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#151. hobby-cycling, conservative investments & being the life of the party

Writer's picture: Devyn Penney Devyn Penney



Age: 40

Relationship Status: Married

Occupation: Partner at a CPA Firm

Income: $500K

Astrological Sign: Libra

 

What is your first thought every morning?  

I am not a morning person. There are very few thoughts; I like silence in the morning. I typically look at my calendar before I do much else to mentally pregame for my day. Then I decide what I’m going to eat… 

 

What is something you do solely for you?

Play Pokémon GO (so embarrassing), bi-monthly massages, get my nails done every 2 weeks, read shameless smut. 

 

What is something you dread? 

The fear of not meeting the expectations of others or the expectations I have for myself. Primarily, the expectations of my clients, my partners, or others in my business community. I am very proud of my professional career and what I have accomplished. I’m a perfectionist and when I fall short, it ruins me.  

 

What is something you are looking forward to?

CHRISTMAS!!! My gawd, I love it so much.

 

When do you feel most accomplished? 

When I meet or exceed my professional goals. Also, when I complete my to-do list in a single day. 

 

What is something you regret investing in financially? 

I am a very conservative investor, and I don’t make hasty decisions, so I’ve never regretted an actual investment. 

 

Cars are not investments, but I did buy a 2020 Range Rover Sport when I was promoted to partner. It was my dream car. It was heinously expensive and it was constantly in the shop and broken. I finally settled with Land Rover to buy it back under state lemon law. That was the stupidest financial decision I’ve ever made. Spending money on an expensive car was not smart. 

 

What is something you regret investing in emotionally? 

Loving somebody else’s children as a step-parent has been one of the most emotionally draining, exhausting, heartbreaking, thankless experiences I have ever endured. I wish it had been different. I wish they understood how hard I tried. I wish they understood that love is not like pie; there are no finite pieces of love. I don’t regret loving them, but I regret not knowing when to protect my heart. I hope it doesn’t always feel like this.

 

What are three things you think are absolutely worth the investment?

(financially, emotionally, or time/energy-wise)

  1. Moving away from your family and friends to go to college. As far away as circumstances allow.

  2. Buying a home & making it your sanctuary. 

  3. Saving for retirement. 

 

When do you feel most creative? 

Currently, I’ve allowed my creativity to take a back seat to other priorities, both professional priorities and other hobbies. I’m okay with not nurturing my creative side in the current season of life. It’ll return, I’m sure of it. 

 

How often do you compare yourself to others? When? 

I don’t anymore. And I think I’m just realizing that as I answer this question! LOL. At some point in the last 3-4 years, I stopped giving a shit about what other people think of me and how I compare to other people. I live my life the way I want to. I don’t do things I don’t want to do. I’m comfortable. A few years ago, I heard somebody say, “If you’re not feeding, fucking, or financing me, I don’t give a fuck what you think of me.” Resonates to my core. I don’t have time for comparison. 

 

What is one thing you’d like to thank your past self for? 

For being the life of the party in my 20s. For having all the fun. For partying. For the sex. My god! The careless, detached, no-strings sex of your 20s is so much fucking fun! For going out on random Tuesday nights. Day drinking! For making friends and keeping them. I had so much fun and made so many memories. Those years allowed me to settle into my 30s and 40s with so much calmness and contentment. 

 

What is one thing you believe about your future self? 

That I will continue to be successful. I have no other choice. 

 

What is one thing you learned in childhood that you have now had to unlearn in adulthood?

Being overweight is the worst thing you can be. 

 

Have you ever felt pure joy? When? 

Yes. When my sister’s announced each of their pregnancies. I was overjoyed for them and soooooo fucking excited! I LOVE being an auntie! 

 

What is something that would feel really good to get off your chest?

I have a lot of internal dialogue related to how I would verbally whiplash people who inconvenience, anger or annoy me. I’m really fucking good at getting things off my chest…internally. 

 

When do you feel most in your feminine energy?

I’m not quite sure there’s a specific time or place. I try to embrace my feminine energy without being specifically cognizant of it. I’m unapologetically passionate, strong-willed, opinionated, loud, stubborn, and determined. I care deeply about people and things that are important to me, and I’m unwaveringly loyal to those who have earned it. I think my femininity is defined by how I choose to define it versus how others may choose to define it (or me).  I try very hard not to be concerned about what others expect from me, specifically related to being female, and that is empowering. 

 

What is one interaction that changed your life? 

When I began my career in accounting, I worked with a female Director who demonstrated the necessity of professional anarchy in Corporate America. It has taken me 15+ years to fully develop an understanding of what she taught me early in my career. I often think about her influence on my career and how I conduct myself professionally. Anarchy is a necessary component of feminism. 

 

What is something you want to give up? 

I don’t do things that I don’t want to do, and therefore, I have nothing that I want to give up.

 

What is something you want to take up? 

I have a half dozen hobbies at any given time, and I have no qualms about adopting new ones that spark my interest or inspire happiness. I’m constantly hobby-cycling: knitting, reading, scrapbooking, TCG, baking, collecting. I like variety. 

 

What do you believe is a universal truth? 

Change necessitates action. 

 

BONUS: Tell me something good.  

I have worked really hard to earn financial security and freedom. I am currently in the process of helping my parents buy a house so they can spend their retirement near my sisters and me. I’m really proud of myself for being able to do that, and I’m also incredibly thankful that I’m able to do it. 

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