The Six Word Autobiography
The Toronto Star ran a fascinating feature piece last weekend on the concept of a best-selling book. Its essence: peoples’ life stories in six words, either in a sentence or a list.
Try to boil your existence down to just six words. It’s not that hard. And it can change, too. It’s not necessarily an epitaph but a marker for where you are right now. Your concept of “self” may evolve – and for your sake as a human being I hope it does! – so just attempt to come up with your six word life story and see what you get.
Here are some examples: Toronto Mayor David Miller: “Thriplow, Joan, Jill, Julia, Simon, Toronto.”
Others: “For sale: Master’s degree, never used.”
“I have exceeded my shelf life.”
“Married wrong girl but we’re happy.”
“Much love to give; no recipient.”
“Overeducated janitor; My ambition lacks ignition.”
And this is the one that first came to my mind, for me, about me: “Lived in reaction, not with intention.” Like I said, we evolve and these little life stories can – and in my case will – certainly change.
