Charlotte Webbing

I've recently taken up the practice of trying to describe someone with a single word. The goal is to try and distil their essence as much as possible, and capture who they are. This is what Charlotte does for Wilbur in the book Charlotte's Web, hence the name I've given to this practice. By undertaking this practice, it makes you think a lot about what is unique about a person, and the characteristics that are most potent. It's also great for expanding your vocabulary.

What prompted this was a realisation that in order to have an impact on the world, one must first cultivate their character. Action in the external world stems out of a strong internal world. Cultivate your character, and all else will flow out from it. Since realising this, that has been a priority for me; to discover who I am and be honest with that. I can’t change the gifts I’ve been given, so instead I need to lean into them. Thus I began asking my friends to describe me with a single word in order to learn more about myself. Naturally, I returned the favour.

Sharing the word you've come up with to describe that person is a heartwarming experience. Like Charlotte, you are crowning them with an ornament from your mind; the result of a careful meditation of who they are. A choice word is proof that you have given them thought. It is a great gift one can bestow upon another, and I highly recommend trying it out.

I asked a few friends to describe me in one word. Here are some of them:

• nonchalant

• unrealistic

• astute

• quirky

• autistic

If you would like to think of a word for me, by all means, go ahead and drop it in the comments.