Two years ago, as we watched the Warriors win the fourth NBA title that I’ve seen in my lifetime, my dad turned to my brother and I and reminded us to enjoy this moment.

A lifelong sports fan, he’s seen the good, the bad and the ugly from his teams over the years — and nothing, either way, lasted forever.

Amidst the screaming and the cheering from us on the living room couch, I took that to heart — to enjoy the journey as much as the destination, and to really be present in life and take nothing for granted.

As this year winds down, and we head into 2025, what advice do you have for us — or what advice do you need to give to yourself? What’s the best advice you’ve ever gotten? I’d love to know.

Please make it a six-word story, a personal short story, with a beginning, middle and end — not six adjectives, not a cliché and not advice.

Make us laugh or cry or at the least feel something. For an example, here is the famous story attributed to, but not proven to be written by, Ernest Hemingway: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” That’s quite the story! Need more examples? “It can’t be. I’m a virgin,” writes Kate Atkinson. “Set sail, great storm, all lost,” says John Banville.

If you want your story to run in the IJ, please:

• Write “Six-word story” in the subject line

• Send one six-word story. Just one

• Include your full name and Marin town in the body of the email, no attachments

• Write your short story in the body of the email, no attachments

• Use proper punctuation and spelling

• Use sentence style in one line

• It should not rhyme

• Do not submit six adjectives — that’s not a story

Please send to lifestyles@marinij.com by Jan. 17 and look for it in the Jan. 28 lifestyles section and online.

Recently, we asked IJ readers to tell us what 2024 was like for them. Here’s what they had to say.

Bright dawn ends in dark Trumpness. — Susan Bishop, Novato

Turned 72. Ugh. Tick, tick, tick. — John Neuenburg, Terra Linda

Happiness and hope. Regrets and sadness. — Margarida da Silva, Novato

Best of times, worst of times. — Gary Novack, San Rafael

Survived surgeries, explored national parks — healed. — Lucille Herger, Novato

Hopeful until Nov. 6, now devastated. — Donna Borok-Moss, San Rafael

Ran Dipsea, 32nd year saving seals. — Kermit Kubitz, Larkspur

I formed six new healthy habits! — Linda Varonin, Corte Madera

Thanking the goddesses for joyful work. — Victoria Roberts, Mill Valley

Exhausting medical challenges, politics doesn’t help. — Phoebe Moyer, Greenbrae

Big-time highs, big-time lows. — Beverly Rodgers, Mill Valley

Name in print, six little words. — Richard Schneider, San Rafael

This was the year that wasn’t! — Mary Ann Gallardo, San Rafael

I’ve been repaired: no new surgeries! — David Reinstein, San Anselmo

Dreadful medical diagnosis, miraculously was wrong. — Pamela Lunstead, Novato

Brother, wife from Binghamton, New York, visited! — Nancy Greenfield, Larkspur

Political macro-divisiveness + popular super-unrest = gastric hyperacidity. — Hank Simmonds, Kentfield

Alive and still walking at 97. — Sue Beittel, San Rafael

Hoping less philandering becomes business attention. — Cassidy Juniors, Los Angeles

Life on 2024 merry-go-round. — Karen Arnold, San Rafael

Fun, successful fundraisers for Marin community. — Michael Ardito, Fairfax

Greed and corruption won the election. — Sam Fleeger, Marin City

Grief recovery, receiving lots of support. — Tom Eller, Woodacre

Sold New Mexico vacation home, bittersweet. — Janet Lee Benjamin, Tiburon

Anxiety over election, then sad disappointment. — Suzanne Egan, Mill Valley

New hip, rehab, I’m back, baby! — Kent Royle, San Rafael

Thanks, John Roberts — we’re a kakistocracy. — Edward “Hobart” Bartshire

2024 a blessing until November elections. — Sharon Eide, Novato

Safe, secure battling birth of blues. — Donna Allen, Manhattan

Numbers of my test are up. — Heike Dittrich-Kruljac, Corte Madera

Youngest submitted applications. Almost empty nesters. — Jennifer Taekman, San Rafael

2024: lessons learned. Changes made. Hope! — Gigi Bibeault, Terra Linda

Quite quiet. Reading. Walking. Exciting Novato. — Cece Jonsen, Novato

Spiritual growth with friendships, nature appreciation. — Antoinette DeLucchi, San Rafael

Five falls, need spring in step? — Kathy Hartzell, Larkspur

High hopes shattered when Kamala lost. — Gailya Magdalena, Lucas Valley

Four new roofs plus stressful year. — Marty Komitopoulos, San Rafael

Cramping, spotting, I’m sorry, no heartbeat. — Maxine Mannion, Novato

Seventy-five years of driving — now, carless! — Ann Woodward, Greenbrae

Resolving ailments, some ongoing. Supportive husband! — Evelyn Riebe, Mill Valley

Retired: e-biking, sailing, traveling, reading, friends! — Barbara Dubbs, Mill Valley

Terrible Trump terror taking its toll. — Glynda Christian, Novato

Summer fun in Italy and Oxford. — Newton Harband, San Rafael

Embraced middle age and its richness. — Rebecca Van Horn, San Rafael

Possibilities excite, election shocks, hope sustains. — Dana Curtin, Novato

Broken ankle + poison oak = no fun. — Arlene Hansen, Novato

Wrote my first protest song, “Disinformation.” — Mary Geving, Woodacre

Angst replaced hope on Nov. 5. — Carol Mirenda, San Rafael

This year brought big losses: sad. — Rose Magri, San Rafael

New puppy ate 2024, got sick. — Anne Moore, Novato

Surviving this year is a miracle. — Katherine Ware, KentfieldLiving in interesting times is stressful. — Kim Holscher, Novato

Anxiety too much. Break glass. Retire. — Scott Sanford, San Rafael

Suited up for hosting home apiary. — Dave Gilbert, Santa Venetia

Married! Looking forward to new life. — David Hyer, Novato

2024: I’m 89, I woke up! — Helen Hayes, Ross

Cat died; major surgery; got married. — Pam Berkon, Novato

Husband retired. Much better than expected. — Lisa Pavlovsky, San Rafael

Mostly blessings, sprinkled with some sadness. — David Leipsic, San Rafael

Sitka, Alaska. Tanque Verde Ranch, Arizona. — Victoria Worch, Novato

Noel got married, what a joy. — Michael Vogel, Mill Valley

Kidney transplant: new lease on life! — Carole Bonhomme, Greenbrae

Win some. Lose some. What now? — David Curtis, Novato

Two hip replacements. Chronic pain vamoosed! — Dee Fratus, Larkspur

Palau diving, Azores hiking, election crying. — Patrick Ritter, San Rafael

Change, challenge, grace; becoming more me. — Beth Zamichow, San Rafael

It was much ado about nothing. — Dave Powell, Novato

Pretty good until he won again. — Dennis Brouillet, Novato

Sobered up, awoke to presidential turmoil. — David Hogan, San Rafael

Time gone, next be like Raven. — Deborah Upton, Mill Valley

Marin’s creative problem-solving book hatched. — Curtis Panasuk, Sausalito

Getting old; mostly stuck at home. — Melinda Booth, Mill Valley

It’s had its ups and downs. — Cynthia Sapp, Terra Linda

Personal authenticity addressed; more self-care! — Julie Case, Terra Linda

Owls serenade, coffee brews, glory days. — Erin Royle, Santa Venetia

Adi’s sustaining love; willfully ignorant electorate. — Ron Skellenger, Woodacre

My new hip likes skiing, yay! — Duffy Hurwin, Tiburon

Turned 80, explored Paris, got engaged! — Lynn Harrison, San Rafael

Anticipation, exhilaration, grandmama to grandson, Hugo! — Antonia Warden, San Rafael

Thanks to Ed, I made it! — Diane Ryken, Novato

Viking cruise on Danube. Very entertaining! — Gigi Zavagno, Novato

Growing anticipation, crushing defeat, mounting resistance. — Sarah Skinner, Fairfax

Never look back, always looking forward. — Mary Lou Hayward, Novato

Love made the year a treasure. — Peter Hayward, Novato

Yukon gold, grandpa’s diary, journey revisited. — Robert McKnight, San Rafael

Husband, doggy, me, we’re stayin’ alive! — Susan Storch, Greenbrae

New friends made, old friends lost. — Davi Gainer, Mill Valley

Like a merry-go-round, not a rollercoaster. — Karen Zizzo Kempf, Novato

“Fear and Loathing” after the election. — Rip Anzalone, Novato

Columnist beautifully reviewed my memoir. Grateful. — Jenny Wood, Mill Valley

Twelve welcoming “Second Friday” vocal jams. — Dart Cherk, Mill Valley

One more year is a gift. — Madeline Kellner, Novato