Six Word Memoirs of Our Own

A quick disclaimer: the idea behind today’s entry is not my own. I originally heard about the notion in an email I received from a coworker but after a little investigation, I discovered a magazine called SMITH to be the literary entity most likely responsible for the concept of the Six Word Memoir being sent out into the world and into our collective consciousness.

The Six Word Memoir breaks down like this: tell the story of you in six words. That’s it. Distill the essence of what it is to be you in only six words.

At first, I thought it to be an impossible task but after a bit of careful consideration, I came up with this:

Father of Emma, husband of Fehmeen

And that worked but it didn’t quite encapsulate what it means to be me, right here and right now. A few moments later, these six words came to mind:

Trying to live a lifetime, now

Better, but still not perfect. A bit on the hopelessly depressing side and not exactly where I’m coming from, even now, diagnosis and all. So I pondered it some more and before I knew it, the words were there. My six word memoir:

Speech and movement compromised, spirit unaffected.

With that said, now it’s your turn. Your assignment, faithful reader (both contributor and lurker), is to create your own Six Word Memoir and post it up in the comments section below. Even if you choose not to share, I believe that you will find the exercise both fulfilling and meaningful. I know that I did.

Advertisement