I Used to Have a Plan: But Life Had Other Ideas

Balm for the soul—Alessandra Olanow offers advice | inspiration | and encouragement for anyone who needs a shoulder to lean on during a difficult time.“I Know This Too Shall Pass. (But It Would Be Helpful to Know When).”After a series of events left her a divorced single mother questioning herself | her relationships | and basically | everything she thought was true about her “picture-perfect” life | Alessandra Olanow began drawing and posting illustrations on Instagram that reflected her feelings and struggles to right her life. She chronicled her journey of healing | expressing the shock | delusion | denial | self-pity | and self-doubt she experienced and the self-empathy and forgiveness that ultimately helped her regain a sense of self—but stronger | more fearless | and more hopeful than before. Her charming illustrations and keen | memorable observations—struck a chord. Within a year | her audience grew dramatically | from 9 |500 to 157 |000 followers | including celebrities Katie Couric | Jennifer Garner | Elise Loehnen (chief content officer at Goop) | the poet Joao Doederlein | and Joanna Goddard (founder of A Cup of Jo). I Used to Have a Plan brings Olanow’s soothing sensibility to a wider audience | featuring new drawings and ideas that touch upon the universal experiences of unexpected change and loss. Divided into five parts—“I Didn’t See That Coming |” “It’s OK That You’re Not OK |” “Where’d I Go |” “The Only Way Out Is Through |” and “I Like It Here | Can I Stay a While?”—the book beautifully encapsulates the experience of encountering difficulty | processing it and healing from it | and becoming stronger and with a better sense of self. Full of advice | commiseration | empathy | and wit that is comforting | helpful | direct | and remarkable in its truth | I Used to Have a Plan helps everyone through the painful yet ultimately uplifting process of healing.I Used to Have a Plan includes 75-100 illustrations.