Hello Grief

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 “pictureperfect” 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 selfpity and selfdoubt she experienced and the selfempathy 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 9500 to 157000 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 75100 illustrations.