Hey y’all,

Welcome to February. I want to start by saying Happy Black History Month. This month is about honoring Black history, Black brilliance, Black creativity, and Black leadership. It’s about legacy, yes, but it’s also about what’s happening right now. Black people continue to create, lead, heal, imagine, and tell the truth in real time, and that matters.

Before moving forward, I want to share something that happened for me in January because it’s been sitting with me in a really grounding way. I had the pleasure of celebrating two incredible milestones in my family. We celebrated my mother-in-love’s retirement after 50 years of working, and my grandmother’s 90th birthday. Both were celebrated in big, out-loud ways. There were speeches, laughter, stories, tears, and so much love in the room. It was powerful to see two Black women receive their flowers openly, with such heart. My cup was overflowing.

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At one point, I asked my grandmother what it felt like to have been in the world for nine decades. She smiled and simply said, “I feel blessed.” And knowing her life, that answer carries so much weight. I’m in awe of her love for her family, the way she smiles so easily, her girlish excitement at the smallest things, the way she looks for me to paint her nails. I carry such deep gratitude for being able to give her that love offering. She doesn’t know it, but I love just holding her hands, looking at hers and mine, imagining the wisdom there, the words unsaid, and the gift I have of being able to say things she couldn’t always say. The life I get to live mirrors dreams that she, her mother, and her mother before her may have held. And that’s in addition to all the dreams she lived out loud. The adventures. The legacy. That is Black history in the making.

I share that because February, for me, is about remembering that Black history is not just something we look back on. It’s something we are living, witnessing, and carrying forward. And it’s also a reminder that honoring legacy requires care. Care for our bodies, our nervous systems, and the lives we’re still building.

Which brings me to the theme for this month. February is going to be about self-compassion around here, and I want to be really clear about what I mean by that. The world feels loud right now. The news is heavy, conversations are tense, and a lot of people are feeling more reactive, more tired, and just over it. What I keep seeing, both personally and in my work, is that what many people are calling “stress” right now is actually a threat response. When things feel unstable, your nervous system stays on high alert. That can show up as irritability, exhaustion, numbness, difficulty focusing, or wondering why you can’t function the way you used to.

If that’s been you lately, this month is for you.

When I talk about self-compassion, I’m not talking about checking out or ignoring what’s happening. I’m not talking about pretending things are fine when they’re not. I’m talking about telling yourself the truth without being cruel, staying engaged without burning yourself to the ground, and choosing impact in a way that doesn’t cost you your humanity. That’s the frame we’ll be working from all month.

On the podcast, we’re continuing this conversation in two connected ways. The solo episode coming out on February 10 is called Self-Compassion as a Brave Thing. It’s about what it looks like to lead yourself with care when things feel messy and loud, how capacity shifts during stressful seasons.

Then on February 24, I’m joined by Patrice Dawkins-Jackson for a conversation called Finish What You Started. This one is for people who feel like they’re in between versions of themselves. We talk about finishing without forcing, staying with yourself through transition, and letting becoming take the time it takes. If your calling is still there but your energy looks different, this conversation will land.

As you move through February, here’s a simple check-in I want to offer. Ask yourself what this season is doing to your body, not just your thoughts. Are you tense all day? Moving less than usual? Scrolling more than you want to? Sleeping but not really resting? This isn’t about fixing anything. It’s just about noticing. From there, ask yourself what support would look like if you stopped pretending you’re fine, and what’s one small thing you can actually finish this week. Small, finishable care rebuilds trust with yourself, and that trust matters.

If you’re looking for ways to support and celebrate the magic of Blackness, here are a few grounded options that matter:

  • Support a Black-owned business you already love or try a new one

  • Read a book by a Black author in any genre

  • Follow a Black creator and actually engage with their work

  • Watch a film or documentary by Black storytellers

  • Have real conversations about Black history as something alive and ongoing

You don’t need to do everything. One intentional choice is enough.

Before I close, I want to name that in March I’ll be facilitating a six-week virtual group therapy experience called the Burnout Reset Group. This is a clinical group for women navigating work-based stress and burnout who want a steadier way forward without pushing harder. This is therapy, not coaching, and it’s focused on regulation, boundaries, and self-trust. The group begins March 4, and a brief group-fit consultation is required beforehand.

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As we move through February, my hope is that we practice care that allows us to stay awake to the world and stay connected to ourselves.

As always, stay brave, stay rested, stay rooted.

— Samantha 🤎