Can you tell your life story in six words? A few months ago, NPR mentioned Smith Magazine’s six word memoir contest. Many of the submissions were heartbreaking and hilarious. Here are some of my favorites:
- Fat fired lawyer loves three-legged cat.
- Never really finished anything, except cake
- After Harvard, had baby with crackhead.
- Caring for parents. Life is circular.
- Nerdy girl smutmonger. Now, baby fever.
- Being a monk stunk. Better gay.
So of course, I had to try my hand at a few memoirs. Mike and I came up with these for me.
- Three degrees, one baby, still unsatisfied.
- Mormon feminist loves husband, hates patriarchy.
What about you? I’d love to hear how some of you would describe your life in six words.
Mistakenly chose the information technology field.
Lived life by default. No more!
Hate lawyering; can’t construct a future.
English teacher lives for ah-ha moments.
or
Heart belongs to Bug, daisies, Mike.
Life’s hard. Smiling through it anyway.
or
Nerdy bookworms make the nicest husbands.
Astrophysics do not improve childcare skills.
Forty-something, five feet tall, still growing.
Born deaf, wild youth, married friend.
always waiting for life to start
or
creativity shackled by self-imposed normalcy
I’m loving all your memoirs!
A few of yours particularly resonate with me. I sympathize with all of you who lament your career choices.
On that theme, here’s another one from me.
“Why did I major in Classics?”
Heather O, I totally agree about the nerdy bookworms! They’re the best.
BOV, I love yours!
The one that came to mind first:
Five years, two kids, eight moves.
Near Death, Five Kids, Still Here
Loves Life And Fresh Mown Grass
Doubting Child Transforms Into Heavenly Daughter
Two Languages, Two Hearts Beget Twins.
And….
Aspiring Writer Seeks Homemaking Bliss
Doing what’s right doesn’t beat loneliness.
Not what you think I am.
-or-
Wanderer. Wants Home – but stasis chafes.
-or-
In love with her own past.
Divided family, wild kids stretch me.
Learned I’m stronger than I thought.
Stubborn Mormon mama writes about science.
Forty. Thought I would be further.
Mormonism. Love it, don’t believe it.
Heart’s only pure peace: my children.
Being happy doesn’t require a husband.
Education freed me from feeling inadequate.
Confidence: it sure took long enough.
Hates studying for New York bar.
These are wonderful! It’s amazing how much a person can reveal about themselves in six words.
Silverrain and big brown house, yours really struck me. Well done.
EmilyS, loved your one about the wanderer.
Thought I’d try it in five words. Just to one-up … literally.
Dancer reads and heals kids. (Too busy and disconnected)
Enamoured with idea of *love.* (Too focused on one small portion of my life)
Imagine all the wonderful possibilities. (Better. More scope. Less personal)
Making life supercallifragilisticexpialidotious as possible (Just for fun)
Finding joy, doing my thing. (Think this one is the winner … for now.)
Dora, you may have done it in 5 words, but then you did it 5 times… = 25 words. You lose!
Wow, not even the obligatory smiley face. Harsh.
Played Brahms. Playing house. Next movement?
Thanks for article!
Thanks for interesting article.
Glad to read articles like this. Thanks to author!
Love mammals. Married one. Have two.
Four generations. One house. Getting by.
Or
Found myself teaching preschool. How random.
Or
Two kids and a husband. Joy.
Excellent website. Good work. Very useful. I will bookmark!
Stay-at-home mom seeks balance.
Perfectionist learning to let it go.
Balancing motherhood, wifehood and selfhood precariously.
Painting the white picket fence red.
He wakes late to start dreams
He makes her laugh a lot
Throw Scott, marry Brody, sex Tim.
They are not better than us
They are not better than us
Ditched Devil Spawn, Married True Companion
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