming...

posted by coachterri on 8/31/2008 5:57 pm

Peace, Love, Joy, Happiness, Enjoy Life

posted by dfmullinnex on 9/ 1/2008 2:52 pm

It's about love, trial and error.

Caitlin Adair

posted by caitlin on 9/ 2/2008 6:36 am

So far so good, I guess.

posted by dmshepard on 9/ 2/2008 9:18 pm

Defenestrating the its I'm not over

posted by Todd Burnham on 9/ 5/2008 11:05 am

Defenestrating the its I'm not over

posted by Todd Burnham on 9/ 5/2008 11:51 am

Life breathes me.

posted by Smich on 9/ 6/2008 1:36 am

Life's a Game, NOT a match!

posted by JB on 9/ 7/2008 11:11 am

It's always some damn thing, eh? :-}

posted by gaelfire on 9/ 8/2008 5:55 pm

Can't wait to see what's next... ;-D

posted by acuwriter on 9/ 9/2008 11:24 pm

My integrity means embracing frequent change

posted by alikona on 9/13/2008 11:13 am

Tumultuous rollercoaster adventure rarely boring

posted by maykeema on 9/13/2008 2:40 pm

I am that I am - AaaahhhhhhhOoooommmmmmmm

posted by Michael Nixon on 9/15/2008 1:04 pm

Always seeking. Content in the now.

posted by Brennie on 9/19/2008 6:22 am

Sadness, loss, change, grew, full heart. (lucky me!) :)

posted by patchouli on 9/22/2008 4:35 pm

I'll plan better for next incarnation!

posted by whatnow on 9/22/2008 4:55 pm

Life comes full circle after all

posted by debbiedrf on 9/23/2008 11:05 am

Too late I learn it's not.

posted by suzebox on 9/24/2008 3:05 pm

Stepping out seeing around the corner

posted by Colourmegone on 9/28/2008 8:30 am

Independence, adventure, knowledge, LT,death, survival.

posted by Adventura on 9/29/2008 12:44 pm

I came.

I shall become.

posted by meremuggle on 9/30/2008 2:47 pm

The joy is in the journey.

posted by agp on 10/ 2/2008 8:15 am

Achieve, surrender, synthesize, breathe in nature. Maggie 10/08

posted by maggie on 10/ 7/2008 6:46 pm

Too curious to live just once.

posted by soundgal on 10/14/2008 5:35 am

It's been hard. I keep going.

posted by thearthsmom on 10/23/2008 7:45 pm

Eternally hopeful ,eternally mindful , openly loving .

Gordon Wulff

posted by Gordon on 12/31/2008 3:33 pm

Loved

Lost

Learned

Looked

Listened

Lucky

posted by Glenda2 on 1/ 7/2009 8:37 am

I traveled. Then I came home

posted by Sepha on 2/ 2/2009 3:34 pm