“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes…including you.” ~ Anne Lamott
Welcome! It’s lovely to meet you.
Writing an about-me section is one of my least favorite things. How do I summarize what led me here or who I am when, most days, I’m still on that path of discovery? I began writing when a confluence of things became too much to process, and it started with my mother’s death. Losing her felt like I had lost a part of me, and, in some ways, I did. I hadn’t experienced grief like that before, and little did I know that it would be the catalyst for me finding my voice. Writing is not just an escape but a sanctuary for me. It’s the place I turn to when I need to unplug, a therapeutic tool I’ve come to rely on. My relationship with writing was not always steady; doubt would creep in, and I would lose that spark. But life’s challenges would always lead me back to the healing power of the written word. Finally, a few years back, I began writing every day. Much of that work sits in a special place; some of it makes its way out of the archives and into the ether for you, my dear readers, to engage with. You’ll find that here and anything else my mind constructs. This place is where my words breathe. They are often visceral as I try to make sense of the beautiful and ugly chaos. When I sputter, poetry comes out. It’s like connecting thoughts but in a more sporadic tone. Yet, the reason I’m here is because of my Mom. She continues to be my guiding light, and the three tenets of wisdom she left me – “You’re made of good stuff,” “Don’t let the turkeys get you down,” and “What are you going to do?” – inspire me to keep going each day. So, when you see Connected by Three, it comes from the three things my mother told me. These things inspired me to write a book to help me find my way through grief, but I keep it tucked away because I am not ready to share it yet. However, I am committed to sharing my heart and stories with you, my readers. I’ll let my words breathe here for you to experience and connect with. If you’ve made it this far and ever doubt yourself, my Mom would want you to know that “you’re made of good stuff.” I still hear her whisper that to me on those dark days when I have to squint to see the light.
Laura Mikolaitis
Writer
You’re made of good stuff. Don’t let the turkeys get you down. What are you going to do?