🍦Get Free: Kindness Costs Nothing

Hey, Get Free Fam 🌞

Welcome to the end of the start-of-the-year do-over week. Because let’s be honest, last week was a trainwreck and we had more to-dos than we had hours of the week to complete them. That was me, so apologies for not being here last week — I had to handle some business. But: I’m baaaacckkkkkkk!

January Isn’t Always the Fresh Start We Think It Is

In this time of do-overs and delayed starts, I was reminded of something a friend once shared that really stuck with me.

January is always giving New Year, New You vibes. Do all the things. Set the resolutions. Find your word of the year. Build your quarterly calendars. Plan, plan and plan and tell everyone how you’ve got your year together. 

But, my friend said, winter, and January (especially for us Northern Hemisphere folks where the new year and the coldest season collide) isn’t actually the time of new beginnings. The time of new beginnings is spring.

So when we jump straight into New Year, New Me in January, it can feel premature. We’re in the season of hibernation, hunkering down, conserving energy. And start-of-the-year resolutions run counter to that. There’s a reason gyms are full in January and back to the regular crew come March. We still need that winter coat! For some, the season just isn’t right. 

Just sharing in case you’re feeling the pressure to know your exact path for 2026 when we’re barely halfway through month one. If you DO have a plan and you’re ready to go, we love to see it! But if you’re not quite motivated yet, it’s not you, it’s the limited sunlight and season of soup that’s got us locked down. Don’t worry, though. The light will return!

Why Kindness Feels So Important Right Now

Over the holidays I had a thought about getting free: that it’s both simple and complicated all at once. Our daily actions add up to a lot over time - which is what The Get Free Guide is all about - but sometimes focusing on ourselves and our own freedom can feel hard at a time when others are not at liberty to do the same. Or when we see lives being destroyed through actions that are hard to fathom. But how can we get through these times? A kind word, a check in, an offer of help - kindness in whatever form it takes really costs nothing. Being a place of softness in a hard season makes all the difference. 

The world is hard right now. Since the beginning of the year, we’ve seen upheaval in Venezuela, the fatal shooting of Renee Good in Minneapolis, and thousands of deaths following protests in Iran. So much hurt and confusion. 

Closer to home, I’ve heard stories of people dealing with grief and loss, while navigating some poorly behaved bosses who expect them to carry on like their world hasn’t been turned upside down. And then there was this funny meme with a serious message about the impact of online trolling - because 24/7, 365, people hide behind the anonymity of the internet and talk smack (don’t do it, y’all…)

Whether the world stage or next door, being kind is the least we can do for each other and it makes all the difference (and if people tell you you’re too kind, ignore them. How can you be TOO kind?! We’ll talk about that in another Get Free!) But no matter what is going on:

• We still have a choice in how we show up. 

• We still have a choice to do better.

• We still have a choice in how we treat others.

Kindness Is a Get Free Practice

So, how does all of this connect to getting free? I don’t know about you, but it takes me way more energy to be angry, petty, contrarian, or to stay upset (and not have the kindest of thoughts.)

Showing people humanity.
Showing grace.
Seeing people beyond politics, conflict, and labels — that feels freeing.

Can we just see people as … people? That feels like a more natural state of being than disliking someone because of where they’re from, their name, or the color of their skin.

And I’m also thinking about kindness to self.

In the last Get Free Guide, I shared an article from the New York Times with 7 questions to ask yourself at the close of the year, including:

Who do you need to forgive in 2026?

That question bothered me, because I needed to forgive myself. That same grace and kindness we extend to others? We need to give that to ourselves, too. Then we can get free from:

• Disappointment about past decisions.

• Concerns about how we showed up.

• Moments where we felt we didn’t have power - even when we did the best we could.

Whatever is holding you down, be kind to yourself. If you’re having beef with someone, get to the bottom of it, or let it go. Get free from it one way or another. It’s taking up more space than you realize. 

How Are You Showing Up?

So this week, the Get Free activity is simply answering these questions:

• How are you extending kindness to yourself?

• How are you extending kindness to others? 

• What’s a practical action you can take to show kindness to yourself and to others this week?

• How are you showing up at work or in your personal life, especially in challenging moments where you still have a choice in how you speak and respond?

Getting free isn’t just what we do, it’s about how we do it.

Let me know how you plan on extending kindness, especially to yourself. It’s not a resolution - it’s an act of freedom. Email [email protected] or leave a comment in this form.

🚀Get Your Life: Things to read, listen to, enjoy🚀

📚What I’m reading: Nothing yet! What’s on your reading list? Email [email protected] with your recommendations!

📺What I’m watching: I rewatched Season 5 of Insecure last week. You really can’t beat great storytelling. The characters, the music, the dialogue, the relationships — all of it. Still a chef’s kiss

🎵 Soundtrack for the week:  Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads. Heard this at the gym the other day. Still relevant and the lyrics hit different when you’re thinking about getting free

✨ If you’ve got a recommendation drop me a line. ✨

THANKS FOR READING … and a little housekeeping!

The Get Free Guide is a labor of love and a way to keep it real about making changes, big and small, toward a freer, more focused, more caring life.

If you’re enjoying this, please share it with someone in your world. It makes a big difference and means more of us can get free together.

You’ll also start seeing some ads in the newsletter as we grow sustainably and find more ways to serve this audience. If you’re a business or values-aligned org, let’s talk about how we can partner and if you’re interested in sponsoring this newsletter or an event, email [email protected].

So…if you like it, share it. If you love it, shout about it! And let’s hear from you! Drop in with your comments and wisdom - y’all have the best ideas and suggestions. 

Thank you, Get Free Fam. Stay kind, stay fabulous!

See you next Friday!