Share your life’s story…but do it in six words

// March 6th, 2009 // Uncategorized

Encouraged my wife to watch a program on PBS from Daniel Pink about his book A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule The World. My wife is a right-brainer. I thought the program might encourage her. In the end, I feel like maybe I was the one who took away more from this program.

One of the things I have struggled with during my life in Christ is how I can overcome the shyness of my creative side. Sometimes I wonder if there is a creative beast lurking inside my timid self that is shaking at the cage trying to get out, or whether it is just another thing to keep me away from my calling and immersed in busyness. So, an idea that Daniel Pink referenced really spoke to me. It was a way to be creative, immediate, and relevant at the same time. Daniel talked about a book titled Six Words Memoirs, a collection of people’s life stories limited to the framework of six words:

Ernest Hemmingway: For sale: baby shoes, never worn.

Deepak Chopra: Danced in fields of infinite possibilities.

Joyce Carol Oates: Revenge is living well, without you.

Alexander Tsai: Not a good Christian, but trying.

Steven Colbert: Well, I thought it was funny.

Cutting through the crap of the world helps to make us relevant and poignant. In a world formerly thought of in elaborate 3-point sermons, what is the story we can tell that will impact people with a simple six word sentiment?

Dave Ingland: Woke up to find true life.

How would you summarize your life in a six word memoir?

44 Responses to “Share your life’s story…but do it in six words”

daniel so says:

March 6, 2009 at 10:50 am

Dave – Wow, I really like your 6 word memoir. Who says you’re not creative?! There was a small punk band from years back that had a 6 word name that has always stuck with me:

“Life, but how to live it?”

I’m still working on mine though!

daveingland Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Ha, ha…when I create, crazy hair days happen :D Thanks for your kind words though. Much appreciated! You need to come back and leave your 6 word memoir…remember, creativity inspires more creativity :) Thanks friend!
Brett Aljets says:

March 6, 2009 at 12:56 pm

God showed up big time, Amen!

daveingland Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
Brett, amen to that one! frawesome!!!
KayLynne says:

March 6, 2009 at 12:59 pm

Love covers wrong, hatred stirs strife.

(Kind of took that from the Bible. But hey, it fits and it’s six words. Of course not the exact bible verse. But it works.! =D)

daveingland Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
KayLynne, you are wise beyond your years my friend…and so cute too! Great verse!
Kathi Sharpe says:

March 6, 2009 at 1:42 pm

How about,

“Jesus loves me, this I know” :)
or
“Saved, healed, delivered, set free, ALIVE”
or
“dead to sin, alive in Christ”

daveingland Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
Kathi, Anyone that would cite Romans 6 in their 6 word memoir is alright by me! Thanks…great ones for sure!
steveharrison says:

March 6, 2009 at 2:25 pm

striving to be more like Christ…

daveingland Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Steve, that is the truth! We could all cite that for ourselves. Thanks for the reminder. You rock man!
Scott Welch says:

March 6, 2009 at 2:55 pm

Was headed for hell, but God!

daveingland Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
Scott, that’s a great one as I was there too. Awesome man! Praise the Lord :)
Charles Lee says:

March 6, 2009 at 3:18 pm

Why not? Who said? I will.

daveingland Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Charles, thanks for exercising your creativity…love it!
Rich Brimer says:

March 6, 2009 at 3:26 pm

do justly, love mercy, walk humbly

daveingland Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
Rich, very beautiful sentiment…thanks so much for sharing!
Jon Reid says:

March 6, 2009 at 3:34 pm

Children will remember father, not leader.

daveingland Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Jon, very profound memoir. That one impacted me very much. Thanks so much!
Craig says:

March 6, 2009 at 3:40 pm

Live,love,lose,find,help,forgive.

daveingland Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Craig, awesome 6 word collection…that speaks to me!
Jason Curlee says:

March 6, 2009 at 3:48 pm

addicted, selfish, purposeless — Free In Him

daveingland Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Jason, it’s all about Christ! Thanks for sharing! Now go preach it..lol :)
CharlotteConley says:

March 6, 2009 at 4:03 pm

i have a couple of lovely ideas…

He has done great things, Hallelujah!
or
My life: a song of praise.

Unfortunately, this one’s a lot more appropriate,
“I missed it by THAT much.”
Jessica Schulze says:

March 6, 2009 at 4:06 pm

In the service of my King.

daveingland Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
@mamapastorjess thanks for leaving your memoir! A great thing for us all to remember :)

Charlotte, thanks for bringing some Maxwell Smart insight to my blog…lol :)
James A Pearson says:

March 6, 2009 at 4:39 pm

A war between limits and wonder.

daveingland Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
James, very unique! Thought-provoking as well. Thanks for sharing!
Scott Overpeck says:

March 6, 2009 at 5:34 pm

Always keeping my pimp hand strong.
or
I suck. Help me suck less.
or
Its a small world after all.
or
Tonight I failed. Probably fail tomorrow.
or
Wanna change the world with me?

daveingland Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 5:37 pm
Scott…someone *finally* represented the pimp hand…thanks for your act of goodwill for the day…lol :) You rock it unique my friend!
Scott Overpeck says:

March 6, 2009 at 5:35 pm

or
Don’t steal. The govt hates competition.
Josh Chow says:

March 6, 2009 at 5:55 pm

My life: now ruined by Jesus.

daveingland Reply:
March 6th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
Josh, that was brilliant! May he continue to work in your life and break you and shape you as you continue your journey in Christ!
ENVisionlife- Milton says:

March 6, 2009 at 6:20 pm

Compassionate Leadership, Relentless Warrior, I Am!

daveingland Reply:
March 7th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Milton: Great 6 word memoir…powerful! Thank you.

@eloranicole: thanks for sharing your Nyquil-influenced life’s story…I enjoyed them :)

Tommy: That’s a good one! Thanks.

Lydia: This is true! Thanks for your life’s story.
Elora Ramirez says:

March 6, 2009 at 6:22 pm

Wrecked of the ordinary, hope reigns.

and…for the sake of our camaraderie:

((I should take Nyquil more often))
KayLynne says:

March 6, 2009 at 6:41 pm

Wow Dave, you’re getting lots on here. Hehe.
A lot of good ones too.!
=D

(Thanks by the way. Hehe. I’ve often been told that I act way over my age. Guess it’s a good thing. Hehe.)
Tommy Tenney says:

March 6, 2009 at 6:44 pm

Chasing the uncatchable, passionate purposeful pursuit
6 word testimony. « Pursuit Lets Wisdom Ride The Wind says:

March 6, 2009 at 6:45 pm

[...] 6 word testimony. I don’t want to write a whole blog on this because I simply couldn’t do as good a job as Dave Ingland. This is straight from his blog: [...]
Lydia says:

March 6, 2009 at 11:20 pm

What can I do but live?
Kenny says:

March 8, 2009 at 6:32 pm

Lost, found, amazed, inspired, grind, hope.

daveingland Reply:
March 8th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Kenny, thanks for your six words. Great stuff, but “grind?” Makes me think you’re a skater, dude…ha, ha :)
Tim says:

March 16, 2009 at 7:46 pm

I love this post and the responses. I saw this first at Josh’s site and followed it here. I am glad I did. Here is mine:

living my life to honor GOD!

God bless you real good!
Tim

daveingland Reply:
March 20th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Thank you Tim. Great 6 words :)
susan schlabach says:

May 30, 2009 at 1:20 pm

“always faithful that God keeps promises”