Joy

January

Hello there dear readers of The Uplift,

I intended to write to you once more before the end of 2025 but I leant into relaxation for the final part of the year. Now, January is here and I feel inspired to write after a joyful few days. How are you? Let me know in the comments below!

Buy Becky Barnes a Coffee

A lot of my freelance work has finished or hours have been cut at the end of the year so I’ve managed to have a proper break over Christmas and New Year, which has felt great and needed. Since I last wrote to you, I spent Christmas with family in London, back to Brighton for a couple of days, before Canterbury for my mum’s birthday. I had a cosy and fun night in with a couple of friends in Brighton on New Year’s Eve. New Year’s Day featured a big lie in before the first sea swim in months, next to Brighton Pier at sunset, where we enjoyed starling murmurations afterwards.

I’m feeling extremely joyful at the moment, savouring the sunshine, stars and moon. I am enjoying walks with friends, cuppas, smiling at strangers and dogs in the park and trying to make my home homely and cosy. What’s bringing you joy at the moment?

Uplifting News Stories

Veteran wins £155k after ‘really bad year’ | BBC News

44 good news stories to start 2026 with optimism | El Pais

My Faith In Humanity Was Slightly Restored When I Finally Read Some GOOD NEWS Happening In The World Right Now | BuzzFeed

25 good things that happened in 2025 | Mashable

The top 25 good news stories of 2025 | Positive News

Worth Sharing

The secret to being happy in 2026? It’s far, far simpler than you think … | The Guardian

The only resolution I am making this year | Beth Kempton

A New Year Ritual | A Pilgrimage For The Soul

Black trailblazers who died in 2025 | Black Current News

Threshold: the choir who sing to the dying - documentary | The Guardian

Seven night sky spectacles to watch for in 2026 | BBC Weather

The Year of The Horse Will Favour The Bold | InStyle

I’d love to hear what you’d like to receive from The Uplift in 2026. What do you like about it? What would make it better? Let me know in the comments below or reply to this email. If you enjoyed my newsletter, you are welcome to buy me a coffee 🧡

Wishing you a joyful 2026!

BB xx