your life in six words
February 20th, 2008 @ 6:12 pm | life | Post a CommentIt’s quite possible that I’m A) the last person on Earth to discover these; and/or B) supremely lame for thinking they are so cool, but have you read about six word memoirs?
(You know how you never know something even exists, and as soon as you learn about it you start seeing it everywhere? That’s how these six word memoirs are for me. It seems like I catch a mention of them in every book, magazine, or website I read lately. So please don’t let me fool you into thinking I am original for writing about them, mmkay?)
Can you write your life story in six words? Here are my tries:
Ate lots of peanut butter, hello curves.
Everything I did, sister did better.
Devours magazines, only nibbles at books.
Basically average, even in shoe size.
Found true love at Mardi Gras.
Baby names chosen; still no babies.
Excellent handwriting doesn’t pay the mortgage.
Got lucky when God assigned parents.
Will blog for food money friends.
Edit: Eagle-eye commenters noticed that my first one is seven words. Obviously peanutbutter is meant to be one word.
Gah! Here are some more I thought of. I love this game and all of your memoirs! I feel like I got to know some of you better instantly.
Known as pillar of stability. Boring?
Embarrassingly in love with engagement ring.
Lots of hobbies. Absolutely zero expertise.
Biggest fear = Short hair + huge face.
Obviously don’t know when to shush.


I’ve heard about this from 4 different people this week! Crazy how that happens.
Here’s my attempt at a six word bio:
Not creative enough to do this.
written by Erin
February 20th, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
Cool idea! This is completely new to me.
Here’s mine: Discovered a life off the island.
written by Larissa
February 20th, 2008 @ 6:38 pm
Well, you’re the first to tell me about them!
Drifted along, looking for life’s work.
Organizing useless things is incredibly calming.
Wished writing TV commentary was lucrative.
Found peace with hair color, finally.
These are pretty fun!
written by Operation Pink Herring
February 20th, 2008 @ 6:44 pm
still don’t think i write well
even after five years of college
creativity does not flow through veins
maybe just lack any self confidence
ha! awesome.
i second the will blog for friends hahahahaha especially in this shitbox town :X no….i don’t hate dc’s social scene at ALL!!
written by heidi
February 20th, 2008 @ 6:46 pm
oh, i was in the dark about these as well, but so much fun!
here are my first tries:
want to travel world, no money.
the little things make me happy.
oooh, this is fun!
written by k
February 20th, 2008 @ 6:56 pm
I haven’t heard of this ’til you! But it does kind of remind me of coming up with succinct wording for one’s tombstone.
written by HollowSquirrel
February 20th, 2008 @ 7:17 pm
Those are fantastic! I’ll have to have a think (but I’m sure I can’t come up with anything as clever as yours)…
was once fat, now insecure runner
still live in my home town
marrying a real dork (like me)
I’m always singing with my sisters
written by Kate
February 20th, 2008 @ 8:05 pm
You are not alone, I had never heard about this either. How fun. I love yours and the sister one, so true for me too. And as for my try…
my curly hair is my personality.
going to be famous, one day.
written by katelin
February 20th, 2008 @ 8:22 pm
New to me too, so I think you’re brilliant!
Wish blog reading made me money
Love eating hate running do both
Love being thin embarassed by this
sometimes want to strangle husband whoops
always smart child desperate to maintain
love to cook more than eat
written by Janssen
February 20th, 2008 @ 9:13 pm
i just JUST 5 minutes ago saw this on an email from amazon.com.
so this is mine:
i’m always one step behind cool.
written by betsy
February 20th, 2008 @ 9:48 pm
New to me too, but very cool!
written by Marriage-101
February 20th, 2008 @ 10:52 pm
Maybe I’m the only one who actually counts these things, but your very first try (which was great, by the way!), had SEVEN words. Daaamnnn you, cheater!
(You could probably make peanutbutter all one word and get away with it.)
written by Zandria
February 20th, 2008 @ 11:24 pm
It’s new to me but I live in the middle of the country, your trends will be arriving here next year.
Here is mine:
Adventure is loving now, not later.
written by ambitiousmrs
February 20th, 2008 @ 11:25 pm
Hmph. I don’t know if my last comment posted so I will try to recreate it’s brilliance. I think it went a little something like:
I love all of your memoirs. Especially “Everything I did, sister did better.” Perfect. Thank you for the shout out!
written by C
February 21st, 2008 @ 12:58 am
will try this later – too tired
written by alyndabear
February 21st, 2008 @ 2:41 am
my first comment on your blog
your first attempt had seven words
Zandria has pointed this out too
six words is not very many
my whole life in six words?
up down up down up down
written by james
February 21st, 2008 @ 4:17 am
Do I have to grow up?
Mom, Dad, can I borrow money?
Lost my mind: found my soul.
Doing what I love, right now!
Dig this experiment- will pass along!
written by Lele
February 21st, 2008 @ 5:51 am
You are the first I’ve heard of it! I’m going to have to think about this one…. To much to say in to little space.
written by Ashlie
February 21st, 2008 @ 9:31 am
Am too pigheaded to give up
might go crazy but worth it
written by Princess Extraordinaire
February 21st, 2008 @ 9:40 am
Ooooh, that’s really cool! I’ll have to think about mine a bit. Here’s the first one that comes to mind …
Travels by day, burrows at night.
written by Nilsa S.
February 21st, 2008 @ 9:52 am
Noelle asked this too… my attempts were
She likes to run. Not fast.
and
Freaking out about grad school everyday.
written by Laurel
February 21st, 2008 @ 10:04 am
I’ve seen this pop up all over the place, too. Maybe six-word memoirs hit their tipping point? It’s like extreme haiku. Or Twitter on steroids! Let’s see:
Petite, but with very tall husband
Hate my huge teeth, giant lips
Exhausted this week; also really snappy
Just four weeks until our vacation
Want a master’s, can’t afford it
Really missing root beer these days
written by RA
February 21st, 2008 @ 10:17 am
I like your last one
written by generation next
February 21st, 2008 @ 10:22 am
I have never heard of this…

But now I will spend the rest of the day making my own life story in 6 words.
Thank you Janet!
written by Julie
February 21st, 2008 @ 11:41 am
Maybe I need to get out more… I haven’t heard of these! But now I feel like I need a truncated memoir…
……
How do you stand the pressure? I’m an artist! I can’t work under such restrictive conditions!! (hehe)
xox
written by heidikins
February 21st, 2008 @ 11:47 am
Moved around lots; think it shows.
written by Nothing But Bonfires
February 21st, 2008 @ 12:27 pm
I’ve never heard of this, but here’s my attempts:
My daughters died; I’m healing erratically
Eats cheese which goes to thighs
Will buy shoes when not necessary
Walking 42 flights for cancer fundraiser
Learning slowly to accept love again
written by Kim
February 21st, 2008 @ 12:30 pm
First born, I led the way.
written by Arjewtino
February 21st, 2008 @ 12:55 pm
First off… your design is very cute.
Secondly… I think this is a great idea! I may have to try it soon… it needs some thought. I’ve had a crazy life. haha!
written by Joelle
February 21st, 2008 @ 1:12 pm
I’ve never heard about this…but I love it. Here’s my tries:
Didn’t marry Rhett Miller. Should have.
Nice girl. Needs friends. Know any?
Got married. Then tried it again.
Who knew I would love kids?
When will “bikini season” be over?
Never to give up nap time.
Dude, there is no stopping me. I love this.
written by Isabel
February 21st, 2008 @ 1:40 pm
Cool! Here are a few of mine:
Lost myself, found myself, lost again
Drank too much wine–no regrets
Never did learn to salsa dance
written by Jen
February 21st, 2008 @ 4:26 pm
First off, I’ve never heard of this before. So you must really be on the cutting edge, despite what you think. Also? James will probably think I have an Internet crush on him because I think his comment is brilliant. Honest, though, I don’t!
Anyways, here are my uncreative attempts at 6 words to sume up my life:
Eldest of four, always responsible one
My body is never good enough
Mind lacks bravery to be great
Mostly happy, sometimes sad, always optimistic
Loves to love, give, and care
written by Chiada
February 21st, 2008 @ 7:24 pm
Two moles on tummy, Need Doctor
written by Alexa
February 21st, 2008 @ 9:03 pm
i’ve never heard of this either janet, so you’re not alone.
Rekindled love brings much needed happiness.
Overachiever in school, but work sucks.
written by Michelle & the City
February 22nd, 2008 @ 1:09 pm
Cheese and wine necessary, work stressful…..
written by Kiki
February 22nd, 2008 @ 10:25 pm
These are so cool. I hadn’t heard about them. I’ll have to work out writing my own.
written by Lindsey
February 24th, 2008 @ 9:58 pm
These are soo cool!
In six word sentences, Kate’s comment sounded exactly like my sister Kate’s life!
Now for mine …
this fellow blonde loves your site!
love my boyfriend, please don’t move.
great new haircut, reborn self confidence.
too many projects need to graduate.
graduating soon – hello new lifestyle!
need to drink more GOOD wine
wow… I could really do these all evening.
Fun! Thanks for the time waster
Leah – http://www.fiveblondes.com
written by Leah
February 26th, 2008 @ 9:21 pm