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What’s up, Get Free Fam!
It’s after midnight and I’m writing this week’s newsletter. It’s so quiet that the only thing I can hear is the hum of the internet modem … and maybe the crunch of some pea flavored chips - comically called “Inner Peas”.
It’s funny that even a snack is encouraging us to find some peace (although I personally associate them with toddlers and being handed small fistfuls of nondescript goo, chewed over and sucked upon, only to be eagerly “shared”- read “shoved into my face” - as a love offering. While cute, the truth is that said goo is just a vehicle for kiddie drool laced with some kind of contagion picked up at daycare. But I digress…)
Peace. It’s in short supply at the moment. And even in the most ordinary of times, we’re never really quiet. Think about it: when did you last sit in peace and quiet?
Before we dive in…
I didn’t get to do this at the end of the year, so here it is now:
Make sure you schedule your eye appointment, your dental appointment, and your physical. Your appointment with your OBGYN, your mammograms - all of it.
One thing that really sucks up our time is worrying about what we don’t know. Knowledge truly is power. And when we’re really up against it, it can feel like the heaviest thing in the world to pick up the phone or log into an account and make an appointment.
Likewise, if you have healthcare professionals who just aren’t working for you anymore, make some time this month to do a little research and see if there’s somebody who might be a better fit.
You are your greatest commodity. And freedom doesn’t exist without you!
Next week our Your Body, Your Numbers guide will go LIVE (once it’s shared with the folks who attended the Get Free Guide live event in December!) A big thank you to our collaborators at AFRO LA for making such a useful resource! More next week (now that the tech has been figured out on this end!)
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So, how is quiet helping us get free?
Over the holidays I sat in a coffee shop and drank some tea. There were two kids running around a table. Two people on what looked like a first date. A lady to my right drinking her coffee and watching her novellas. A few other people sitting down.
And the thing everyone had in common — including the kids — was that they were looking at screens. Creating a moment of quiet for themselves, but through a device.
And I thought to myself: we are so switched on. So engaged. Like, all the time. Even in our quiet, there is noise.
Also: the information coming through the screen doesn't always help us. We can get into a spiral of comparison: my home should look like this, my career should be in this place, my vacations should be epic, and my clothes should fit just so. Who said so? Truly, why are we doing all the things? Who are we living for?
Over the weeks we’ve talked about all different kinds of freedom through The Get Free Guide, but getting quiet means getting to hear ourselves. What do we like? What do we want to do? What’s our opinion on world events, or what’s happening in our neighborhoods? Money, success, adoration have value (look, we’ve gotta live, right?!) but if we don’t know ourselves, or create space to be ourselves, in my humble opinion, getting free becomes so much harder.
So getting quiet is about getting honest. We can account for our time and what we do with it, but are we giving our quiet time what it deserves? And - honestly - isn’t it just good to not talk to people sometimes? Maybe that’s just me, lol…
When do we actually have time for quiet?
When do we have time for our minds to wander?
When do we just switch off?
Get Free: A Small Practice
Think about incorporating a quietness practice at the end of your work day:
Note five positive things that happened that day. Circle one that really stands out and write a few words about it.
Then write down one challenge that you’ll pick up tomorrow.
Take a moment to breathe deeply and let your mind wander.
If you’re not a fan of writing, try this exercise at the end of your day:
Take a walk around the block without headphones or sound
Make a note of what you hear; does the sound create calm or curiosity?
Each time you go out, note what you hear and try to find new things to tune in to
The goal with both of these exercises is to put a line under the day and create space for your mind to catch up with itself and perhaps spark something new. Making a note of a challenge gives it a place (the next day!) and allows you to not dwell on something you can’t do anything about in that moment. At just five minutes it’s a short commitment, but if you can do more, go for it, quietly!
No phone calls.
No emails.
Just you.
Let’s talk about quiet - does it work for you or not really? If you got more quiet time, what would you do with it?
Email us - [email protected] or hit reply to this email!
🚀Get Your Life: Things to read, listen to, enjoy🚀
📚What I’m reading: I’m still finishing off the brilliant book by Cynthia Erivo (no Oscars love. Booo!) Simply More - all about showing up, even when you’re being told you’re too much.
🎧What’s on the pod: Back to Aspire with Emma Grede - a good episode with Mel Robbins highlighting the hard work that goes unseen in the build up to success.
🎵 Soundtrack for the week:
The Get Free Guide playlist is now LIVE! Enjoy the tunes and send in your recommendations for the community playlist!
✨ 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!
See you next Friday!
