“This Wasn’t the Life I Planned.”
Sometimes life takes us places we never imagined we would have to go. We make plans, hold onto dreams, and picture a future that feels certain—until something changes and suddenly, the life in front of us looks very different from the one we envisioned. “This Wasn’t the Life I Planned” is an honest acknowledgment of that reality. It makes room for the disappointment, the grief, the questions, and the moments when we may have wondered who we are now or what comes next. But it is also a reminder that an unexpected life is not an unfinished life. We are allowed to honor what we thought would be while still embracing what is possible now. Our stories may not have unfolded according to plan, but that does not mean they cannot still be beautiful, meaningful, purposeful, and full of joy. This month, we invite you to show up honestly—as you are, where you are—and remember that even when life changes the plan, your strength, your identity, your dreams, and your ability to create something beautiful still remain.
Weekly Themes
Week 1: The Plot Twist, When Life Changed Without Permission. Exploring the moment life took an unexpected turn and how we begin to make sense of changes we never asked for.
Week 2: Grieving the Life I thought I’d Have. Making space to honestly acknowledge and grieve the dreams, expectations, and life we once imagined.
Week 3: Okay-So What Now! Finding the courage to move forward, even when we don’t yet have all the answers or know exactly what comes next.
Week 4: I’m Still HER. Reclaiming our identity and remembering that life may have changed, but our worth, strength, and essence remain.
Week 5: The Life I’m Creating Now. Embracing new possibilities and recognizing that we still have the power to create a meaningful, fulfilling life on our own terms.
Affirmation for the Month
This may not be the life I planned, but it is still my life to live, love, and create. I honor what I have lost while remaining open to what is still possible. I am allowed to grieve, to grow, to change, and to begin again. Life may have taken an unexpected turn, but I am still here, I am still worthy, I am still HER—and my story is not over.
Birthdays Coming Up! 🎉🎂
We would like to wish a very special happy birthday to our sister Latoya (Sept. 13). We hope you enjoy your day, and may this next year bring so much joy, love and adventure! Happy birthday to anyone else celebrating this month!
Wellness Corner
Life doesn’t always follow the script we imagined. Sometimes the plot changes without warning, leaving us grieving what we thought our lives would look like while trying to figure out where we go from here.
This month, we’re making space for all of it: the unexpected changes, the grief, the questions, the rediscovery of who we are, and the courage to create something new.
There is no timeline for figuring it all out. You don’t have to have all the answers. You don’t have to force yourself to find a silver lining. And you don’t have to become someone completely different because life changed.
You can simply take the next step.
A note about this month’s challenges: These activities are completely optional. You are not expected or required to complete every challenge. Take part in the activities that speak to you, skip the ones that don’t, and participate at whatever level feels right for you. There is no competition, no perfect score, and no right or wrong way to approach this month’s wellness focus.
Week 1: The Plot Twist. When Life Changed Without Permission. Sometimes the first step toward healing is simply acknowledging what changed. This week’s challenge: Take a few minutes to name one thing in your life that didn’t go according to plan. You don’t have to fix it or find a positive lesson. Simply acknowledge it.
Reflection: What changed that I never expected, and how has it changed me?
Week 2: Grieving the Life I Thought I’d Have. Grief isn’t only about losing a person. We can grieve relationships, careers, independence, dreams, plans, opportunities, or the version of ourselves we thought we’d become.. This week’s challenge: Give yourself permission to acknowledge something you’re still grieving. Write it down, record a voice note, talk to someone you trust, or simply allow yourself to sit with the feeling. Remember: You don’t have to rush yourself into acceptance just because someone else thinks you should be ready to move on.
Week 3: Okay… So What Now?. Moving forward doesn’t require having the entire map. Instead of asking, “What am I going to do with my life?” try asking:
“What’s one thing I can do next?”
This week’s challenge: Choose one small step. Make a phone call. Ask for help. Try something new. Learn something you’ve always wanted to learn. Make a plan for tomorrow. It doesn’t have to be a giant leap. One step still moves you forward.
Week 4: I’m Still HER. Life can change our circumstances without changing everything that makes us who we are. This week’s challenge: Make a list of five things that make you you that have nothing to do with your circumstances. Maybe you’re funny, creative, compassionate, adventurous, stubborn in the best possible way, a music lover, a bookworm, a great friend, or the person who always knows how to make everyone laugh. Take some time to reconnect with the parts of yourself that are still there. What happened to you is part of your story. It isn’t the entirety of your identity.
Week 5: The Life I’m Creating Now. Eventually, we may find ourselves asking a different question. Not “Why didn’t my life turn out the way I planned?” but “What do I want my life to look like now?” This week’s challenge: Think about the life you’re creating rather than the life you thought you were supposed to have.
Ask yourself:
- What do I want more of?
- What do I want less of?
- What brings me joy?
- What makes me feel fulfilled?
- What kind of people do I want around me?
- What is something I’ve always wanted to try?
Then choose one small action toward the life you want.
September’s Sisterhood Challenge: One Small Step Forward
This month, choose one thing you want to do differently, try, prioritize, or let go of.
It doesn’t have to be life-changing. It doesn’t have to make sense to anyone else. It simply needs to matter to you.
At the end of September, take a moment to look back and ask:
What happened when I gave myself permission to move forward at my own pace? Because maybe this wasn’t the life we planned. Maybe we didn’t choose the plot twist. But we still get a say in what happens next.
Things to Know
For our Travel Tier members, your non-refundable deposit for the annual Sisterhood of the traveling Canes 2027 Retreat is due November 3, 2026. more information will be announced to those ladies once we have a full headcount of all who will be attending.
We are also in the process of creating a new training program for ladies wanting to learn how to use voice over on iOS devices. this will be taught by our Accessibility and Technology Coordinator, Andrea Diaz. Stay tuned for more information about that.
Friday, September 25th will be game night, hosted by Shaniece N.
Wednesday, September 30th will be another movie night based on this month’s theme.
Spooky season will be here in no time, so if you have any Halloween movie ideas, please let one of the founders know!
Final Remarks
As we close out this month, we hope you are leaving with one important reminder: it is okay to acknowledge that this wasn’t the life you planned. It is okay to grieve what changed, to miss what you thought would be, and to still have questions about what comes next. But even in the midst of all that, your life is still yours—and your story is still being written. You are not defined by what was lost or by the unexpected turns you never asked for. You are still growing, still becoming, still dreaming, and still HER. May you move forward with grace for yourself, hope for what is ahead, and the courage to embrace the life you are creating now, one day, one choice, and one beautiful possibility at a time.
with so much love,
Sisterhood of the Traveling Canes
Sisterhood of the Traveling Canes 
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