Don't Take This Personally
Greetings, friend. It's me, Jen Glantz!
Greetings, friend! It’s me, Jen Glantz. I’m writing this to you from the airplane.
There’s this pinky-promise pact I made with myself that whenever I feel too comfortable, anywhere that I am, I must go. I have to getaway.
I’ve been feeling like I’m floating through 2022 on a pizza-shaped pool raft. I wanted to feel what it’s like to tread the water again.
So I left Brooklyn and I won’t be back for a month. I’ll be in LA, Florida, and maybe some pop-up bonus stops along the way.
In this issue: How to not take everything so personally, productivity hacks, and my favorite items to travel with.
Ps. If this newsletter looks a little different it’s because I gave it a makeover. I brought it over to a new platform that lets you comment below and read archives from the past - in case you miss a Monday. Also, there’s an option to support this newsletter as a paid subscriber and it comes with a mighty big hug and a lot of extra perks.
Why you’re getting this: I'm Jen Glantz and this is The Pick-Me-Up newsletter. I've been sending it every Monday, for 8-years, to thousands of awesome humans, just like you. Thank you for letting this email live in in your inbox. It truly makes my heart explode with joy.
The Pick-Me-Up: Don’t Take This Personally….
The other day, I thumbed through giant boxes of stuff in my parent’s house and found an old report card from the second grade.
I got mostly good remarks but then my eyes stumbled upon one line that I sang on repeat:
“Jen is overly sensitive. She takes things too personally.”
I waved the paper in front of my mom’s face.
“What are they talking about here?” I asked. “I don’t take things too personally! This is one fat lie!”
My mom sat in silence while my entire life flashed before my eyes.
I was infamous for crying in the corner during recess because someone compared the color of my hair to dog poop or laughed in my face when I asked to play with them.
I’ve hibernated in my room for days after reading comments on articles I used to write for the internet in 2011 because strangers ripped apart the way I wrote, the way I looked, the way I felt about things.
I’ve even read emails over and over and over again wondering why a person sounded so short or why they didn’t use any !!!! throughout their message.
A couple of days ago, I called my mom upset. I had shared some positive news with a friend but I felt like she gave me a deflated reaction.
“I expected the joy to ooze out of her,” I told my mom. “But what I got, instead, was a hiccup of excitement.”
“Stop it,” my mom responded. “Don’t take this personally.”
How could I not? This was a person I hoped would hug me with glee but they barely even patted me on the back.
“You can’t overanalyze this. You have no idea what’s going on with her or in her life right now. I’m sure she’s happy for you, but sometimes it’s not always so obvious how people show it.”
I thought about that for a long time, just like I thought about how I’ve always been the kind of person to take things personally, as if words or actions (or lack of words or actions) are a direct punch to the heart.
I expect my friends to be perfect, to go above and beyond, and most of the time they do. But when they don’t, it’s wrong to assume it’s me! It’s about me!
It could be that there’s something heavy going on with them, or they are tired, or they simply don’t have the brainpower to process all the information I offload onto them.
Anyway, I’m always thinking of ways to be a better friend to the people around me. So I did this simple challenge today as a way of putting aside my expectations of them, taking everything so personally, and reminding them that I love them dearly - and deeply - for no reason at all.
Tiny Pick-Me-Ups
This is perhaps the coolest gift you could give someone, especially if they’ve always wanted to see their name in *lights*
If you need a good organizational tip, this one is simple. It’s all about how to wrap a charging chord cable so it doesn’t get tangled.
A long list of productivity hacks if you’re feeling extra lazy as we tip-toe into holiday season.
An upbeat mix of songs to play on a Monday.
A friend gave me this book when we had coffee together. I’m excited to dive in.
I’m traveling for a month and packed all my stuff in a carry-on bag. Here are the top 5 things I brought that are travel game changers.
Away suitcase. I jam-pack it with stuff and Adam joked that it’s seriously indestructible. Every other suitcase I’ve ever owned has been destroyed after a year or two of travel. This one has lasted me for 4+ years and is in perfect condition, even though I don’t treat it with care or caution.
Bala weighted bangles. TSA always pulls my back aside to inspect it when they see these weighted bracelets in my suitcase. They have no idea what they are. Today, the TSA agent said: “Who in the world would pack actual weights in their suitcase?” So I pitched her on how these are PERFECT for an on-the-go workout and that I bring them everywhere with me - even though they add 4-pounds of weight to my luggage. She rolled her eyes and let me go on with my life.
Lululemon sweatshirt. I don’t usually shop at Lululemon because it’s super expensive and Old Navy has great stuff. BUT I’m obsessed with this sweatshirt. I tried to find a cheaper dupe but nothing came close. I’ll wear it 4x a week for the rets of the year to justify the price tag. It’s worth it.
Native deodorant. I’ve tried all the natural deodorants in the world. This one keeps me smelling fresh and clean. AND I sweat more than the average human because I’m always a little nervous.
A notebook. I write my to-do lists inside and journal about the day.
I’ll be back next week with a new Monday Pick-Me-Up. Until then, I leave you with this:
My word of the week is: HOPE.
Even if nothing around you makes a blimp of sense right now and you're feeling like a deconstructed crumb cake, just remember that it only takes a second, a moment under the sunshine, a phone call, a good night's sleep, for things to start to change. I love you and I'm cheering you on.
If you want to keep in touch this week, you can find me on Instagram, TikTok (for a real odd time), or at a coffee shop a block away from Venice Beach.
Until next Monday, I'll be cheering you on! Have an epic week.
Jen Glantz
Love the new Monday Pick-Me-Up format Jen!!
Even still at my age, I still (only once in a while thankfully) have to remind myself to not take things personally. I too was the kid in the corner at school and so can relate. Thanks for the post and good travels!