Hi friend,
Happy New Year! I hope January is being kind to you and not throwing too much nonsense your way yet.
If you're reading this with your goals color-coded and your vision board complete, beautiful. If you're reading this with absolutely no idea what this year is supposed to look like, also beautiful. Wherever you are right now, whether it be motivated, overwhelmed, totally lost, or somewhere in between, you're exactly where you need to be.
I've been thinking about baby steps. (Alexa, play "Baby Steps" by Olivia Dean.) Not because they sound nice, but because I'm over the idea that change has to be dramatic to count. Real change is actually kind of boring. It's showing up on the days you don't want to. It's choosing one better habit and seeing what happens. It's trusting that small, consistent movement actually gets you somewhere.
Building My 2026 Foundation
I've been asking myself what I want this year to feel like. Not what I want to achieve, because honestly, achievement culture is exhausting, but how I want to move through the year. And the phrase that keeps showing up is solid foundation.
2025 was a lot. I left my career. Traveled to eight countries living out of two suitcases. Dealt with visa chaos. Moved to a new city. I experienced some of the greatest highs and some real lows. And spent way too much time in my head trying to figure out what comes next.
Now, I'm ready for something that feels less like constant motion and more like actually building something.
So instead of the usual New Year's resolutions that fade by spring, I'm doing things differently this year. No big, flashy goals. Just small, steady practices that create solid ground. Building quietly and tenderly.
But here's a peek into what I'm actually doing. Just a few small practices that I think will help me feel more grounded, and maybe help you too.
My Sunday Hour - I'm blocking off one hour every Sunday for planning and reflection. No phone. No distractions. Just me, and my journal. It's my weekly reset so I can check in with myself instead of just reacting to everything.
Movement that doesn't feel like punishment - I'm done with fitness goals that make me feel bad about myself. This year, I'm just moving in ways that feel good. Dancing in my kitchen to Beyoncé. Walks when I need to clear my head. Yoga when I'm anxious. That's it.
Writing without the pressure to be perfect - WokenHeart is growing, which feels incredible. But it's also still small, and I've been putting pressure on myself to make it bigger faster or turn it into something more polished than it needs to be. This year, I just want to write what's true and let it grow however it wants to.
Cultivating community, not just collecting it - I've never struggled to make friends, but I haven't always been intentional about deepening those friendships. This year, I'm being more thoughtful about who I'm spending time with and how I'm showing up. Following through on plans. Creating space for real conversation. Showing up consistently for the connections that actually matter.
None of this is groundbreaking. They won't look impressive on a vision board. But I think by the end of the year, these small practices will have created something more valuable than any flashy goal, which is a life that feels true to who I am and genuinely fulfilling.
What about you? What does a solid foundation look like for you this year? Hit reply and tell me. I actually want to know.
January Spotlight: Karleigh Lindsay
This month's spotlight features Karleigh Lindsay, who spent twelve years working toward medical school before asking herself one question that changed everything: "Do I really want this?"
The answer was no. And walking away from that dream didn't make her a quitter. It made her brave enough to honor who she'd become instead of who she thought she should be.
Karleigh is proof that you can reroute your path without losing yourself. That resistance often signals expansion. That the smallest steps, like literally just opening your computer, can rebuild your entire life.
Want to dive deeper? Karleigh is hosting a free 5-day ALIGN Challenge where you'll learn a science-backed manifestation process. Join the challenge here →
📖 Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes
If we're talking about baby steps and saying yes to what scares us, I have to recommend Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes.
Shonda, the powerhouse behind Grey's Anatomy, Scandal, and so many shows that have shaped our cultural landscape, was terrified of public speaking, social events, and essentially anything that required her to show up as herself instead of hiding behind her work. So she committed to one year of saying yes to the things that scared her.
What I love about this book is that it's not about becoming fearless. It's about doing it scared. It's about recognizing that growth lives on the other side of discomfort and choosing to move toward it anyway, one yes at a time.
It's funny, honest, and deeply human. If you're someone who tends to play it safe or shrink yourself to make others comfortable, this book will give you permission to take up more space.
Before You Close This Email...
As we step into this new year, take a moment with one of these questions. You don't need to answer all of them. Just pick the one that speaks to where you are right now. Journal about it, sit with it, or hit reply and share your thoughts with me.
What's one thing you keep saying you'll do "eventually" that you could take a tiny step toward this week?
If baby steps count as progress (spoiler alert: they do), what's one small win you're celebrating from this past week?
What would feel different in your life if you gave yourself permission to start small instead of waiting to go big?
As we move through January, I want you to remember that you don't have to have it all figured out. You don't need a perfect plan or unshakable confidence. You just need to take the next step, even if it's small, even if it's scared.
Baby steps still move you forward.
With love,
Ashlee
Coming in February...
Next month, we're exploring love in all its forms - friendship, community, self-intimacy, and those unexpected moments of connection that remind us we haven't met everyone who will love us yet. Plus, a spotlight conversation that completely shifted how I think about healing and belonging. See you then.