One of my life lessons – certainly the biggest of my life lessons – is to learn that I have control over way more than I suspect in life.
This doesn’t mean I’ve perfected it. I’ve sharpened and polished my sense of place, and acknowledged there’s still plenty to do. There are plenty of paths I’ve not yet discovered. But lest I get too new-age Zenny on my crew …
Every month, I compile a post called “6 Words.” Ernest Hemingway inspired it when he said any story can be told in a six-word sentence. I ask bloggers, friends, strangers, and a few strange blogger friends to respond to a prompt.
March 30 is I Am in Control Day. Clearly, most of us are not. Tell us a lie about something you’re in control of right now. Think, “I don’t NEED Girl Scout cookies” or “No calendar: It’s all up here.”
What would your six words be?
1. Chocolate doesn’t sway me, puny mortal.
Charissa S., of Joy in the Moments
2. A quick trip to Hobby Lobby.
Tiffany M., of Sounds Like Life to Me
3. I work best on the fly.
Lindsay F., of The Flynnigans
4. I can resist building Lego models.
Erik W., of This Kid Reviews Books
5. Nope. No chocolate for me today!
Sara L., of Sara Letourneau’s Official Website and Blog
6. My day’s more than 24 hours!
Kimberly N., of Bring Your Brave
7. I’m always on time. Yeah, right.
Clay W., of Making the Days Count
8. Planning; I can realise my dreams.
Lizzi L., of Considerings
9. Have kids – sleeping soundly through night.
Rebecca B., of The Kid’s User Guide to a Human Life
10. I control people’s thoughts about me.
Jacquelyn, of One Woman, Huge World
11. I am never scared being alone.
Juliet W., of Tails from the Road
12. Mastering crazy voices in my head.
Jenn S., of Jenn’s Midlife Crisis
13. Kids … wrapped around my little finger!
Ritu B.,of But I Smile Anyway
14. Alarm rings, I pop out of bed.
Julia T., of Diary of a Word Nerd
15. I don’t eat the whole bag.
Lisa T., A Girls’ Guide to Leaving a Marriage
16. Six weeks travel; carry-on only.
Rhonda A., of Albom Adventures
17. Going to the gym? Every day!
Jenny, of Peace From Panic
18. I still fit into these jeans.
Julie G., Young Adult Author
19. I won’t cry during Grey’s Anatomy.
Katy W., of Stereotypically Able
20. ADHD does not run this house!
Lisa, at The Meaning of Me
21. What deadlines? I always submit early.
Kelly M., of Just Typikel
22. I’m present when my wife talks.
Austin W., of Writings by Ender
23. Wait long enough, steamer will auto-decalcify.
Tamara G., of Confessions of a Working Mom
24.Yes more burpies! I love burpies!
Les B.,of Ink Interrupted
25. Money is always waiting for me.
Lisa, of Life of an El Paso Woman
26. Just one last bite. I promise.
Shantala, of Shanaya Tales
27. Ready or not, time will tell.
Joyce L., of Catch My Words
28. Food glorious food – I am master!
Lyn C., of The Call of the Pen
29. My desk is tidier than yours.
Deb, of Deb Runs
30. I’ll get everything done before midnight.
Sabina, of Victim to Charm
31. I CAN do Weight Watchers properly!
Jenny, of Accidental Hipster Mum
32. Just one spoonful of peanut butter …
Annelise, of Aunie Sauce
33. I’ve got my to-do list covered.
Hilary, of Feeling Beachie
34. My daughters always listen to me.
beth, of i didn’t have my glasses on …
35. Haven’t binged on Cadbury mini eggs.
Janine H., of Confessions of a Mommyaholic
36. Lesson plans? Got it covered – right …
Cricket, of Cricketmuse
37. I have it all planned out.
Eli P., of Coach Daddy
Boys: Do they fail to plan, or plan to fail? For every question you’ve ever had about boys, here’s the place to get your answers. Send questions to Ask A Boy, at bloggingeli@gmail.com. I’ll compile an occasional post with the caliber of answers you just can’t get anywhere else. You feel me, Doctor Oz?
Just a dad ... 
They were brilliant contributions!
Fantastic contributions! Thanks for inviting me to take part Eli!
As always, so happy to be included and looks like I am not the only one who likes their chocolate though 😉
As always, great contributions. LOL amazing how many are about food.
Great list, everyone! And it’s nice to see other people list chocolate, too. 😉
Thanks, Eli!
thanks for letting me be a part of this crazy crew. i see some common themes, kids, food,workouts and getting things done. all ongoing and out of our control of course, but at least if we think we have a handle on them for a moment at least we feel better )
Always, always love these lists and reading people’s creativity and to be a part of them!
Thanks Eli!
A quick trip to Hobby Lobby, haaahaha! Yesterday I went to Michael’s Craft Store for the first time in my life! 1.5 hours later my friend’s kids, who were being super patient, asked ‘how much longer?’
Mine is too sad to publish.
Love seeing what everyone else came up with this time.
I think you should email it to me. I’m sad that I sent out only enough invites to not even get to 50.
I remember when we’d have 100-plus on these lists.
I don’t need more running clothes.
(Said no runner ever).
🙂
Perfect Judy! My girls feel this way when it comes to soccer balls. And headbands.
I totally understand the headband thing. 😉
Such interesting ones here. Loved reading them, Eli. Thanks for the feature. 🙂
It’s always brought for these posts, Shantala. Glad you liked it! Look forward to seeing you in here again.
Fun post that made me laugh. Just what I needed to start my morning. Thanks, Eli, for pulling all of our thoughts together.
Glad you liked it Charissa. These six words posts are part of a complete breakfast. It’s an honor to round it up.
Yummy!
“Sure, I can refinish my cabinets.” So I said last September with half of them still waiting.
Good one, Susan. You’re halfway there, though!
So many great lies! Thanks for including me again, Eli.
Thanks Deb! Great you ran along with us.
These are great! Put a smile on my face 🙂 Thanks for including me, Eli!
Thanks Jenny! I hoped it wouldn’t cause many tears. Glad you joined the crew.
Me too! 🙂
Ha! Wonderful 6 words. So many good ones and FUNNY! Thanks Eli, for including me.
Right? Glad you liked it, Lisa. I love how the crew around here brings it this time of month.
Glad you’re in that crew, too.
Thanks for including me again, Eli. These are great – lots of interesting ones here!
Glad you could make it, Lisa. Lots mention food, which shouldn’t be a bit of a surprise up in here.
Look at your shiny new look! Looking good Coach!
I don’t have it all planned out either. I got some planned.. because otherwise you end up in the parking lot of Walmart with a toddler in a dirty diaper and no diaper bag; and a preshooler crying with hunger and no snacks in your purse. Also, where is my purse? Yeah… some things I gotta plan because Survival… spelled SANITY. 🙂
Another great turn out!
It was time for a cool change, Rore. Glad you like it!
There just is no plan. I’ve been there, with the toddler and the preschooler – maybe not *right* there, but there, you know?
No wallet, cellphone battery nearly dead, and I really have to pee. Yes, survival. Not a bad turnout this time around, eh?
I can’t imagine anyone saying No to being here! Why would they do that and risk missing the joy? 🙂
I’ve asked that question in real life, Rore. I just don’t know.
Eli, thanks for the inclusion. Here’s another six words for ya’ – ‘Woke for sunrise, stayed the day! posting from the keys, not far from ol’ Hemingway’s haunts. Enjoy your week.
Always an honor, my brother. You’re in the perfect place to rise with the sun. I’d feel downright Hemingwayesque there.
Thanks so much for inviting me to be part of this. Loved the blogs I read around mine 🙂 You know great people 🙂
I’d have invited you earlier, Lizzi, but I felt strange about stealing your email address from your comment on my blog. I got over that!
You got sandwiched between Clay and Rebecca – great digs, there. And I fixed your name after having jacked it up the first time.
LOL well I saw no problem with it, so hooray 😀 And I’m glad you stole my email address but…are we not friends on Facebook? That might be an oversight!
We’re definitely are Facebook friends, Lizzi. I send out the invites by email, though. Glad to have you with us!
I love these. I share similar issues with many 🙂 PS _ feeling beachie’s blog link doesn’t work 😦
Glad you liked them, Aunie. We’re all in the same tribe. I’m going to fix Hilary’s link right now!
Relax! Everything is under control! NOT!
Only Aaron Rogers can get away with telling everyone to relax! Well, Rabia can, too. Control is just an illusion.
Thank you for having me! I always appreciate these! 🙂
Glad to have you along, Erik. Keep on keeping on!
Hmm. Thought I sent an email. Maybe not. I like the contributions…even though i hate chocolate. *ducks*
Being in control is an illusion. Six.
The email I meant to send from gmail, I suspect, didn’t go through. I didn’t hear from anyone on it!
I’ll never hold in contempt anyone who doesn’t like a food I do. More for me! Or whoever wants chocolate.
Love these lies.
Looking forward to completing the A to Z Challenge with you
Lies can be fun. You’re officially in my reading list!
Reblogged this on Life of an El Paso Woman and commented:
This is a few days late but I want to thank Eli for letting me participate.
Thanks for playing along, Lisa!
Reblogged this on A Momma's View and commented:
My six words for this challenge would be:
Always in control of my kids…
Head over and check out all the other great 6-word answers to this challenge.
Fantastic challenge and great list of answers 🙂
Keep an eye out for next month’s, Sandra. Thank you for the link!
Will do!
It is interesting that so many of the entries relate to food with parenting as a close second. Reacting to our roller coaster weather I’d say, “Snow is good for the daffodils.” Have a great week, Eli!
That food-and-parenting demographic lives here, Mo. The weather’s been a bit wacky around here, too.
This post made me think about my own ”six words” and my day got more productive straight away. 🙂 Thanks for the great idea! Simple, yet effective!
We all need a little needling the right way now and then – I know I needed it yesterday. Glad it worked! Mine has even spilled over into today …