image-by-Creative-Commons-Ninha-Morandini
I’m not sure what chapter I’m in but I hope it’s somewhere in the middle. The saggy middle. That’s the part of the story where we have to continue the suspense and rising action or we’ll get bored and abandon the book. How many chapters will our life even contain? While we don’t know the answer to this, an unknown ending is what keeps us moving forward.
As for genre, my ‘life book’ is most definitely a dramedy. I’m not sure that word has even made it into the Webster’s dictionary but it is a perfect description of a plot with combined drama and comedy. I like to turn Shakespeare into Cleese. Tears from laughter are better than the ones from grief.
Our last chapter is unknown, that’s the mystic quality of life. We could be in it now or we could have five more to go.
I wonder, what does each chapter say about me? My early years were more mystery than a comedy. The adolescent years were all YA romance (without the werewolves and vampires, for the most part) and finding the clues to those mysteries. The early middle chapters have all been about learning, giving and nurturing. Now, the mid-later chapters seem to be all about being true to the heroine. I guess this is the part where she figures out who she is, what’s important to her, who she can’t live without, the loves of her life and she’s learning to be uncomfortable. She’s learning to accept conflict without compromise for a purpose that might have very little to do with her. She’s learning that life isn’t just what we see but more of what we feel. Less of what people say and all about what they do.
She’s trying to find her integrity and realizing not everyone agrees with how she does it but what other people think of her is none of her business. This life is hers and hers alone. No one can tell her how to live it. She has her own truth and she’s learning that the truth is uncomfortable but necessary. Life isn’t always a cupcake. It’s more cherry pit than icing in some chapters but that’s okay.
The funny thing is we spend the first 15 years of our life in school beginning in primary and progressing through to post graduate studies yet our ‘life book’ hasn’t even begun. The real learning happens after the education is over. Life lessons begin and so does the first chapter.
Truth is, our life is written daily. Who we choose to spend time with, our occupations, our hobbies—these are the contents of the chapters in our life. How do we want to write it?
The saggy middle isn’t so bad and it’s certainly not too late to start a new chapter that’s completely different from the last one. Start a new chapter with some rising action, build a mystery that you’re the star of. Whatever the genre, it’s important that you’re the star!
Remember this; It’s never too late to test the integrity of your heroine.
Besides, we cannot know the last chapter of our life so let’s make the one we’re in worth reading. Make it a page turner that’s hard to put down. Make it a long chapter we stay up all night reading.
What chapter are you in right now? What’s your ‘life book’ title?
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Ryan Biddulph
October 8, 2016 at 5:53 pmHi Lisa,
Wow what a cool idea! I am actually pitching my life-story aka entire-book (to this point 😉 to Netflix. Would be fun to movie-ize it. Because folks need to see no matter where you are, chapter-wise, exciting adventures are unraveling now and continue to open up in your life the more open you are. I am probably in chapter: Sharing My Story with the World….by being clearer, bolder and more energized than I ever have been.
Thanks Lisa 🙂 Happy Writing!
Ryan
lisa
October 11, 2016 at 5:01 pmThat sounds exciting, Ryan! Being bold and clear is an ongoing learning experience for me. Sounds like you’ve got it down. Let me know how the Netflix pitch goes!
Caroline
September 25, 2016 at 11:27 amI think I’m in the chapter “How Caroline got her groove back.” It’s a fun chapter. 💋❤️
lisa
September 27, 2016 at 12:53 pmLOVE it, Caroline!
marie kléber
September 23, 2016 at 5:11 amI love the idea Lisa – Mine would be between comedy and tragedy.
Once, my sollicitor told me that my life looked like one of an heroine from the 18th century! Maybe one of the Jane Austen favorite Character!!
Many ups and downs, wrong roads, love, strong love and bad love and new doors opening – I like to think that I am now starting a new chapter that talks about self-love, self-esteem and caring for the ones who count. Only.
Sen ding you love and light from sunny Paris.
lisa
September 23, 2016 at 10:45 pmI love that you were compared to an 18th century heroine! I also love all Jane Austen’s heroines although would have to say Elizabeth Bennett is my favorite (if I had to choose). Your life sounds eventful and this current chapter a beautiful one!
Harleena Singh
September 22, 2016 at 6:48 amHi Lisa,
Loved the apt analogy 🙂
Perhaps my book title would be “Seasons of Life” – as one goes through the various ups and downs, good and bad, and takes them all in one’s stride. We are empty nesters presently – in-fact just going through that phase, pros and cons, both attached to it, but you can understand the feeling I guess. As a result, work suffers, but you learn to cope with things and move on, such is life, isn’t it?
Thanks for sharing. Have a nice week ahead 🙂
lisa
September 23, 2016 at 10:43 pmHi Harleena, yes learning to cope and moving on to the next chapter seems to be the way to success. Empty nesting has its benefits for sure. Thanks for stopping over!
Jane Thrive
September 21, 2016 at 10:31 amLove this, Lisa!! I think when I was young, I wanted my life to be like the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe–a children’s magical realism setting that includes overcoming the odds to save the world! LOL. Now, I’m way happy to have a much more mellow storyline, and concentrate on how I can help the people in my world, my kids, my friends, my family, my hubby, the people I work with–and i strive to be kind and giving and forgiving. Not as lofty as defeating the White Witch, but hopefully something that will have a lasting impression of love. <3
lisa
September 23, 2016 at 10:41 pmI loved that book, too Jane. Now you’ve made me want to re-read it. Well I think your mellow life book is lofty and you in fact are defeating the white witch (or maybe a dark one). You are inspiring, Jane!
Marcia @ Menopausal Mother
September 20, 2016 at 1:10 pmI love the metaphor here. My life IS a book, and it’s usually about humor. I hope to keep it that way 🙂
lisa
September 23, 2016 at 10:38 pmSounds like you, Marcia. Damn funny! It’s always good to find humor even in our dark chapters.
Claire
September 19, 2016 at 11:12 pmThis is such a cool thought – and very timely for me as I’m moving countries (again!) tomorrow. My Sweden chapters have be a bit of adventure, plenty comedy and probably a bit of coming-of-age – now i’m looking forward to finding out what the Scotland chapter will be!
lisa
September 20, 2016 at 8:02 amHi Claire, your Sweden chapters sound wonderful and I’m sure there are more good chapters waiting to begin in Scotland. Keep us posted. Sounds exciting!
Jeri
September 19, 2016 at 2:47 pmI feel like I’m playing catchup in many ways having spent half of my life with a person who is no longer in it. Part of me has reverted back the new adult chapters since I missed out on certain aspects of life having met “the one” at 19. Other parts of me are enmeshed in starting the journey of the middle years. I like that part quite a lot. It’s always comforting to know perspective is on one’s side.
lisa
September 20, 2016 at 8:01 amCatching up isn’t a bad thing, Jeri. I guess it’s learning new and old all over again. That’s great that you’re enjoying the new middle chapter. It must be hard ‘starting over’ without the one who meant so much to you and shaped who you are today. Looks like you’re succeeding quite nicely on your own. 🙂
Jess @UsedYorkCity
September 19, 2016 at 9:02 amLove this analogy, Lisa! I’m a total believer that we are in control of the genre of book we are in (comedy! drama! mystery!), but maybe not so much about what chapter when. I’m currently in new mom chapter–i.e. I haven’t slept through the night in 9 months, but otherwise really loving it!;-)
lisa
September 20, 2016 at 7:59 amHi Jess, you’re in the nurturing chapter now and sacrifices are made. Sleep is one of them—lol. Looks like you’re loving and enjoying it to the max though.
Vishnu
September 18, 2016 at 3:34 pmBook title: Born Again (haha for several different reasons) but life after divorce feels like a new birth and life. Chapter I’m in right now – sharing the light 🙂 or creating the way or path for others in similar situations to follow. Also in this chapter is freedom, abundance, friendship, spirit, self-discovery, wisdom and insight.
Great insights otherwise Lisa – it’s more cherry pits than ice cream in some chapters haha 🙂
lisa
September 20, 2016 at 7:58 amHi Vishnu, I can relate! I love your book title. You’re sharing YOUR light and doing some amazing things with it. Your current chapter is full of great things—keep it up my friend!
Balroop Singh
September 16, 2016 at 11:23 pmHi Lisa,
A wonderful analogy and a very apt one! All lives are books, some open and some half-folded…it depends on us how we write ours.
This book is quite complicated as it doesn’t follow one set pattern or genre. It contains all…some drama, some happy and exhilarating moments, some dark and murky corners we try to ignore and yes…there is comedy too.
Keep turning the pages dear friend as each new page brings new hopes and horizons…you never know which one is the best or the last!
I love each page and look forward to the next. As I have said in one of my poems…even nostalgia is painfully pleasant!
What a refreshing piece Lisa. Thanks for writing it. Stay blessed.
lisa
September 17, 2016 at 10:56 amThank you, Balroop. Your life book sounds intriguing. I like that it doesn’t follow a genre. Thank you for this: “Keep turning the pages dear friend as each new page brings new hopes and horizons…you never know which one is the best or the last!” So true! Yes, I should be quoting some lines from your beautiful poems here 🙂
Tamara
September 16, 2016 at 7:12 pmSo beautiful! The life book starts after the schooling, and to a certain extent, probably a lot before it too.
Life lessons and the like.
I love how you write “(without the werewolves and vampires, for the most part)”!
lisa
September 17, 2016 at 9:57 amYes, the book does start earlier but the lessons seem to become more complex. I probably dated a vampire or two but if I had a choice, I would prefer a werewolf.
Charlotte Klein
September 16, 2016 at 9:25 amI love everything about this post so much. And this: “Truth is, our life is written daily. Who we choose to spend time with, our occupations, our hobbies—these are the contents of the chapters in our life.”
It’s kind of reinventing ourselves over and over again–we’re always in control, even when it doesn’t always feel that way. Our actions still predict and to some extent alter the course of our destiny.
Thanks for sharing this. I’m not sure where I fit in my novel, but I don’t mind the saggy middle. Always for deep introspection and a hopeful glance at what’s in the future 🙂 XOXO
lisa
September 17, 2016 at 9:52 amThank you, Charlotte! You’re early middle, not quite at the saggy part—LOL. Yes our decisions and actions (reactions) predict the course of our destiny. That’s good to remember when we feel as though we are losing control. That was a predominant feeling for me when I was going through my divorce. I felt like I had lost control of so much and it was frustrating. That chapter ended, too.
Charlotte
September 20, 2016 at 9:18 amI actually have a friend who is thinking about getting into blogging to connect with a community following her divorce. I hope you don’t mind if I share your info with her; I feel as though you could be such a valuable resource for her right now <3 You always give the best advice and have such insightful takeaways from something as painful as divorce.
XOXO
lisa
September 23, 2016 at 10:38 pmThanks, Charlotte that sounds great 🙂
Liv
September 15, 2016 at 6:34 pmIt’s a great way to live.
lisa
September 17, 2016 at 9:49 amIndeed. It means we can start new chapters throughout 😀
Cori Ramos
September 15, 2016 at 12:14 pmHi Lisa,
I love this! The title of my book is “Where I Am Now Is Not Where I’ll Be Forever”.
My chapter is about drama at this point in my life. My mom’s health took a turn for the worse – that and other family issues are taking priority right now before blogging – but then I feel guilty because I’m not blogging…I know, weird, right?
I actually had a cry over it on Tuesday night. I dealt with my feelings and moved on. 🙂
I can’t wait for this chapter to be over with although I know there is a lesson to learn or a strength to be born from all this crazy – so I’m just going with the flow. 🙂
Hope you’re having a great week Lisa!
Cori
lisa
September 17, 2016 at 9:48 amHi Cori, I love your book title! I’m sorry to hear about your mother. Hopefully the next chapter will have more comedy in it. You’ve had some great guest posts on your blog, so you shouldn’t feel ‘guilty’. Thanks for sharing here 🙂