Turn The Page

Well, here it is – my first blog post. Just me, my keyboard and an all-consuming fear that this will end up as nothing more than a glorified diary only my kids will pretend to read out of sheer guilt. But heh, if my thoughts do nothing more than drift aimlessly through cyberspace, what’s the harm in that? They say writing is like having an open dialogue with oneself, and since I often feel nobody else will listen to me, it’s a talent I’ve mastered out of sheer necessity.

I’ve experienced a lot of life in my 64 years. Moments of sheer joy, chapters of soul-crushing heartache, and those moments when you say, “what the hell just happened?” No different than any of you. Quite often, especially while taking a shower, (because where else would great ideas originate), a thought will pop into my head: “That was brilliant! I need to write that down.” I’ve even entertained the laughable thought, “I should write a book.” But of course, that negative Nellie voice in my head then begins shouting at the top of her lungs, “Oh please, as if anybody would read that, let alone get published.”

My reason for being here is simple: to share my life’s journey with authenticity, humor and heart. Some posts may comfort you and remind you you’re not alone. Others may challenge you to see life’s messy moments from a different perspective. A favorite quote: “It’s not about what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” That’s a mindset I hope to explore and celebrate here.

No doubt this blog is likely to resonate more with women than men and I’m OK with that. I gave up figuring out men a long time ago. My vision for this space is to feel like a conversation among friends – the kind that happens after a margarita or two, when guards come down and the truth comes out.

Here’s the deal: My life? Not perfect. Any advice I might dole out? Totally unsolicited. My blog? A mix of heartfelt personal stories, unfiltered opinions and hopefully just enough humor to keep you reading until the very end. I’ve made my share of mistakes and learned lessons along the way, some apparently too slowly that I found myself repeating them. I’m a believer that laughter is the best medicine and that a good sense of humor and a good cry can fix most anything.

I don’t consider myself a “writer.” In fact, part of the reason I came up with the title, “Turning Off AutoCorrect” was purely self-preservation. You see, my brother is a journalism major and the Editor of a local newspaper, which means he’s likely going to have a field day critiquing this. But the truth is, the title isn’t really about typos or grammatical blunders, but about those moments in life where there’s no backspace key to hit– those times when you can only move forward and make the best of it. As I’ve heard my eldest son say many a time, “Mom, it’s time to turn the page.”

So here it is – my very first entry in this diary-like space that I now get to call my blog. Will I be nervous about clicking the PUBLISH button? You better believe it. But I’m going out of my comfort zone. What have I got to lose? Seems like a cozy little space here where I can ramble freely about life’s happenings, social media rants and why when you have a cat that throws up daily, a robotic vacuum is not a good idea.

So grab your favorite cocktail, raise your hand high and toast: “To Lisa and another of her wild ideas! And to my eldest son, Joey, I’m not only turning the page, but I’m starting a whole new chapter! CHEERS!”