I have equated 6-word memoirs to photographs. They certainly don’t tell the whole story, but they offer a snapshot of a particular moment in time. Likewise, a  review of a month’s worth of entries is much like a photo album. It is different views of closely related times. As such, it offers more of a complete story.

And so on this page, I offer up my monthly “albums” and the personal discoveries that come from looking at these memoirs in relation to one another.

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Month #1 ~ September 2008

Looking back on this first month of entries, I am surprised. Some of my reflections immediately bring to mind what happened that day, what events prompted my words: the night the dog went missing, the morning Hurricane Ike struck land, the weekend I arrived at the Yoga Journal conference. Others are more cryptic (and I wrote them), yet universal. I can’t remember the specifics behind my September 2nd entry “Pain in Yoga” but the truth remains for me: it still equals self-doubt.

It’s an interesting challenge to attempt to sum up your daily experience or lesson in EXACTLY six words. You’ll find yourself thinking, “What’s the overriding message today?” Then you’ll start counting the number of words in phrases: can I take out a “the,” make a contraction, or eliminate an “and” with the use of a colon. (Aside: Probably not a good exercise for those with obsessive-compulsive leanings.)

With that said, here is …

SEPTEMBER in 180 words

• Forty-six: Seeking Dad’s Approval … still. (9/1/08)
• Pain in yoga equals self doubt. (9/2/08)
• Would rather be writing for money! (9/3/08)
• Counting words ALL day long … exhausted. (9/4/08)
• Evening of six word liners with friends. (9/5/08)
• Procrastination: The Illegitimate Child of Perfectionism. (9/6/08)
• His wind-blown curls, my sunlit heart. (9/7/08)
• Hope to be on Oprah someday! (9/8/08)
• Hope kids aren’t ever on Oprah! (9/9/08)
• Bottom of the pile doesn’t exist. (9/10/08)
• Hate running.  Love the feeling afterward. (9/11/08)
• Nike is right. Just do it. (9/12/08)
• Yoga Practice: More Fun with Friends! (9/13/08)
• Disasters, CNN, the internet & me. (9/14/08)
• Friend or Foe?  Fixation with food. (9/15/08)
• His blue eyes light up mine. (9/16/08)
• Lack of Acknowledgment Opens Deep Wounds. (9/17/08)
• Dog’s gone missing, so’s my sleep. (9/18/08)
• Celebrating: dog located! Sleep? Still missing. (9/19/08)
• Packing for trips completely overwhelms me. (9/20/08)
• It’s a Colorado Rocky Mountain High. (9/21/08)
• 800 practicing Anusara at one time! (9/22/08)
• Kula: An ever-expanding group of beings. (9/23/08)
• Happy birthday, dear Jeannie, my friend. (9/24/08)
• Inhale rise up. Exhale and fold. (9/25/08)
• Ah, the life of a journalist. (9/26/08)
• Rest gives the body new beginnings. (9/27/08)
• Seven days of yoga, homeward bound (9/28/08)
• Off the mat, on with life. (9/29/08)
• Om’s where I hang my mat. (9/30/08)

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Month #2 ~ October 2008

Personal Discoveries

Month #2 of my year-long project is complete. I’ve enjoyed the comments and emails that I’ve received about this endeavor. Some have even joined me along the way. My “Anu-newbie” friend Leanne Kitteridge posted her own 6-word thoughts during her recent training with John Friend. (Leanne is an Anusara Inspired teacher near Vancouver). She describes the teaching benefits of practicing 6-word summaries.

I’ve also noticed some other “energetic effects” of this simple writing exercise. Remember what Socrates said, albeit in 7 words: “An unexamined life is not worth living.” (I think we could tighten that up just a bit ~ maybe insert the contraction “isn’t” ~ and VOILA! Same profundity in six words!) But Socrates aside, here are three benefits that I’ve discovered from my 6-word diary practice.

I. Focus

As a life-long (though somewhat erratic) journal writer, I have blathered my way uncensored through more than a few spiral notebooks. I have also gone extensively without recording a word, simply because I didn’t have “time” to write. The 6-word summary forces you to BE CONCISE. It is your daily thesis. You must decide what is really critical, important and meaningful. No blathering allowed; get rid of the extraneous words. Whether it’s in your daily summary or your yoga instructions, we must learn to discern and focus in. (Wait, I’m starting to blather!)

II. Motivation (via Time Management)

The second effect of the six word limit is MOTIVATION to keep at it. In the past, I have set daily journaling goals and then slacked off because of the time it required. Life got in the way. With this word restriction, I maintain a consistent practice. I can quickly jot down six words, even on the busiest of days. Okay, I’ll admit … I HAVE skipped a day or two. But with a requirement of only 6 words, it’s easy to “go back” and capture the moment. Which brings me to my final point …

III. Awareness

The most important effect of the six word exercise has been sharpened awareness. I am discovering enhanced observation and reflection EVEN AS I’m experiencing the day. Knowing that I will record “something” keeps me on alert. It causes me to PAY ATTENTION to my life, to ask, “What IS going on? What IS this all about? (Even if sometimes it’s a day or two later!)

It is said that “yoga is the cessation of the fluctuations of the mind.” The 6-Word Diary is MY record of what those fluctuations are!

October’s Overview: Energetic effects in yoga, Facebook observations, Longhorn football, and some personal challenges:

• Work the principles, find new openings. (10/1/08)
• Inversions: Lift contents of your brain. (10/2/08)
• I’d rather write than anything else. (10/3/08)
• My lunch with Austin: Heart swells! (10/4/08)
• Raw Cookie Dough: Love-Hate Relationship (10/5/08)
• Garmin says “recalculating” … my life’s motto! (10/6/08)
• Iyengar practice leaves different energetic effect. (10/7/08)
• Meant to do it. So what?! (10/8/08)
• Search Result: What’s Anusara Kool Aid? (10/9/08)
• Garner State Park: The Tradition Continues (10/10/08)
• ‘Horns Won, Sun Shone, Beautiful Day! (10/11/08)
• Drizzling rain is a camping bummer! (10/12/08)
• Different Parenting Styles Creates Friendship Friction. (10/13/08)
• Feels good to pay off debts. (10/14/08)
• Question: What really holds me back? (10/15/08)
• Backbends often agitate my nervous system. (10/16/08)
• Good manicure makes all the difference. (10/17/08)
• Horns-Mizzou game: 98,300 and us! (10/18/08)
• Wherever I am, there I’m NOT! (10/19/08)
• Clutter Management Tip: Finish the Cycle! (10/20/08)
• Double Dips, Open Hips, Mood Flips! (10/21/08)
• Electronic Devices: Failure to Be Present (10/22/08)
• Facebook results in less “FACE” time. (10/23/08)
• Disco outfits easy! Halloween costumes? …. Arrgh! (10/24/08)
• Silly me ~ Disco’s ALWAYS in style! (10/25/08)
• Austin Icons: Backyard with Willie Nelson! (10/26/08)
• Be in alignment with your dreams. (10/27/08)
• Intersecting circles of friends create collisions. (10/28/08)
• CAUTION: Facebook “friends” aren’t necessarily so! (10/29/08)
• Why does homework cause such tension? (10/30/08)
• What IS it about being scared?! (10/31/08)

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Month #3 ~ November 2008

So this week marked the end of my third month ~ 90+ days of practice. My six word memoir project has taken on a life of its own. I created a separate blog to chronicle just that exercise WHICH also includes an occasional picture. I have enjoyed the momentum the project has gained, both for me personally and with other people. I have heard from several folks who have been inspired to use this exercise in their own lives ~ a couple of friends, as well as a English teacher who is using it as a writing assignment for her class. I think that’s pretty cool.

It’s becoming easier to write these snip-its, and I actually look forward to seeing “what I’m going to say,” ~ oh, so clever girl that I am! In addition to the daily exercise, at the end of each month I take a look back at see what trends and insights might be revealed. It’s almost as much fun as writing them, and today’s the day!

This Month’s Lessons

One of the things that I’ve become aware of is how “rules” can hold me up. I worry about such things as proper punctuation and word counts. (For instance, should phrases like “Farrah-Do’s” or “San Francisco” count as one word or two?) Wanting to do things “right” often keeps me from acting at all. This is true not only in a writing exercise, but in other areas of my life as well. Interestingly, this is even reflected in one of my entries: “Failure to act makes a decision.”

There were a couple of days in November that I added addendum, a second helping of 6 words for the day. I kind of see that as cheating, but have done it anyway, albeit with guilt. (Side note: Guilt is a chronic condition for me. It is funny how a small six word practice can reveal so much about your personality.)

The most important lesson this month? Just Do It! It doesn’t have to be perfect or grand, just consistent. And THAT can make all the difference. Recently, I read something about integrating a practice or habit into your life which said it’s more important to do something small regularly than to make a big effort sporadically. Certainly everyone will agree, but many (and especially those of us with “all or nothing” personalities) still fail to act. Some examples:

• After not running for months, I start back with a 5 mile outing, and end up so sore that I don’t go out again.
• A friend has a baby and I want to take food over, but instead of just taking something, I want to plan a big meal and end up doing nothing.
• My disorganized office is so overwhelming that when new things come in, I don’t even try to put them away. I just add them to the piles contributing more to the chaos.

Ironically, I was thinking about yoga when I wrote: “Key to Sanity: Regular, Consistent Practice,” but REALLY it’s true for just about everything. This simple writing exercise has taught me that if you just do SOMETHING with regularity, it will start to take hold and make a difference. (It CAN keep you sane.) Whether it’s with writing, exercising, nurturing friendships, or cleaning house, just do it. In the words of Issac Newton, “A body at rest tends to stay at rest; a body in motion tends to stay in motion.” Or something like that.

Today it’s writing 6 words … Tomorrow THE OFFICE!

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November’s Overview: Gratitude for Family, Thanksgiving Celebration, Frustration with Disorganization

• SportsCenter more fun when we win. (11/1/08)
• Self-discipline is really self-love. (11/2/08)
• I married better than my husband. (11/3/08)
• “Yes we can!” Hope he’s right. (11/4/08)
• Family Dinner: A Feast of Conversations (11/5/08)
• Cool software makes my heart race. (11/6/08)
• Happy hours, happy friends, happy ME! (11/7/08)
• Sometimes I DO steal his glasses. (11/8/08)
• The first waffle never turns out. (11/9/08)
• Nobody had ever asked me “why?” (11/10/08)
• Promises too much. Delivers too little. (11/11/08)
• They all said it mattered … didn’t. (11/12/08)
• Reflecting on friendships, Farrah-do’s and Facebook (11/13/08)
• Waiting a long time for NOW! (11/14/08)
• Exhilaration: Shopping at Night at Wal-Mart (11/15/08)
• Lost keys, phone and my mind! (addendum to 11/15/08)
• Light the Sky ~ Fog the Windows (11/16/08)
• Howling at the Moon with Friends (11/17/08)
• Her “Thanks” ~ Better than the gift! (11/18/08)
• Wise salesman once said, “Presentation’s everything!” (11/19/08)
• I’m many things, but not that. (11/20/08)
• Key to Sanity: Regular, Consistent Practice (11/21/08)
• Puppies & Friends: “Paws” to Celebrate (11/22/08)
• Failure to decide makes a decision (11/23/08)
• Purple Haze: Planning for Thanksgiving Photos (11/24/08)
• “Once,” he recalled “it was clean.” (11/25/08)
• Family Oriented, Storytelling Dishwasher: Apply Within (11/26/08)
• Gratitude: Family, Food & Stretch Jeans (11/27/08)
• Thanksgiving … Not like this for everyone?! (11/28/08)
• Some Kind of Record: Nobody Cried! (11/29/08)
• Four Words: I Love My Family! (addendum to 11/29/08)
• Science Fair Project: Will Child Live? (11/30/08)