A Day to Remember: Let Us Play at the Carolina Breast Friends METsters EmpowHER Retreat Day

Yesterday was one of those days that stays with you.

I had the honor of spending the day with an extraordinary group of cancer survivors and thrivers at Carolina Breast Friends’ EmpowHER Day Retreat. Together, we made room for laughter, reflection, creativity, connection, and the kind of honest conversation that can happen when people understand the road each other has traveled.

Through Let Us Play™: Thriving With and Beyond Cancer, we explored the simple but powerful truth that joy is not something we have to earn after hardship. It can be practiced in small moments—in a shared laugh, a colorful creation, a meaningful story, a deep breath, or the courage to simply be present.

The room was filled with wisdom, tenderness, resilience, and fun. Participants leaned into the activities with open hearts, encouraged one another, and reminded me again that survivorship is not only about what we have endured. It is also about what we choose to carry forward: hope, meaning, friendship, and permission to live fully.

A special thank-you to my son, Tennant, who came along to help make the day run smoothly. The group quickly and affectionately named him “Hot Sauce,” and he embraced it beautifully. His willingness to pitch in, share a laugh, and become part of the day’s spirit made him a wonderful—and very fun—addition to our group.

I am deeply grateful to Carolina Breast Friends and Ashly Dollar for creating such a caring space for women affected by breast cancer, and to every person who showed up ready to share a piece of herself. It was a beautiful day of connection—and a meaningful reminder that we are still becoming, still creating, and still allowed to play.

With gratitude,
Lisa Caughman
Founder, Lee Lee’s Life Lessons Foundation
Creator, Let Us Play™ Series