Summary

The author uses six-word stories to navigate personal grief and actively reframe their life narrative towards positivity and growth.

Abstract

The author, recently heartbroken, finds solace and a path to healing through the creation of six-word stories. Initially, these stories reflect deep sorrow and the struggle to come to terms with an unexpected breakup. However, the author decides to change the narrative, focusing on achievements, personal strength, and joyful moments with family. This shift leads to a realization that life can be embraced fully even amidst grief. The process of writing future-oriented six-word stories becomes a tool for living intentionally and creating a life story that is vibrant and hopeful.

Opinions

The author values the power of storytelling as a means of personal transformation.
There is a belief that one can simultaneously grieve and live fully.
Writing six-word stories is seen as a method for crystallizing one's experiences and intentions.
The author emphasizes the importance of actively choosing a life narrative that inspires and excites.
The process of writing and living these stories is not just about healing but also about thriving despite life's challenges.
The author suggests that living with intention can lead to moments of happiness and success that may overshadow the initial purpose of the six-word stories.

It’s Time to Change the Narrative

Using six-word stories to live my best life

I recently read a great piece about six-word stories.

“The story of your day adds up to the story of your life….what do you want it to say?” — Arielle Ziv

I decided to start my own.

Over the years I have journaled my deep dark inner experiences, written countless pages of would-be books on everything from parenting to heartache to divorce, written and published blog posts, started and restarted gratitude journals, but never six-word stories inspired by the future.

What will I want my story to look like, what will I want it to say? And how can I possibly say it in only SIX words?

I had my heart broken by a man I loved dearly just days before; a man I wanted to grow old with. Devastated, I welcomed the distraction and the challenge and began to write.

5/14/20 Heartbroken, shocked, feel sick. So unexpected.

5/15/20 Please don’t give up on us.

5/18/20 The tears finally came, won’t stop.

5/19/20 I am whole. I am enough.

5/23/20 When will my heart smile again?

5/24/20 Few steps forward, many backward. Grief.

I could add more but I think you get the picture. My stories were depressing and essentially the same; heartache, burst of something resembling strength, followed by more heartache. I was grieving, yes, but is this what I wanted my life story to look like? The question gnawed at me. I decided to give myself a finite number of days; not to grieve per se but rather to allow that grief to define the story of my day.

So, eleven days later, while still grieving, I decided to change the narrative.

5/25/20 I finally published on Medium today!

6/1/20 I am strong, capable, and brave.

6/6/20 I am thriving despite circumstance, weird.

6/7/20 Making memories with the kids, priceless.

6/8/20 Wow, writing for eight publications now!

6/9/20 Story was CURATED! Legit just cried.

When I allowed myself to step out of my sadness and to enjoy life despite it, even if just for the sake of the story, I came alive again. It is possible, it seems, to grieve and to live simultaneously; to ache and to miss, to feel sadness and happiness, to feel inspired, empowered, and heartbroken all at once.

I decided to write myself some future stories to live into:

6/12/20 Bought myself flowers for the weekend.

6/20/20 Drove to Austin. Because, why not?

6/25/20 Reached my goal; 100 Medium followers!

The more I live my life, creating a narrative that excites me, the less I remember to write my six-words a day, but then again, isn’t that the goal, to live into our best life story? So…I do it for the story. Join me.