👋 I can't say thank you without saying way too much extra stuff
It's Monday. I'm Here for You.
Hi, Friend. Jen Glantz here.
This week, I'm working on getting better at accepting compliments.
Right now, when someone says something nice to me, I respond with a ramble of words that make the person want to backtrack away from the nice thing they said.
It can be something simple too — like: Jen, I really love your top.
My response would sound like: Oh! This top? It's from TJ Maxx and it was only $1.99 on the clearance rack. We should go sometime. I'm really good at finding stuff because the secret is you have to find the clearance racks in the far right of the store, and the trick is you have to ignore the sizing on the racks and just dig around because the good stuff is everywhere. And honestly, I only shop clearance racks—nothing in my closet is worth more than a few dollars.
You give me a compliment and I exhaust you with an answer.
Or worse, I self-deprecate through it.
This week someone complimented me on releasing my third book.
That's a big achievement, you should be so proud, they mistakenly said, because I took that compliment and dragged it through the fresh spring mud.
I guess... I mean... I self-published this book and it's okay. I honestly can't bring myself to read it and I haven’t really promoted it because oh well, if nobody reads it, it’s fine, it’s just a book.
My mouth took a break from speaking to eat a stale pastry: just say thank you with a period.
Those who struggle to accept praise are usually the ones who never offer it to themselves.
I've never once glanced at my $1.99 TJ Maxx find and thought, Jen, you're rocking this or held my published book and whispered, Look what you created, you brilliant thing.
When we can't speak kindness to our own reflection, we transform every compliment into a foreign language we're desperate to translate.
The basic advice is simple: just say "thank you" when someone compliments you.
But we are not basic around here. We’re dramatic and messy, works-in-progress and often worrywarts.
So maybe the real change starts with finding ways to genuinely acknowledge what you’re proud of and love about yourself, often, before others have a chance to judge or praise. It's about catching your own reflection and blurting out what you find so freaking beautiful. It's standing in front of that $1.99 clearance rack miracle and admitting that you look incredible in it, not because it was a bargain, but because you wear it so well.
Thank you.
That's it. Full stop.
Okay, fine. I’m not ready to do that — yet.
I’m working on something more like:
Thank you. I appreciate you saying that. Thank you. That means a lot.
Someday the words "thank you" will roll off my tongue without the footnotes, rebuttals, and disclaimers.
Until then, I'll practice because the truth is, I’m eager to accept the kindness I can easily give to others but can barely accept when it’s said about myself.
Take care of yourself this week (ilysm),
Jen Glantz
👏 Instant Pick Me Ups
Here is the link to my book!! Finally the Bride. Thank you for considering reading the book and for your support. There are so many ways to help an author — so here are some if you have a few mins to spare:
Leave an Amazon review for the book! I want to try to get to 100. Can you help me? You can leave a review this in under 15-seconds here.
Share the book with anyone in your world who might be in the mood for a rom-com with a lot of twists, laughs, and oddball moments.
🛍️: A few items I swear by this week
New season = new socks. Finally saying goodbye to the high-socks I wore all winter to stay warm and trading them for these popular ankle socks.
Everyone I know swear by mouth tape?? Have you tried this? I’m about to give it a go and will let you know what I think.
My favorite $29.99 H&M jeans are sooo good — I got them in two more colors: light denim and black. I now rotate all three of my pair every day. Here’s the black pair I wore on Friday. The best jeans I have ever owned!
👏 Random little life updates that I would have texted but you know how I feel about texting:
This week is the most magical one. On March 19th, I went on my first date with Adam at a tiny little coffee shop. We got married there on March 19th a handful of years later. I also went into labor with Gemma on March 19th. But because she’s got a mind of her own and is a stubborn Aries like her mom — she didn’t come out in the world for 49 hours later on March 21st. We met Goofy on March 23rd and took her home on March 25th. March is the kind of month I don't try so hard. I just keep my eyes open and let my heart guide me toward unknowns that could turn out to be the most beautiful connections of my life.
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Happy almost anniversary and almost birthday to your daughter!! Love my Monday Pick Me Up! It always does!
Cheers to March being the best month and this being the best week!!