⛅Get Free: The Light Always Returns

Hey, Get Free Fam,

I’m writing this in my living room next to a twinkly tree, the jobless feline at my feet  and outside looking like I should’ve been in bed hours ago, even though it’s barely five pm, (real talk, how are any of us out in these streets at this time of year? The animals know what’s up: go to sleep!)

But while I’m sitting here, I’m reminded that almost a year ago to the day, I sat next to a different twinkly Christmas tree in the middle of the night and typed out the very early thoughts that became The Get Free Guide. On December 20 I had lunch with dear friends and - because one of them brought along a copy of my first book to be signed - it sparked a middle of the night thought process, two hours downloading ideas into a Google doc and the purchase of a website.  

Here’s a little snippet of what I wrote that night:

Phew!

I never thought the idea would see the light of day, but here we all are, getting to grips with the daily ways we can get free, one small step at a time. Even though we don’t see much change day-to-day, just take a moment to really acknowledge what you’ve achieved in the space of a year. I’d love to do a GFF Roll Call of Wins in the next issue! What are you celebrating from 2025? Send them here or email [email protected]

I know the GFFs have been handling business! Remember to clap for yourself and thanks for rolling with me every week!

What are we getting in to today?

We’re at that spot in the year where the Winter Solstice is upon us. It’s the shortest day and longest night of the year, but slowly, slowly, the light will return. This week was a “the light will return” moment and a reminder that even when you go around in circles, you’ll eventually land the right way up and life will make sense again. So here’s a little story time.

Many, many years ago, I used to live in the UK. When I moved Stateside I left my home, my people, my job, and started all over again. Everything was new: a new country, new (and only!) husband, and new ways of engaging in my career.

Before I left home, I'd worked in management and led some great teams (bless those folks who worked with Baby Manager Joanne. Talk about learning on the job!) But the most humbling thing happened when I moved to the US: nobody knew who I was. Even though people looked at my résumé and said it was really impressive, it wasn’t American impressive. So I had to start from scratch.

Honestly, I was fine with that. I had to learn a new system and a new language. The number of times I would say lorry when I meant truck, or rubbish when I meant trash. My editor would roll his eyes and say “Your Brit is showing today!” 

In those days I was an entry level temp and worked my way up to managing people over the next six years. Eventually I’d leave for new opportunities and different titles. And this is where things get wild — where you just never know where life may take you, and why it’s so important to be kind, respectful, and try to leave places better than when you arrived.

A few days ago, I was at a holiday party. As I looked around I saw people I’d worked with in those entry level temp days 15 years ago: colleagues who became lifelong friends, or people who I shared a joke with walking up the stairs or grabbing lunch in the break room. Folks I attended leadership training with, or worked with in other places. Then I saw some of my current team that I have the good fortune to lead: a team which is now housed in that same building I walked into countless times as a temp learning the ropes and when I led and managed no one. My office is maybe five steps from the desk I used to occupy. These two work eras now collapsed into one location. Talk about full circle. It’s all at once familiar but so very different. 

I’m not going to lie, there were some TOUGH days when I had to start again. I’d apply for jobs and never hear anything back. I tried moving into other related industries and nothing happened. I took on some basic tasks like setting up guests for studio interviews or - my personal favorite - driving over to a studio to pick up a PHYSICAL TAPE of a show so I could run the tape down a satellite line from Los Angeles to London. I was not a 20-year-old intern doing this. And when I finally asked for a pay bump at my temp gig (after two years!) I was met with “well, I hear you’re good, but you have to prove yourself to me" from a new manager. Sigh. 

But in that full circle moment I could see that it all had to happen the way it did. I couldn’t do what I do now without all of these pieces. It’s very odd some days being back in this building I called my work home for so long. When you leave it’s rarely with a plan to go back. But instead of fighting all this I can finally see some light in the situation. It always returns - not on the timeline you want, but it will. It has to. 

There are so many ways I’ve seen the light return for folks this year. 

In Altadena, friends and community members who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire back in January are slowly - physically, mentally and spiritually - rebuilding their lives. For some the light is returning in the form of a new shell sitting on the plot where their old home once stood. Some day soon they’ll be able to park in their own driveway again, and turn the key to a new front door and walk in.

For others it’s turning the corner on a long job search or gaining clarity on how to take next steps. If you’re in the trenches on the work front, your light is coming. 

There have been health challenges for others, and life changes due to family and caregiving responsibilities. Things are turned upside down, but it will all make sense again.  

So where’s the Get Free in all of this?

I think it’s this: understanding that, even in the toughest situation, it won’t and can’t last forever. There WILL be a turning point, there will be some light, even if it’s not bright or consistent, it will be there.

So how can we Get Free and get our light?

1. Say the hard things out loud: Have you ever noticed that when you say hard things out loud, its power is reduced? It’s like the moment you say it and the world doesn’t come crashing in, you realize that you CAN deal with whatever the problem is and find your way back to the light and to the solution. 

2. Break the problem into bite-sized pieces: Holding on to a generic brand of hope that “everything will get better” sometimes isn’t enough. But you CAN take on smaller tasks that move the needle while everything is upside down: send that email, get good rest, go for a walk, hydrate, ask for help. Control what you can control

3. Let the world know you’re still here: In a world of glossy “personal news” updates on the socials, it can be easy to skip over the power of progress. Taking small steps is just as important as the big grand reveal. Let’s normalize the sharing of the messy middle. 

4. Bring people together: The whole reason this newsletter exists is community. We can’t do life alone and we don’t gatekeep. Being in community means we don’t have to figure things out from scratch every time. We can create collective light! Think check-ins with friends, shared rituals, even a book club counts!

5. Remember you still have a choice: Even here. Even now. You get to choose what matters today, what can wait, and what you’re done carrying. Agency is a form of light. It doesn’t fix everything—but it reminds you that you’re still in the game.

6. Don’t shy away from your light: Sometimes the light is there and we fight with it and try to hide from it. Here’s the deal: you can’t. So use your energy to lean in. Who knows what’s waiting for you? 

A quick reminder

I was really proud of myself this week. I had this grand idea to host a cookie decorating party — make cookies, decorate, have friends over. On Tuesday, I woke up and realized: I’m not doing that party. I’m exhausted. I love entertaining, but I feel like I’ve not slept in a million years, and preparing is not something I can do.

So a reminder: even in this festive season, you do not have to do all the things. The best gift you can give yourself is yourself — and your health. It’s OK to enjoy this season, not just tolerate it!

Speaking of halting…

The Get Free Guide is going to take a little pause for the cause to enjoy time with family - the first off week since we started on June 6! I’ll be back on Jan. 2 with a 2026 look ahead and I’d love to hear from you!

What are you looking forward to in 2026?
What Get Frees are you hoping to tackle in the new year?

Drop an email to [email protected] - or just hit reply to this message!

Thank you so much for your support and for sharing your messages and comments throughout this year. Encourage your friends to subscribe, or share with folks you think might get something out of it. We don’t gatekeep!

Drink your water. Drink plenty over the holiday season to balance all the sweet snacks and adult beverages. Get outside and get some sun (more light after December 21!) 

I’ll see you on January 2!

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

🎵 Soundtrack for the week: Book and recs will be back in January, but here’s a soundtrack to hold us over. The Light by Common. Go chase yours!

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

THANKS FOR READING!

If you got something out of this issue of The Get Free Guide, give us a follow or a shout out on Instagram and share the love with a friend. We don’t gatekeep around here!