#309. tiramisu, disorganization & being a digital nomad

Age: 30

Relationship Status: Married

Occupation: Program Manager

Income: $110k + benefits

Astrological Sign: Virgo

How are you, really?

I’m hanging in there. It’s been a really wild and tough year.

What is the greatest change you’ve made this year?

I shifted roles within my organization to develop a new part of the business. It’s been challenging and has required a lot of pioneering and infrastructure building, but it has also been really rewarding.

What is something you hope never changes?

Hallmark making really terrible, awful, incredible Christmas movies, without fail, every season. They’re bad, but nothing like a glass of wine and a predictable film.

When do you feel most capable?

I’m honestly the most stereotypical Virgo. Anytime anyone needs something organized, whether it be a spreadsheet, a closet, their life, I feel like I can make it happen. And I have a lot of fun doing it.

How do you nurture yourself?

Typically, working out. I do a heated sculpt or yoga class typically 5 days per week. It’s a nice hour of the day to turn my brain off.

How do you nurture others?

Celebrating milestones - no matter how big or how small. I absolutely love making people feel special and proud of the things they have done!

Is there anything you wish you had said but didn’t?

A million things, honestly. I spent 30 years people-pleasing, and I’m unlearning all of that behavior (or trying to)! I’ve ended a lot of friendships that no longer served me very cordially over the course of the last year or so. I wish I’d said what I’d actually felt.

What is something that turns you on?

Effort - in any way. Helping at home, running errands, planning a date. I am unapologetically an Acts of Service girly.

What is something that turns you off?

Unreliability.

When was the last time you walked away from something that no longer served you?

I mentioned cutting off some friendships in a question above and that’s probably it. I took a lot of time to really think about whether or not the people in my life were the people I wanted to be surrounded by, or people who genuinely drove me to be a better person. They weren’t, and it turned out a lot of the friendships were super one-sided.

How often do you feel you achieve balance?

Candidly, almost never. Maybe a few times a year (typically on vacation). I need to work on prioritizing in 2025 and making more time for things that bring me joy!

What is one risk you took that resulted in reward?

My husband and I bought a house in the summer of 2020, right before housing prices really took off and before we really started to feel the effects of COVID on the supply chain. It was financially stressful at the time, and we weren’t 100% sure it was the right call. We’re so lucky we bought then.

When do you feel most overwhelmed?

When my house is disorganized. It doesn’t matter if everything else in life is in order. If there is something in my house that is outwardly disorganized, I’ve got to deal with it or I cannot focus on literally anything else.

How do you move forward?

One step at a time.

What is something that will always make you laugh?

There is a TikTok of this guy and it’s describing every whale watching trip ever and I laugh, uncontrollably, every time. Also, my dogs. They’re so goofy and they never ever fail to cheer me up. The best dogs in the world.

What is something that will always make you cry?

I cry unbelievably easily at almost everything. Commercials, bad TV movies, TikTok videos, my dogs snuggling each other, it’s not hard. Remember the Titans is a lock for tears though.

Have you ever been betrayed?

Yeah! Not a great feeling.

What is your greatest temptation?

Quitting my job and moving to Ireland or Spain or wherever to be a digital nomad. Or sweets. Depends on the day.

What is one thing you feel is missing from your current life?

Traveling! I absolutely love to travel and see new parts of the world or the country or even the state. This year we’ve largely stayed put to focus on paying down some of our debt. My travel bug is itching BAD.

What is one thing you can’t get enough of?

Tiramisu – I could honestly bathe in it. How does anyone not like tiramisu? More seriously, time with my loved ones. I’m so fortunate to have an incredible support system filled with people who I can just lay around and do nothing with. They’re the best.

BONUS: Tell me something good.

A friend of ours saw our dog for the first time in a while and said to us that our dog looked healthier and happier than the last time he was here. The dog had major surgery last year, and we weren’t sure if he would still be here today. That felt really good to hear.