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Writing Project: 25 Words of Work / Life Wisdom

July 9, 2008 by Liz 115 Comments

Make an Observation

The Living Web

When I released my eBook, a dear friend told me what he would like to see is my inspirational writing. He’s a wise man, so I listened. Every day I find some time to go back through years of writing to find what of it still inspires me.

Yesterday, I found these thoughts — each expressed in 25 words.

pennies in a jar

I watch her
work tirelessly for others,
making withdrawals
from her emotional bank account.

No time for a deposit.
No wonder she feels without funds.

——

I watch myself
focusing intently,
giving my brain control
of my emotional bank account.

Time to stop and marvel
before my funds start running out.

I had this thought in 25 more words. . . .

Words measured carefully
tell how we use our life and our energy.

It took only 25 words to say
we need to love ourselves first.

Would you add 25 words of your own?

The 25 Words of Work / Life Wisdom Writing Project

Will you accept my invitation to put 25 words of advice or wisdom into a blog post? Here’s how you might go about it.

  1. Look for something you see too much or too little of.
  2. Write a sentence about it.
  3. Count the words you have written.
  4. Edit the sentence until you have 25 words exactly. Notice how your idea changes as you edit and how your feelings change with each rewrite.
  5. Add a picture if you can.
  6. Post your 25 words on your blog by July 19th.
  7. Link back to this post or leave a link to your post in the comments section.
    I don’t want to miss yours when I compile all of them.

It will be my challenge to a creative way to connect all of the ideas together. In a giant “25 words of wisdom” blog post, featuring what you wrote.

Are you in? Surely you have 25 words to spare for this one.

Click to see the SLIDES of what everyone wrote.

–ME “Liz” Strauss
Work with Liz!!

Get your best voice in the conversation.

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Filed Under: Successful Blog, Writing Tagged With: bc, meaning, wisdom, Writing, writing project

Comments

  1. Karin H. says

    July 9, 2008 at 7:19 AM

    Hi Liz

    Never sure if typepad trackbacks work with wordpress, but 25 it is:

    Time

    Karin H. (Keep It Simple Sweetheart, specially in business)

    Reply
  2. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 9, 2008 at 7:24 AM

    Hi Karin!
    You sure show that it doesn’t need to take TIME to say something important. Wow!

    Thanks for that!

    Reply
  3. Bhupesh Shah says

    July 9, 2008 at 7:36 AM

    It takes a moment to say I love you but a lifetime to remember that you didn’t.

    Reply
  4. Mark Goodyear says

    July 9, 2008 at 7:41 AM

    Oh yeah. I can get excited about this one. Here’s a ten word thought about vacation:

    It’s okay
    to do stuff,
    but stuff
    isn’t rest
    necessarily.

    There’s a variation on this about truth (instead of rest), but it contains some naughty words (instead of stuff).

    Reply
  5. Karin H. says

    July 9, 2008 at 7:44 AM

    Hi Liz

    You could call it a quick rant about another experience I had today 😉

    Karin H

    Reply
  6. stephentrepreneur says

    July 9, 2008 at 7:59 AM

    Hello Liz, it’s been a while since I’ve left a message or commented on your site. But I saw your message in twitter earlier, and just had to have a go at this great idea of yours:
    Here is the result. Hope you like it.

    Reply
  7. Karen Swim says

    July 9, 2008 at 8:06 AM

    Liz, what a wonderful idea! I’m in too but I’ll need more time than Karin. 🙂

    Reply
  8. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 9, 2008 at 8:09 AM

    Hi Bhupesh!
    It would be a good life to remember those words.

    Reply
  9. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 9, 2008 at 8:10 AM

    Thanks, Mark!
    I’m so with you!

    Reply
  10. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 9, 2008 at 8:11 AM

    Ah, Karin,
    Other people are so often the motivation for our clearest thoughts and best writing.

    Reply
  11. mark says

    July 9, 2008 at 8:11 AM

    Hi Liz! I saw your tweet and figured I would just paste my entry below –

    I live in a tropical paradise, yet I think about the orphans and refugees around the world who are suffering. It’s time to take action.

    Have a GREAT day.
    MH

    Reply
  12. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 9, 2008 at 8:11 AM

    Stephen,
    I hope your sentence gets picked up and passed on.

    Reply
  13. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 9, 2008 at 8:12 AM

    Can’t wait, Karen. . . .

    Reply
  14. Diana says

    July 9, 2008 at 9:40 AM

    Liz,

    Here are mine:

    http://willowbrook2.livejournal.com/

    Reply
  15. DazzlinDonna says

    July 9, 2008 at 10:01 AM

    Here’s mine: Shine

    Reply
  16. Karen Lynch says

    July 9, 2008 at 11:27 AM

    “The details of the gathering don’t matter; what matters is that you gather.”

    Liz, I posted this today at http://www.pinkribbonreview.com and think for sure this will be a regular thing on my site. Thank you so much for the inspiration!

    Reply
  17. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 9, 2008 at 12:38 PM

    Karen,
    I’ve already been there to see it!

    I think I might do it more often as well!

    Reply
  18. Courtney says

    July 9, 2008 at 2:00 PM

    I think this is such a great idea.

    I posted 25 words here:
    http://amomspeaks.com/2008/07/09/25-words-im-no-supermom/

    Reply
  19. Cath Lawson says

    July 9, 2008 at 3:42 PM

    Hi Liz – I’ll give it a try. It’s a little bit intimidating after reading the great ones you’ve written though.

    Reply
  20. Casey Zalusky says

    July 9, 2008 at 5:31 PM

    Thanks for getting this started. While I don’t have a blog, it’s great to read what others have shared.

    Reply
  21. Jennifer Mannion says

    July 9, 2008 at 9:24 PM

    Hi Liz, As I twittered to you — I LOVED this writing project. Thank you! I had been “working” on a post for 2 days that was stumping me. I saw your post and KNEW that would take the place of my previous post! It was JUST what I needed and I could see using this exercise for a long time to come! Hope you like my 2 entries and I can’t wait to see how you tie them all together! Thanks again. Gratefully, Jenny

    Reply
  22. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 9, 2008 at 10:36 PM

    @16
    Diana!
    I was over there this afternoon. Beautiful!

    Reply
  23. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 9, 2008 at 10:37 PM

    #18
    Donna,
    That’s one of my favorites!

    Reply
  24. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 9, 2008 at 10:38 PM

    Yeah, Courtney,
    I’m no supermom either!

    Reply
  25. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 9, 2008 at 10:38 PM

    No worries, Cath,
    Once you get started it gets easier.

    Reply
  26. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 9, 2008 at 10:39 PM

    Casey,
    I’m enjoying this as much as you are!

    Reply
  27. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 9, 2008 at 10:40 PM

    Hi Jenny!
    What a great way to get to know you!
    This particular 25 word thing has served me well for years. 😉

    Reply
  28. mousewords says

    July 10, 2008 at 2:05 AM

    I just wrote 50 thousand words last month. I can spare 25. 😉

    But wow. I can only hope they’ll be as beautiful as yours!

    Reply
  29. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 10, 2008 at 5:33 AM

    Hi Mousewords!
    Thanks for taking part. I know that you’ll be doing something that will make my mind want stare and my heart take notice.

    Reply
  30. Ami says

    July 12, 2008 at 9:52 PM

    Hi Liz! Thanks for this prompt. It inspired a prompt at my writing blog and I posted my own version here:

    http://writingherlife.blogspot.com/2008/07/exercising-my-writing-muscles.html

    Thanks again for the great prompt.

    Reply
  31. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 13, 2008 at 10:12 AM

    Hi Amy!
    Thanks for being a part! I’m delighted you found it useful!

    Reply
  32. Terry Starbucker says

    July 16, 2008 at 12:46 PM

    Hi Liz – Thanks for the inspiration; here’s my post: http://tinyurl.com/6ceblz. I also linked back. Look forward to your “connecting” post!

    Terry

    Reply
  33. SpaceAgeSage says

    July 16, 2008 at 4:54 PM

    Okay, finally took your challenge, but not sure about trackbacks, so my post is here.

    Thanks for the mental fun!

    Reply
  34. Claire "Blog Angel" Raikes says

    July 16, 2008 at 6:18 PM

    Hi Liz, I couldn’t see a trackback url anywhere, so have come back here to share my efforts:

    http://www.businessblogangel.com/bizblogangel/2008/07/liz-strauss-25.html

    For someone who tends to use 400 words when 40 will do, this has been a really valuable exercise for me – so thank you very much. :o)

    Reply
  35. Claire "Blog Angel" Raikes says

    July 16, 2008 at 6:21 PM

    Hi Liz, I couldnt find a trackback url anywhere so here are my efforts:

    http://www.businessblogangel.com/bizblogangel/2008/07/liz-strauss-25.html

    For someone who tends to use 400 words when 40 will do, this has been a really valuable exercise – so thank you for that. :o)

    Reply
  36. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 16, 2008 at 7:05 PM

    Everyone has done such great things with so few words!!

    Reply
  37. Brad Shorr says

    July 17, 2008 at 10:49 AM

    Super idea, Liz. Can’t wait to read them. Here’s mine –
    http://tinyurl.com/5gmu45

    Reply
  38. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 17, 2008 at 9:26 PM

    thanks Brad!

    Reply
  39. Brad Shorr says

    July 18, 2008 at 7:13 AM

    Hi again Liz, here is an entry from a client and very new blogger –

    http://tinyurl.com/5hnw6v

    Reply
  40. Karen Swim says

    July 18, 2008 at 8:50 AM

    Hi Liz, this was great fun! Here’s mine: http://tinyurl.com/5q3pda

    Reply
  41. Mother Earth says

    July 18, 2008 at 10:00 AM

    Here is mine dear liz

    http://bestwellnessconsultant.com/2008/07/18/25-friday-words-liz-strauss-karen-hanrahan-best-of-mother-earth.aspx

    happy weekend 🙂

    Reply
  42. Katie Konrath says

    July 18, 2008 at 2:15 PM

    Hey Liz,

    This was fun. I’m looking forward to the results – it always amazes me how many different texts can result from a restrictive writing project.

    My 25 words are at http://www.getfreshminds.com/2008/07/25-words.html

    I’d put them here, but then you’d miss the fabulous picture I found!

    Reply
  43. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 18, 2008 at 4:41 PM

    Hey Katie!
    I’m looking forward to figuring out what to do with all of them. It’s a challenge of more than 25 words . . .

    Love the picture!

    Reply
  44. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 18, 2008 at 4:48 PM

    Thanks Karen!
    It’s beautiful and brilliant. Thank you for all of it.

    Reply
  45. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 18, 2008 at 4:49 PM

    Hi Mother Earth!
    That photo so perfectly fits your clouds beneath your feet feeling. 🙂

    Reply
  46. Suzie Cheel says

    July 19, 2008 at 1:57 AM

    just posted
    http://abundancehighway.com/lizs-25-word-inspiration/

    Reply
  47. mousewords says

    July 19, 2008 at 2:53 AM

    I got sidelined by loss of internet connection today, but I finally got my words in!

    http://mousewords.wordpress.com/2008/07/19/25-words/

    Reply
  48. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 19, 2008 at 7:25 AM

    Hi Mousewords,
    It was worth waiting for!

    Reply
  49. Stephen says

    July 19, 2008 at 8:00 AM

    I know that it is late in the process, but here is my contribution: http://tinyurl.com/5jov9q

    Thanks, Liz!!

    Reply
  50. Todd Jordan says

    July 19, 2008 at 8:48 AM

    What a great project Liz.
    Here’s my entry: http://www.toddrjordan.com/thebroadbrush/2008/07/writing-project-25-words-of-work-life-wisdom/

    Reply
  51. Tom Volkar / Delightful Work says

    July 19, 2008 at 9:11 AM

    Hi Liz, I’m pleased to find this challenge today. You can read my 25 words here:
    http://www.delightfulwork.com/2008/07/19/wildness/.

    Reply
  52. Peter Knight says

    July 19, 2008 at 9:31 AM

    Great exercise Liz! Here’s my entry:

    http://www.byknight.com/journal/

    Reply
  53. Joe says

    July 19, 2008 at 9:46 AM

    This is not really all that good, but I wanted to give you a little 25 word thought.

    How can we live without wondering how we got to where we are

    I read my Grandfathers WWI Diary, now again he’s not so far.

    Burma Shave (you know I just had to add that!)

    Reply
  54. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 19, 2008 at 10:15 AM

    Thanks @Stephen,
    Great food for thinking in your thought. 🙂

    Reply
  55. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 19, 2008 at 10:19 AM

    Hi Peter!
    Creativity finds the perfect answer inside the question . . . had I fewer goals, less haste, and more patience I would make this comment exactly 25 words.

    Oh I did. 🙂

    Reply
  56. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 19, 2008 at 10:20 AM

    Thank you, Joe!!
    [grin]

    Reply
  57. TheFemGeek says

    July 19, 2008 at 11:01 AM

    Hey started a Tumblr blog to get the old cranium working and here is where I put my 25 words. Hope you like:

    http://tiff-thefemgeek.tumblr.com/

    Reply
  58. Bobby Clark says

    July 19, 2008 at 11:14 AM

    Need to wake up
    From this automated existence
    Learn to live life passionately
    As time is running out
    And there is much yet to experience.

    Reply
  59. Liz Williams says

    July 19, 2008 at 11:26 AM

    Couldn’t resist this challenge:

    Majestic white egret walking ahead turns to stare, oh mystical union! She shudders and plop – a spreading white puddle. Laughing, we get out the hose.

    (file under: see too much of this )

    Reply
  60. Meryl333 says

    July 19, 2008 at 11:27 AM

    Life is a series of selected fictions. When we acknowledge our shared Truth we find Unity/Love.

    Reply
  61. Aaron Stroud says

    July 19, 2008 at 1:42 PM

    Great idea Liz! Here’s mine: the neglected path.

    Reply
  62. Mark says

    July 19, 2008 at 1:54 PM

    In case WordPress loses the back link – http://lostconsciousness.wordpress.com/2008/07/19/%e2%80%9cphotography-is-truth-and-cinema-is-truth-at-24-frames-per-second%e2%80%9d/

    Reply
  63. Lara, The Data Digger says

    July 19, 2008 at 3:29 PM

    I found this writing exercise irresistible! Thanks to Vicky @eeUS for giving me the link. Thanks Liz for the motivational boost!

    http://laranieberding.wordpress.com/2008/07/19/the-25-words-of-work-life-wisdom-writing-project/

    Reply
  64. David Taboada says

    July 19, 2008 at 4:06 PM

    Loving souls

    Reply
  65. Phil Baumann says

    July 19, 2008 at 10:01 PM

    Hate to be redundant, but not sure if my post will track back. Here’s the link

    http://philbaumann.com/2008/07/19/25-words/

    Reply
  66. John Cooper says

    July 19, 2008 at 10:02 PM

    I’m getting these (I wrote two of them!) in under the wire, so I hope I see them in your compendium – what a great idea! 25

    http://www.metronetiq.com/archives/2008/07/the_25_word_cha.html#more

    Reply
  67. Anant says

    July 20, 2008 at 1:20 AM

    One wishes that we all went back to having a lifetime to describe things that mattered instead of counting words – as I am doing now.

    Reply
  68. Phil Whitehouse says

    July 20, 2008 at 7:47 AM

    Nice idea! Sorry I only heard about this today. But here’s my effort:

    http://philwhitehouse.blogspot.com/2008/07/25-words.html

    Reply
  69. elaineb says

    July 20, 2008 at 2:23 PM

    Her is mine`s!
    http://houseofluxe.com/2008/07/20/25-words-of-work-life-or-wisdom/

    Reply
  70. Mark David Gerson says

    July 20, 2008 at 7:02 PM

    Here’s mine (even though I know I’m too late):

    Today I remember that surrender is the key to writing and life: trusting that all is in divine order in every moment, in every breath.

    http://markdavidgerson.blogspot.com/2008/07/25-words-of-living.html

    Reply
  71. ME Liz Strauss says

    July 20, 2008 at 10:09 PM

    Hi Elaine, Phil, and Mark!
    Spent the last two days working on how to present these. Managed to include you all. 🙂

    Reply
  72. Karen Levio says

    December 2, 2008 at 7:03 PM

    Hi:)
    What a good day I can share this thoughts of mine.
    Saying words to someone must be comes
    in the heart not in mind.coz words are
    easy than actions.
    Once you say It, You do it.

    Karen

    Reply
  73. ME Liz Strauss says

    December 2, 2008 at 7:08 PM

    Hi Karen,
    Thank you for sharing those heartfelt words. I hear you.

    Reply

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