Let’s be honest—writing an “About Me” section always feels a little awkward, right? It’s like trying to write a resume for your personality. You don’t want to sound like you’re bragging, but you also don’t want to go full self-deprecating weirdo either (though, if you ask my kids, I’m apparently “extra” no matter what I do).

So here’s the deal: I’m a working mom, a sister, a wife, a friend, and (even though both my parents are gone) still a daughter at heart—even if sometimes that makes me feel a little bit like an orphan. My life’s been a jumble of all kinds of stuff: good, bad, messy, boring, joyful, awful, and everything in between. I’ve made more mistakes than I can count. Some caught me totally off guard; others, let’s be real, I saw coming a mile away and did them anyway (why do we do that?!).

I worry about all the usual things—my kids, my family, my job (and after three layoffs, yep, I’m always a little anxious about keeping one), money, retirement, my friends, my health, what I’m eating, and how menopause somehow became my new “adventure.” Life has handed me some wild chapters, but every one of them has come with its own little lesson—even if I didn’t spot it at first.

Now that I’m in my mid-50s (yes, I said it), I’ve actually found a weird kind of freedom in self-reflection. I can admit the times I’ve totally messed up, been a jerk, or crashed and burned spectacularly. In my younger days, I probably would’ve tried to hide it. Now? I own it—and, more importantly, I forgive myself, too.

That’s really what I want to share here: the real stuff. The hope is that by putting it all out there—mistakes, lessons, all of it—someone else might find something useful, or at the very least, feel a little less alone. Because let’s be honest, we all feel weird or embarrassed or isolated sometimes, but I’ve finally reached the age where I just don’t care what people think. So I’m happy to overshare if it helps anyone else along the way.

If you’re looking for a perfect elevator pitch, I’m afraid you’re out of luck. But if you’re here for a little motivation, some relatable stories, maybe a laugh, or just to feel seen—welcome. I hope what I write brings something good to your day.