Last weekย a stranger asked me aย thought-provoking question.
I wasย sitting alone, mindlessly scrolling through my phone,ย whenย a young manย got my attention: “If you could define your life in one word, what would that word be?”
At first I wasn’t sureย he was talking to meโstarting the conversation with a question threw me off a bitโbut he was. He said he likes to ask this question instead of saying “hello” upon meeting someone newย because he believedย it offeredย a better sense of the person, and so he asked me again: what word would I choose?
I thought about it, but a single word? Just one? There are so many words (and so many feelingsย to encompass!) that I panicked a little, trying to distill everythingย down to just one simple qualifier:ย “happy” seemed too overarchinglyย cheerful; “difficult” seemed too negative; “meaningful” seemed too vague and broad.ย I felt a sudden pressure as I realized that, by choosing this word, I was communicatingย my cumulative life experience not just to this stranger, but toย me.
After more careful consideration, I settled, finally, on “motivating.”
“Explain,” he prompted.
“I’ve had a lot of challenges,” I said, thinking specifically about my experience living with lymphedema. “But I believe everything happens for a reason, and everything happens when it’s meant toโeven the hard times. I find strength in that. Motivation.”
He nodded thoughtfully, and we talked about our words for a few minutes longer before parting ways, still strangers but a little less so than before.ย It’s been a week since thatย conversation, and I’m still thinking about it:ย the writer in me agonizing over whether I chose the most concise word, the existentialist wondering whether this word would change depending on the hour, the day…

Itย does change depending on the moment, I’ve found out. I’ve started to take time to pause at different points throughout my day and search for a word or two; whether I’m having a good day or a bad day, or some kind of in between, I look for a word. It’s become somewhat of a grounding technique, a way to check in with myself moment-to-moment and allow for some valuable introspection.
For example, when the onlyย word I can find is along the lines of “difficult,” “frustrating,” “futile,” “annoying,” or “hopeless,” I ask myself: “What word would I like to have instead, and how can I make it so?”
When my word is more like “happy,” “delightful,” “ebullient,” “satisfying,” or “exciting,” I ask myself: “How amย I embracing myself and this moment, and what can I do to sustain this?”
What began as a random conversation with a stranger turned into a daily exercise in acknowledging and observing my feelingsโan unexpected lesson, but also a welcomed one!
Oh, and my word for today? Grateful.
What about youโif you could define your life in this very moment in just one word, what would that word be? Please share in the comments section!
http://www.martincwiner.com/red-light-treatment-stops-lymphedema/
Interesting question and interesting to use it as a grounding technique. I may have to try that.
And what I’d probably say about my life is “interesting.” That doesn’t mean it’s all good or all bad, but in general I’d say it keeps me intrigued and satisfied. And even the lympho stuff can end up in there as “interesting.” I wouldn’t say it’s motivation – yet – but my personal writing has gotten much stronger and there’s no doubt I understand a lot more about people and the world than before. So that’s a plus, I guess. Thanks for the thought!
FREE
Inspired
Inspiration!
Hopeful
Blessed
Pingback: Self-care suggestions: an illustrated response to reader mail – The Lymphie Life
Pingback: “So is this blog going to be updated anytime soon, or what?” | The Lymphie Life
Pingback: Lymphedema self-care suggestions: an illustrated response to reader mail