Hey there! No matter how long we’ve lived in the Midwest, we’re always surprised when the first snow falls. Find us in our cozies in front of our YouTube fireplaces until further notice…

Song of the day: We’ve been kind of obsessed with Sombr lately, and can’t get “back to friends” out of our silly little heads.

Need to vent? Want advice? Have feedback? We wanna hear from you!

How to Stop Being Jealous of your Friend

 question 
I have a long-distance bestie whose career has really taken off. She’s always on vacation, working part-time, signing her kids up for everything and to be honest, it’s getting harder to relate. She’ll casually talk about epic trips or new hobbies, and I’m also disappointed she doesn’t see how hard I’m working or my circumstances. How do I get past my jealousy so I can just enjoy being besties with her? —K.

 answer 
We’d be lying if we said we’ve never felt an ounce of jealousy when seeing a friend do things we can only dream of. It’s a weird mix of love, pride, and quiet resentment that hits right in the middle of scrolling through their carousel of their 10-day European vacay.

First, take a deep breath and remind yourself: envy doesn’t make you a bad friend,  it makes you human. The goal isn’t to eliminate jealousy but to keep it from ruining the friendship (cue Taylor Swift). Here’s how to start shifting that dynamic:

• Acknowledge your own feelings. Admit to yourself that you’re feeling jealous or left behind. The moment you call it what it is, it loses some of its power. Hot tip: journaling or venting to a neutral friend or therapist can help you process without projecting.

• Change your POV. Instead of comparing lifestyles, focus on what still connects you. Some good ones to remember? Your friendship history, shared humor, values, and inside jokes.

• Refocus your energy. Instead of letting jealousy eat you alive, channel that energy into your own goals or joys, big or small. Whether it’s finally taking that pottery class or planning a mini getaway (that doesn’t have to be 10 days in Europe), building a life you’re proud of makes comparison a thing of the past.

Friendships change, especially when life paths start looking wildly different. Just remember, real friends survive career glow-ups, relocation, and the occasional humble brag about first-class seats.

What You Should Expect From Your Coworkers

 question 
The other day, I was chatting with a friend about healthy expectations in relationships when I realized I kind of feel like I have a lot of expectations in the workplace. So it got me thinking, what kind of reasonable expectations should we have for our coworkers? —A.

 answer 
Let’s be real, your expectations for your friends (“text me back before the next season of Nobody Wants This comes out”) are a lot different for your coworkers (“please don’t schedule a 4 pm meeting on a Friday”). But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have any when it comes to your work life.

Any relationship, whether it’s your best friend, your situationship, or your work bestie needs expectations to stay healthy. They’re the guardrails that keep things respectful, balanced, and slightly less chaotic. The trick is knowing what kind of expectations belong where.

Because here’s the thing, your friends might know that you texted your ex the other night, but your coworkers just need to know your project deadlines. You can still expect mutual respect and accountability without expecting your teammates to double as your emotional support squad.

Three expectations that help build a strong and healthy work relationship?

At the end of the day, we’re all just trying to do good work without losing our minds. Setting healthy expectations keeps things running smoothly and saves everyone from unnecessary drama. So expect respect, practice teamwork, and remember that your coworkers are collaborators, not therapists.

Got a Q? We wanna hear it here! 

…while you pull our the holiday decorations in between video calls.

You all know how we feel about Caesar salad and soup. But what about Josh Elkin’s Caesar Salad Soup?! Let us know if you try it!

We’re feeling about 100 years old now after hearing Reneé Rapp, call Jordin Sparks’ “No Air” an oldie. 😅

Our bestie is BACK! Hilary Duff’s new song “Mature” makes our millennial hearts beat as fast as the 2000s flew by.

Thanks so much for reading today! We’ll see you back here soon. Take care of yourself and each other in the meantime.

—Rod and Gabi