👋 In this recurring dream they are paying me $70,000 to do nothing

Its Monday. I'm here for you.

Hi, Friend! It's me, Jen Glantz.

I have this recurring dream where I use a big round brush to blow out my hair, put on a pair of polyester dress pants, a cute top, and walk to work at the startup that I got laid off from in 2016.

Except in the dream, I still work there.

Well, I kind of work there.

In the dream, I haven't actually been to the office or done any work in a year. I haven't looked at the inbox or joined any calls. When I get to the office, I look around and don't recognize anyone but everyone seems to recognize me. They treat me like they saw me at work yesterday.

So I sit down at my desk. I panic. I try to figure out how to access my inbox. I try to look busy. I come up with a script to tell my boss when he asks what I’ve been working on.

I wonder how long this will last. The checks are cashing. The job is still mine, even though I haven’t done a thing in years.

In the dream, I keep telling myself I should quit but since nobody seems to care that I work there and do nothing, it doesn't seem like a bad way to collect $70,000 a year.

Lately, I've been waking up from that dream trying to figure out what the universe is trying to tell me.

Is it to stay put in things that are easy?

Is it that I need to get over being laid off literally a decade ago?

Maybe it's that I desperately miss having a steady salary after ten years of hustling for every paycheck.

The more I think about the dream, I remember my actual last day at that job.

I'd gotten ready like any other morning - blew out my hair, walked to work, and bumped into a colleague who told me layoffs were happening that day. But according to office gossip, I was safe.

The second we stepped off the elevator, my boss called me in.

I bet you know why you're here, he said.

Because everyone's getting laid off except me, I wanted to say, but stayed quiet.

It hurts me to do this, but today is your last day.

So much for office gossip being reliable.

We both cried. He said he knew I'd be okay because I had so much going on - and he was right. I'd recently started Bridesmaid for Hire, signed a book deal with Simon & Schuster, was freelancing, and teaching business workshops. I was the side hustle queen.

Still, I craved security. I liked the routine of going to an office, being part of something bigger. Side hustles feel like scratch-off tickets. You never knowing if you'll win or lose.

Leaving the office, I called my mom. She said it was for the best: You were sitting on the edge, you needed someone to push you off.

And that, I think, is what my dream keeps trying to tell me.

I'm a creature of habit. Every morning at 7:05, I walk into my local coffee shop where the barista has my decaf almond latte with honey and cinnamon waiting.

I resist change, even when I'm ready for it.

The dream isn't about missing that job. It's telling me that comfort doesn't always mean staying put.

This year, I've finally started letting go. After recovering from a month of vertigo, I've walked away from things I've outgrown, even when they felt safe.

Sometimes I want to crawl back. Maybe that's why the dream keeps returning.

We can't wait for others to tell us when to move on. We have to know when it's time.

I heard Bethenny Frankel say she never stays at parties too long. That's part of her success in both social situations and her metaphor for business. She always leaves early.

Me? I'm the after-party type. I’m always the last to leave.

What’s weird is that in the dream, I’m always searching for an exit door but can't find one. The elevators disappear.

But this week, the dream changed. The office was being packed up. Boxes were everywhere.

My mind finally understood: I'm becoming someone who leaves on my own terms.

I'm still a comfort-seeker, but now I see that comfort can change. Sometimes the most comfortable choice is embracing discomfort. That’s what I’m chasing this year. It’s my dream.

Take care of yourself this week (ilysm),

Jen Glantz

P.S. I'd be so grateful if you could tap that like button below - it really helps others discover this content!

Hello dear April! It might a rainy month, but here are some easy ways to bring some sunshine into your dazzling days.

1. Book: The plot of this book sucked me in. A woman’s husband goes missing in a helicopter accident. She eventually falls in love again and gets engaged. One day, her husband calls her. He’s alive. What will she do next?

2. Song: Adam sent me this song. It’s truly soooo good.

3. Makeup: Okay, seriously. I’m still really obsessed with Ilia Foundation. It’s my new daily foundation and it’s so lightweight, provides good coverage, has sunscreen in it, and does not make me break out. Everything makes me break out and this has made my skin sooo much better.

4. Most-Worn Item Of the Week: Silver metalic wide leg pants. Here’s a video I made taking them out of my donation pile and wearing them 3x this week. I found a similar pair for $37.

5. Jeans: I wear these leopard print jeans a few times a week and they fit so well. People always stop and ask me where I got them. They are on-sale or $36.

6. Kids Gift: A fun toy Gemma can’t stop playing with.

7. At-Home: I need to drink more water so I invested in this fun jug to take around with me to help me with this new positive habit.

Recent Monday Pick-Me-Ups:

• How to say thank you when someone compliments you

• How to take pressure off your big days

• The weirdness of birthdays

Most clicked items:

• Hello, $29 jeans!

• This spring/summer knotted dress

• Pink Adidas shoes

Thank you for reading this week’s pick-me-up. I adore you! I’ll be back in your inbox on Monday. Until then, hit reply and say helllloooo! And if you're enjoying what you read, consider becoming a paid subscriber or sharing with friends who might appreciate it too. Your support means the world to me! Thank you for being here! ✨