Your life story in six words
By patgalca
@patgalca (18394)
Orangeville, Ontario
March 19, 2008 4:12pm CST
It's hard to choose a category to start a discussion when it falls into two different categories. But I decided to put this one in writing.
The Toronto Star recently sent out a call to readers to write their life story in six words. The idea originated two years ago by a New York editor who created a book from the entries.
"The six-word memoir is a perfect exercise for our culture, hooked as we are on confession and the instant gratification of texting."
Here are some samples written in this past weekend's Saturday Star:
"Four kids make life wonderfully chaotic."
"Troubled orphan, grieved, surprised, forgave, happy."
"Financially good: Everything else a bust."
"I have not accomplished much... yet."
So people, can you do it? Can you write your life story in six words? I have yet to do this myself but will give it a try. Who else wants to try?
6 people like this
29 responses
@lecanis (16647)
• Murfreesboro, Tennessee
20 Mar 08
Broken child becomes priestess, poet, protector.
This is the best I could come up with, using only six words. It's amazing how hard you think about every single word when you have such a limit. It took me longer to write this than some of my really long poems.
3 people like this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
19 Mar 08
Mommy and lifelong learner. Quite content.
2 people like this
@sparkofinsanity (20471)
• Regina, Saskatchewan
20 Mar 08
Wife,mother,wife awaiting insured widowhood! I'm not kidding.
2 people like this
I believe it! I feel that way sometimes too. 
@UBiquitous (195)
• Pakistan
19 Mar 08
hello patgalca!
how are you well a very fascinating kind a topic indeed!
lets try,6 words wil not be enought to show what you are but see what i can put in to it.
"Ordinary human soul having unlimited desires " !
2 people like this
@patgalca (18394)
• Orangeville, Ontario
20 Mar 08
Those six words describe you but not your life. The exercise is to come up with a 6-word memoir. Not easy. I came up with six (posted above) but they don't include everything that has happened in my life, like my illness. But it was a humourous attempt.
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
20 Mar 08
I don't know, patgalca, I think that was pretty good. Good job, UBiquitous.
1 person likes this
@UBiquitous (195)
• Pakistan
20 Mar 08
hello patgalca!
well! this is what my life is,i am a human and i carry soul i have desires too and for my desires i am spending life here on earth to fulfil them and this is what is everyone's motive to live actually .
Living=life ..right ?
well, i welcome your comments,i will think on that note too and will come up with new 6 words soon as i get something in my mind which fully represents my life.
Take care !
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
20 Mar 08
catlover, mother, grandmother, writer and counseller
1 person likes this
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
19 Mar 08
That is tough...but interesting.
Underestimated, lost, forgiving, hopeful, accepting, individual.
It hardly explains much but pretty much covers it all.
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
19 Mar 08
"mum of one son getting bored"
That is where my life is right now. I'm working on changing it though :)
1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
20 Mar 08
Mother of three, my life content! 
Awesome discussion, the six words above is how I feel about my life right now. It was a challenge, of course I wanted to write so much more, but that is what first popped into my mind. 1 person likes this
@kiran1978 (4134)
• Australia
20 Mar 08
Okay i need to have another shot at this realised I described myself not my life. Here goes again:
lost, confused child, young mum, happy!
Hope that is what you meant, if not please explain little more to me lol, want to get it write. Find this topic very interesting.
@lovepixie (11)
• Canada
19 Mar 08
marriage-child-autism-separation-playd-struggeling
thats about what came into my mind.
@palonghorn (5479)
• United States
20 Mar 08
This is a good writing lesson, not an easy one, but here goes. Six words, huh?
Adventures, daughters, happy, and great memories.
After all life is an adventure, I have two wonderful daughters, and more times than not I've been happy with my life and have made some great memories over the years, with more yet to come.
@kilani123 (864)
• United Arab Emirates
20 Mar 08
"A student trying to get his degree"
thats my life at this moment
