A few years ago, I happened on a jewel of a book called "Not Quite What I Was Planning" by Writers Famous and Obscure. A collection of six-word memoirs, I found this crazy quilt little nugget profound, odd, funny and powerful. These famous and not-so-famous writers were on to something. And I couldn't get enough. I started to thinking in six words all the time. In the shower. Taking a walk. Even while waiting for the utility company through ten degrees of voicemail. Encapsulating one's life into the smallest verbiage possible really had me jazzed. Condensing words to a powerful, precious few is hardly new. As far back as Confucius, who said, "One joy dispels a hundred cares", people have known verbosity isn't a requisite for memorable statements. Henry Ford once said, "Don't find fault. Find a remedy". And Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, "Enthusiasm is the engine of success". Powerful quotes. Six words only. But who's counting?
