🙄Get Free: When Systems Fail

Get Free Fam!

So today’s newsletter is brought to you by the letter B: that’s for BREVITY, (not) BEATING MYSELF UP and BRUH… What B were you thinking of?! See, I caught you slippin’ 🙂

So, right now I’m writing this issue at Gate 137 waiting for a flight. This terminal is at the end of the Earth, like a hobbit mission to Mordor. Or maybe another planet all together. TSA was swift (thank you to the workers who are still here in the midst of a government shutdown) but the walk to the gate was … EPIC. I went on a whole journey before even getting on the flight. But a healthy reframe: I got my steps in!

To say this has been a week is a bit of an understatement. I had grand plans to celebrate Issue 20 of The Get Free Guide (woohoo!) but I want to do justice to all of your awesome questions and comments, so we’ll dive in next week for Issue 21. The GFG can have an adult beverage then! Keep the comments coming and thank you for rolling along whether since day one, or if this is your first issue (if you’re just joining, check out the archive - and welcome!) You can email [email protected] or fill out this form

How are we getting free this week?

Well first, I want to say a big THANK YOU to all the GFFs who came out to Pasadena to join the first Get Free Snack and Chat! Sitting together IRL and sharing thoughts, ideas, wisdom and encouragement was a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon. And these GFFs know how to do good snacks - can we say Randy’s Donuts? If you know, you know. There were also some original GFG goodies. You know we don’t gatekeep here, so a giveaway is coming up very soon!

Think I better let it go…

I never thought that Frozen or Teddy Pendergrass would be inspirations for this newsletter, but as I’m writing I have equal parts “Let it goooo, Let it gooooo!” and “Think I better let it go…” swirling around my head. Take inspiration where you can, I guess. But here’s why Teddy and Elsa are taking up brain space.

So, I have a ritual when I travel: for the most part I pack the day of and on very rare occasions I’ll pack the night before. I am Team Carry On because I’m not a fan of playing luggage roulette at baggage claim after a flight. Bless y’all that have the nerves for all that. I have a collection of clothes I pack depending on the climate and the planned activities and they fit perfectly in my carry on. Done and done.

But this time, I decided to pack the day before because a) I had time and b) it’s good to mix it up.

Because I’d already closed my suitcase, I forgot to put my shampoo and conditioner inside after I showered (again, routine - I always shower in the last hour before leaving home) so I slid them into my backpack and headed to the airport. Cool.

Check in was a breeze, my shoes (or earrings, or something else) beeped going through TSA, and then my bag was pulled to the side. I didn’t think anything of it because I travel All. The. Time and have my packing to a science. 

Not so fast, sister.

The TSA agent said “Is this your bag?”

Me: Yes it is

TSA: Can I open it?

Me: Yes you can

TSA: Are these yours?

He pulled out two almost FULL (aka, used once) bottles of shampoo and conditioner and my heart almost broke. I bought those bad boys two days ago. These products understand my hair and they work. Just like how I rarely travel with checked luggage, I don’t sway from these products because my hair has particular tastes. Bougie. But you know what really got me? He saw my face and I KNOW he heard the groan when I realized what I’d done. I swear he tried to slam dunk my products into the trash can. 

My internal dialog was a dramatic slow motion “Noooooooooo!” But by then it was too late. All I could do was swoop up the remainder of my things and lament the impending frizzy hair situation that is waiting for me on wash day. The struggle, y’all. 

So, what has all of this got to do with getting free? 

After I chuckled about it (no, I didn’t chuckle about it - I have steam rising off my fingers as I write) all of this is a lesson in getting free from routines, and being OK with not trying to control everything. I tried something different and my usual checks and balances broke down. Honestly I think I was more annoyed that I looked like a rookie with the shampoo (TSA will never catch me with a bottle full of water!) because I travel so much and know better. But is it the end of the world? No. And the upside to checking my luggage is that I don’t have to do an overhead press to get my carry on into the overhead locker, and I’m able to take more things for the folks I’m visiting and they’ll really appreciate it. Win and win. Maybe the TSA agent will take the shampoo and conditioner home and lavish his mane with the fruits and berries infused products. Godspeed, shampoo and conditioner. Journey well!

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

📚What I’m reading: I woke up at 3AM the other day (whhhyyyyyy!!!!!) so started reading 107 Days by Kamala Harris. The first two chapters are GOOD! Anyone else reading it? Share your thoughts at [email protected]. As always, support your independent book stores! My favorite is Octavia’s Bookshelf in Pasadena, CA

🎵 Soundtrack for the week: It can only be D’Angelo. What a loss that this talent is gone at the age of 51. We all have our stories - I remember listening to the Brown Sugar album with a group a friends as we drove through the night from Flagstaff, AZ to Las Vegas. A few years ago I discovered this live track of D’Angelo and Guestlove in their spin on the SOS Band’s Tell Me. Rest easy, D’Angelo.

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

THANKS FOR READING!

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See you next Friday!