What six words capture the essence of who you are?

The Six Word Memoir

Hey friend,

Legend has it that Ernest Hemingway was once challenged to write a story in only six words. His response? “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

In November 2006, Larry Smith, founder of what was then called SMITH Magazine, gave the six-word novel a personal twist by asking his community to describe their lives in exactly six words.

He called these brief life stories Six-Word Memoirs.

They sent in short life stories in droves, from the bittersweet (“Cursed with cancer, blessed with friends”) and poignant (“I still make coffee for two”) to the inspirational (“From migrant worker to NASA astronaut”) and hilarious (“Married by Elvis, divorced by Friday”).

From there, the Six Word Memoir project was born.

For me, these are my six words:

First off the farm. Never left.

As I get older, I realize the kid that couldn't escape the farm fast enough has more recently been doing everything possible to get back. Bruce explains it more eloquently in My Hometown, but perhaps you understand the sentiment yourself.

If you had to go through this exercise, what six words come to mind?

I’d love to hear them. Hit reply and let’s talk about it.

—Andrew

5 minutes worth watching: