Six Word Summer 2019

“The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.”

– Thomas Paine, Philosopher

The leaves change, the season shifts and the six word stories return. I wonder how many of you knew what the post would be this month. As we’ve read now for quite a few years, I’m a firm believer in the positive power of reflection in just six words. But don’t take my word for it. Even WebMD reports that reflective writing makes us more aware, able to notice our own patterns, helps us take control and can even shift our viewpoint into a more positive frame of mind (Robinson, 2017).

They suggest daily journaling, and I think that a practice of daily journaling is, most definitely, a great wellness practice. It also can be a challenging thing to maintain. The point of journaling—the reflection, can be done in as little as just six words. Not only do the same areas of the brain get triggered, but I assert that even more reprocessing of our history occurs when we attempt to work through the puzzle of what we’re trying to memorialize in a shorter span of words than a free-write.

With that, I bit farewell to an amazing summer of forests, beaches, friends, family and fun.

Family Life

We enter the middle faithfully strong.

Personal Journey

Dirty boots show I’m Outdoor Restored.

Saying a Grateful Farewell

Sustaining myself through sun and shade.

Please take a moment and write your own. Feel free to share them in the comment box below, on our Facebook or Linked In pages or send them to me privately. As with every Fall and Spring, each one will get a response from me. But, most importantly, your six word story will bring a response from you, a bow on the present, a cherry on top, a satisfied feeling in your heart.

Robinson, K. (2017) How Writing in a Journal Helps Manage Depression. WebMD. Retrieved from: https://www.webmd.com/depression/features/writing-your-way-out-of-depression#1