I’m not Lisa…

my name is Lissa. Like Melissa. Without the ‘me’. I’ve explained my name this way for years. Usually it takes a few tries before people ‘get it’, but it’s something you get used to. As a child I answered to many names, some were even nice ones.

Somehow I was blessed with knowing many similarly named girls, and even today my favourite people are Lisa’s.

Lee-sa. (’s)

My closest friend is a Lisa, my best friend in kindergarten and sixth grade was a Lisa, my friend/roomate out of college was a Lisa and my favourite boss was a Lisa.

Some of my husband’s friends seemed to find a Lisa to marry or Lisa is their middle name.

But I’m not Lisa.

My Lisa friends have been in out and out of my life (all my lives). They know me best and remember the foundation I was forced to grow on (albeit reluctantly, and they know that too), so when I meet up with a Lisa it’s usually a profound experience. For me.

Today I had a three hour brunch with a favourite Lisa. She has walked a different path since we last lived together but somehow when come together not a beat is missed, we easily match our steps, our pace and we can read each other and speak openly like two old roommates mumble mumble years later.

She is a beautiful soul with this captivating ability to reach in and grab my heart and pull me along her journey through words. I rode her roller coaster words as she described her life and filled in the soundtrack with my own laughter and tears, I relived her frustrations with her and shuddered at the scary parts. This Lisa lives a full life, examined at every turn.

And I came away emotionally weary and exhilarated at the same time. I had a great sense of being alive.

Being with Lisa today was like reminding myself to breathe-something I haven’t been doing at a balanced pace lately. She reminded me to seek balance and rid myself of the extraneous things that take away my ability to feel balanced and whole.

I love this Lisa, as I love all my Lisa’s.

Today I’m reminded that I am blessed with Lisa’s in my life.
Count your blessings before you sleep tonight.