An Update on Life and Everything Falling Apart

[@zoetucker8469]

I started watching you when researching a 24 hr visit to Paris in 2018. I became a Patron because I thought it was the least I could do after getting all your free advice and great tips. I’ve remained a Patron because I’ve always seen in you all the things you now see in you!! Keep growing and learning Jay, you’ve got this!!!

[@JaySwanson]

🥰🥰 thank youuuu. Hits the spot for me this morning

[@DivineDart]

You're the man Jay, never knew googling how to navigate the Paris metro would get me so invested in your life but here we are!

[@JaySwanson]

We never know where the metro will ultimately take us 🥂 Happy you're here!

[@thedavidguy01]

The way you handled the end of a relationship certainly sounds like evidence of significant growth. I’m glad to see that you’re proud of yourself and handling the stress in a mature way.

[@JaySwanson]

Thanks David! It would have sent me into a spiral in the past, but I've learned how to recognize it and nip it in the bud. Good friends and better self talk go a long way

[@misty1tl]

I cut my mom out of my life when I was 40 or so. I ended up re-grieving a lot of things. It takes a lot of time! I’m proud that you’re taking the time for introspection and being vulnerable by talking to us about it. I always appreciate your warmth and honesty, it makes your videos relatable.

[@jemwxyz]

"Cutting the anxiety loop short"...YES! I love you JAY! Thank you for being YOU!

[@AussieHeyJude]

Chin up and chest out and don’t look back because you ain’t going that way! Onwards and upwards to your healthy limits Jay and keep on keeping yourself accountable to staying healthy and happy…. Your videos sharing the happiness living in Paris brings you are appreciated by so many and it’s okay to have dreaded or down days from time to time also. Please remember this - when your number is up and the curtain goes down you will be remembered as someone who didn’t believe in dress rehearsals and gave it your all. ❤

[@sundaydawn3377]

Long time watcher, bashful commenter 🤦‍♀️ but this was such a beautiful inspiring and quite frankly brave moment that I wanted to say I'm proud of you. So many of us are. And as a person who grew up with out that kind of talk from my mother either I felt compelled to put it out there. You have indeed grown and we've all watched and rooted for you and been encouraged to grow ourselves as a result. You've changed lives and thus the world a little bit Jay. Good on you ❤

[@sundaydawn3377]

Also you disappearing into the tree at 4:16 was spectacular 😂❤

[@JaySwanson]

Happy you caught that! I couldn't resist 😅 And thank you 🥂🥰

[@chaplain92262]

I visit Paris on the Holidays after being told for twenty years I couldn’t because I have no legs! Just take longer to do things! Hang on there

[@helloitsjeanna]

I too grew up with a narcissistic covert mom who is probably also a sociopath and only went no contact about 4 years ago. It’s tough shit but imperative in order to do the work in moving forward and fixing all the fucked up mindsets we’ve developed. I see you. You’re doing great.

[@josephineg.1604]

I've been following you for years now, and I've also read your book. Every time you mention your mom, the first thought in my head is, "What the hell did she do to him?" I ask that in a concerned tone. You have my sympathy in advance of getting down to the nitty gritty of this mom conversation some day.

[@eddiecordero2877]

From someone who also has some deep rooted family issues, I am glad that you have been able to create a support system for yourself and that you are secure enough to share with all of us. I started watching before my 1st trip to Paris in 2018 (or maybe 2017). To see the changes you have made and the life that you have created in a different country is an inspiration. Honored to be a continued Patron

[@agyos]

Pure admiration…and gratitude for having found your channel. Your accomplishments are really inspiring, even enviable; but mostly gratifying and heart-warming. Thank you, thank you, thank you for showing, in such a lovely way, that the roller-coaster of life, is just that! High times, low times, in-between times, and repeat. All made a bit better as you learn your worth, and feel your value. Bravissimo…you made my day brighter!

[@amanthilynch1785]

What a timely video for me! Thanks for being so vulnerable on the internet! Paris in winter looks lovely. I really enjoy your content!

[@shyft09]

The more deep, interesting, generous, likeable people I know seem to have gone through a lot of sh*t to get here. So it's no surprise to hear that you had past issues. It might be part of why you are so watchable and relatable (and you are, very, IMO)

[@amyspeers8012]

Super proud of you. I’m glad you have such a wonderful relationship with your dad.

[@JaySwanson]

I'm lucky to have him

[@hubjohnner]

@@JaySwansonFYI - you deserve to be loved

[@ricardorodriguez5549]

This is EXACTLY what I needed today o see this morning. I’m way stoked to see you “level up”

[@katherron8789]

Jay, have no idea why but watching you is like chatting with an old friend, thanks. My husband has had to deal with the realization of a narcistic mother and all that brings to light in his life, but now we are seeing the baton being passed off to his sibling with her death, so no contact has been our only option. Hard to make, but in long run you have to do what you have to do. You only get one chance here on earth, don't let the unhealthy take anything away from that time. Thanks for your bravery and honesty, helps us all a bit.

[@Katiediddance]

Love the sound of glass crashing every time you swear....hilarious!

[@ataugusta]

So easy to focus on our failings… not sure why that is but we never seem to view ourselves in a more balanced, positive and favorable light. We are so quick to see the upside in others…. So glad that you are taking stock on all of the tremendous positives and achievements you have made in your journey. You should be proud. You are stronger than you can imagine. All of us out here in yt land see it….Thank you for your heartfelt sharing - inspirational to all who suffer from doubt and negativity ❤

[@timbofromkeno]

I never want to hear that someone struggled or that they're struggling now, but as a new dude to France (down in Nantes), I truly appreciate this perspective on your first years in country and on your recent experiences there too. And like you, I really hope that if I can successfully navigate my first couple years here, then I'll also hopefully garner the confidence to work through whatever is thrown at me moving forward. These videos are huge for folks like me, Jay. Thank you.

[@pattilarkin9524]

You are helping myself and others more than you can imagine. Thank you for sharing your trials and tribulations. You are not alone in this journey!

[@charlesblack1086]

Thank you for your honesty in sharing your life challenges. It helps others to know they are not alone. Also, you have so much to be proud of. You matter in all our lives.

[@57auxmoines]

Thanks for your beautiful openness ❤ bravo on this video

[@FaraiMoniKA]

I enjoyed hearing you appreciate your own achievements! Well done 🎉

[@TMD3453]

Kidney stones are the worst pain possible. Just getting out of pain is a new lease on life. Learning to live wisely is the only way. Cheers take care

[@stephenward7856]

Found myself nodding along to so much of what you're saying. Good on you. Being proud of yourself is a nice place to be and worth celebrating because in the end feeling good about yourself is a gift nobody else can really give you. Also no-one else can tell you when you've grown, it's something that just very slowly dawns on you. Yeah, good feeling ;) You're getting there, man

[@Antonius2085]

Love the topic and the disappearing and reappearing edits into and out of trees. I thought I was tripping out but it was YOU!

[@geraldsoon957]

There’s Marianne! My fav place in Paris.

[@thepracticingartist]

Jay you continue to inspire me to keep at it. Thank you. ❤

[@ceelo3941]

Aw I’m proud of you, sending love and hugs. Glad you’re okay and what’s life without all the ebbs and flows…it would be boring and we’d never grow and become wonderful people. You’re wonderful and don’t you forget it.

[@JaySwanson]

Thank you!

[@michaeljay3629]

Any of us watching you know how hard you work & we have benefitted from your humor & openness & perceptiveness. Sometimes it’s hard to see how much of an impact you make when you’re just living your life, but believe me, we all see how much you’re doing. Ugh; I can’t believe how sincere I’m being. Anyway, thanks.

[@MrDavfit]

I'm proud of you and all you have done!

[@paniaspratt9328]

Jay, you’re such an inspiration. You’ve come so far and achieved so much and with each video your experiences help and resonate so many people! Keep doing what you’re doing Jay! You’re doing great.

[@bbbbgtm]

Saw this coming. You paused outside of Notre Dame reflecting on where you were in your life when you first visited it. I could see that the moment was impactful for you. We have seen your journey and it’s very inspiring. You will find a way through. Like most of us, it won’t be the path you anticipated.

[@BigStevo_6]

Seeing your episode title induced anxiety and yet while watching and seeing the serene and beautiful streets of Paris, reduces my anxiety. On the Mom and BK front, so with you there brother. Both mind and soul melting anxiety inducing. Therapy was a great help for me as well. Keep going forward. Thanks Jay and Cooper. Seeing him makes me smile!🐕

[@annabarr1304]

This feels very Godard, your tough times have blossomed into french filmmaking ❤

[@JDGxyz-t7c]

Well done and thank you for sharing. Much respect! 🎉

[@hanne1606]

God bless you ❤ You are a lovely being, keep being proud of yourself ❤

[@dianegenx]

We love you, Jay. You're such a good man.

[@JaySwanson]

🙏🥰

[@kristinsaysgah4257]

I want to be in Paris! Although it looks cold.

[@tanyarm]

I needed to watch this today! Thanks for sharing!

[@PAWS0810-]

one foot in front of the other! we never stop growing. i turned 70 this summer and had some once again trials and tribulations. shit shows, and then some. hugs!

[@jenfnp]

I am a person who has been thinking wonderful things about you for a long time. Keep on growing.

[@JaySwanson]

Thank you, I will🥰

[@lynnoorman2144]

Very much a positive video! Well done on the Citizenship!! Dont always catch your videos these days as life is a bit hectic. But be assured that I am very glad to see you achieve your goals.

[@erinmh]

Big full circle moments Jay! I mean, if you can crash land in Paris like you did back in 2017 and come through the other side like you have, you definitely got this. Ps, I cut my mom out of my life three years ago, and even though it was the right thing todo, it's also been the hardest thing ever. No one tells you all the big stuff comes rushing at you once that's done. Anyways looking forward to that deep dive, should you choose to share.

[@alicianielsen679]

I love this video and I am super proud of you 👏🏻. I feel a sort of kinship to you through your public posts. Thanks for sharing your vulnerability. It really is a momentous thing when you realize you can let go of things that are not adding to your life in a positive way. I’m also super excited to see this optimistic mindset towards potential future roadblocks! Much love and warmth from Wisconsin!

[@MusicManatee]

I’ve been a viewer forever! You are rad and sending lots of positivity your way💜

[@PerfumedByTheSea]

I’ve had a similar experience with health. Have a lot going wrong since July. Had a lump removed in September and now found another in exactly the same place in the past few days, along with other health stuff I feel like I’m going around in circles (least I know what the operation is like now) but I feel I’ve taken 20 steps back. But… I have to be okay. So I keep on as dark as it feels right now. So my advice is invest every lovely minute with Cooper and your friends. And keep drinking the best coffee and be in your favourite places in Paris. And it will all work out. Give Coop a big hug from me :)

[@AYK894]

I had similar problems. Please look into Indol3 carbinol. My doc recommended it to prevent re-appearance of lumps and cysts. I take for 3-6 months every year. So far, so good. Have been clean for 2 years now.

[@susanlassiterlampley14]

Wow! I've watched you come a long way. When I first started watching you a few years ago, your videos seems to show you being hungry and going to eat or going to get coffee all the time -- it was sort of funny to me. Now, OMG, have you grown, it seems, in a deep emotional and healthy way. Good for you! Keep sharing. I swear I think we saw you doing a video one evening during the Christmas season on St.Germaine des Pres - or it looked like you. Anyway, I look for you "doing your thing" every time we go back to Paris -- once or twice a year now so keep doing it -- I love keeping up with you! Now, just get us into Notre Dame when we're there Dec. 27 - Feb. 21 (not all the time in Paris but at the beginning). Happy Holidays and now we're all waiting to hear about you and your mother -- since I'm a mother I want to be absolutely sure I'm not screwing up!

[@annaburch3200]

Its good to get an update. I'm both sorry you're going through so much, and happy you feel strong enough to deal with it all. Eat life one spoonful at a time. HUGS!!!!

[@2858mich]

Amazing video Jay. Well done on all your growth and achievements so far.

[@FIFIKRIS]

Good on you!

[@altruisticoyster]

bravo monsieur !! it's a crazy life, to be sure, but if we don't stop growing, we'll certainly make the rest of our lives the best of our lives 💯

[@JaySwanson]

Angling for some steady improvement if I can help it 😎

[@judylongcore5076]

Huge accomplishments, Jay!

[@JaySwanson]

Thank you!

[@amylaaraj1253]

Good on you Jay for being proud of yourself. You’ve come a long way. Life can be tough but you used the correct term …leveled up. It’s important to cut disruptive personalities out of your life to be healthy. It can be painful but it’s what needs to be done sometimes. Always look for the open door and the positive that comes out of the negative. Self reflection is a key to growth and you’re doing awesome! ❤

[@missVmilne]

You are the driver of your life Jay - well done for your hard earned enlightenment. No one compares. Rule your own world : - ) xx

[@annahart7115]

And 🙏

[@SeriouslyJaded]

Cooper is awesome. :) We will be getting our new Boston in early February - our old awesome Boston boy had to be put to sleep a month ago and once you've had one, it's almost impossible to live without and you really don't realize that until they are gone. Also congrats on cutting off toxic family - people put way too much value on family relationships and forgive them for way more than they should. Wishing you and Cooper well.

[@JaySwanson]

Thank you! I hope your next Boston chapter is as amazing as the last 🥂

[@Chrisb8s]

I understand difficult familiar relationships. The most important lesson I learned in therapy was "you cannot control, those things that you cannot control" while that seems obvious, we all spend too much time stressing over other peoples emotions or actions or feelings or politics or etc etc.. when we have zero control over them. Whenever I feel anxious I say to myself, "what can I do right now about it" and if the answer is nothing, then zip.. it's not my problem, it's not something I care about anymore. Oh and thanks for the Republique backgrounds, the last time we visited we stayed at that Crowne plaza

[@JaySwanson]

Vive la République 🥂 That's a solid lesson. Worry gets us nowhere good.

[@jacksonpatrickng]

Stay strong Jay. What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger 💪

[@jojo_inthemitten36]

Keep on keeping on, Jay. 🌞

[@JaySwanson]

😎🥂

[@mosbys7062]

You go Jay! :)

[@angeykim]

Bravo 👏 🎉❤

[@karentozer1871]

Sorry that your relationship didn’t work out but it’s good to see how you are handling what ‘life’ is throwing at you xx

[@rc9272]

👍😎 don't worry, be happy

[@JaySwanson]

Easier sung than done 🎵😅

[@abrushwithtravel]

Getting fancy with the editing Mr. Magician w/the disappearing act. :)

[@leahjardin3095]

Running into to you wondering around my neighborhood would have been a shock. Pity l’m back in SF till next week to close out my apartment and ship my car. Wish I had been there for the opening of Notre Dame too.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

The last thing you or anyone needs is negative self talk. P.S. The characters you made and enacted in the OG Vlog a Day series left a positive impact on us haha

[@JaySwanson]

They were always fun to make (if stressful haha)

[@carlf.9035]

Yeah true break ups are hard, accepting their ending and how we move on is what matters although not alwaus easy to do. In the end its better to have had the experience than not at all. Like your quote 😊

[@PokhrajRoy.]

3:05 Best Freeze Frame. #SolivingProblems

[@JaySwanson]

😅

[@carolbrenner3121]

Willow ❤❤❤

[@JaySwanson]

🙏

[@jeffreyshort4531]

Nice edit around 4:20 (at least I don't think I see you prior to emerging from the tree )

[@crescentworks6855]

I feel you on the tax front, after 20 years in Canada. Also don't forget about your FBAR!

[@lola.44.77]

Lovely Jay, I have been following you on and off for years, but I don't think I ever commented. Congratulations on having survived your mother, I can only imagine what you went through, having had that kind of trauma myself. By the way, audio sounds a bit low ;)

[@JaySwanson]

Thanks for commenting 🥂 Happy to have you here, even when the audio mix falls a bit short 😅

[@smarydemner6697]

❤

[@JaySwanson]

🥂

[@jacqueline4749]

I stood up for myself and cut this guy off finally....I relate. I feel better. I also have dual citizenship between Canada and Britain...so I understand the stress factor surrounding taxes.

[@JaySwanson]

Relational and financial stress - fun combo 🫠

[@RH1812]

I think it was Linus. The great philosopher

[@JaySwanson]

May his tech tips live forever

[@RH1812]

@@JaySwanson…😄 and his blanket

[@nancyfink5627]

Finally...

[@samuelmelton8353]

This is the exact type of video you use to justify why Paris in My Pocket is a separate channel

[@carlbelmorejr]

Would you ever consider giving up your US citizenship because of the whole tax thing? Just curious.

[@nadia.lewis.]

If you're going to swear, please just swear--that glass shattering sound in airpods is fucking terrible. 😫

[@grendel7]

Why not renounce your US citizenship now that you have an EU passport? I realize you're still obligated for taxes for a few years to the US if you want to come back, but at least it's not an indefinite tax mess?

[@Patricia_Small]

It’s not cheap or easy to do. It’s a very big decision, requires quite a bit of work. Abroad for 20 years, I’m still also American.

[@mariaacks9003]

❤

[@JaySwanson]

🥂

[@annahart7115]

❤