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Writer's pictureDevyn Penney

#157. raising daughters, duolingo & love conquering all




Age: 36

Relationship Status: Married 10+ years

Occupation: Engineer-PM

Income: 192,000/yr

Astrological Sign: Virgo Sun, Scorpio Moon, and Rising - yes!!! 


What is your first thought every morning?

I am alive, I have beautiful daughters, and I am so grateful. Also, I’m ready to go (morning person!). I start making a huge mental list of all the things I have to do and find something to be excited about…coffee is number one.


What is something you do solely for you?

Coffee time is a ritual and time for reflection for me. I visit many coffee shops and take one picture almost every time I go. I also practice French and Italian in the Duolingo app for 5- 10 minutes a day. Reading books is also just amazing.


What is something you dread?

Putting clothes away and driving in the area where I live is insane. Lately, I dread traveling, but just the airplane part of it. My house has been chaotic lately—ugh! I also dread getting old—I go back and forth in gratitude for being alive, and NO! I don’t want to get old, ever.


What is something you are looking forward to?

Embracing family life with all the chaos that comes with it. Enjoying a new family dynamic and seeing my girls grow up.

I am really looking forward to having tons of fun in what is left of my 30s and really getting back in shape after having a baby. I want to live in the healthiest way possible.


When do you feel most accomplished?

I feel most accomplished when I am contributing to society and my family. When I am able to manage my household the way I want to and all of my diligent planning goes well. When I am in a meeting, and we are successful in completing a challenging project, I feel smart. When I know my work has improved the lives of women and given them the opportunity to feel better or live longer.


What is something you regret investing in financially?

Spending too much money on coaching programs that didn't really help me much. Also - not investing enough in the future ( I will be correcting this!) Lastly, buying a dog for my daughter and it ended up not being a good fit for our family.


What is something you regret investing in emotionally?

Being angry at the things I have zero control over. I have overcome a lot of reactiveness I had towards other people’s actions. Even when things do happen differently from how I  want them to, it usually ends up being for the best.


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

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

  1. LOVE! Falling in love - having butterflies!

  2. You. Things like studying/working out, paying for a coach, quality food, reading time, and spa time - your health is everything.

  3. Savings & Investing.


When do you feel most creative? 

I put my creativity to work when I write letters, organize my office, write articles for magazines for fun, paint, draw, and do school work with my daughters. I consider myself very creative and, unfortunately, am not always able to do things through a creative lens.


How often do you compare yourself to others? When?

Not often. I have these small occurrences in which I see people traveling a lot and having very organized houses or fit bodies, and I get frustrated for a minute that I don't have the discipline to do these things. But then I remember that what you see online is often not the whole picture. I try to be kind to myself and reflect on how lucky I am in my life.


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

How dedicated, resilient, committed, and energized a woman I was. Sometimes, I want to be like her again. I am thankful that I was strong and positive enough to overcome really intense challenges. I was always looking for solutions, living, and taking risks! It has been so rewarding.


What is one thing you believe about your future self?

I will shine again. I will find a way to be healthy and live life fully. I will keep amazing myself in my career and as a mother & wife.


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

That you have to be 100% busy all the time or you are lazy. Slowing down can be beautiful and energizing and not a negative thing. It can contribute tremendously to overall happiness/success.

I had to unlearn that you can’t have it all in terms of career and family. It is 100% possible, but it definitely takes time to balance it all and a lot of prioritizing. I will attribute my success in my career while having family to the support of my husband and to learning that a job is just that; I put family first – ALWAYS.


Have you ever felt pure joy? When?

Yes!  I am so grateful for these moments. Every time I look into my daughters eyes or see them enjoying life, smiling and doing everything really. Every time I visit my hometown, I feel whole and happy. I feel pure joy with my family and when I am able to share my culture with my girls and my husband.

Lastly, in nature, during a long walk, bath, or literally hugging a tree (I love doing this).


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

I wish I could homeschool, eat clean, and do all the healthy things!  I wish I could stop all the racing thoughts at night of all the things I am not doing right or not doing at all! I wish I could figure out many things in life regarding money, legacy, relationships/ emotions, etc.


When do you feel most in your feminine energy?

When I take the time to blow dry my hair, I feel beautiful. When I take a long shower while dancing and singing and honestly when I’m a mother. I think also when I am pregnant, I feel extremely feminine. Lastly, when I am surrounded by professional women and listening to their stories - it makes me so excited and I come alive.


What is one interaction that changed your life?

Any Interaction with my mentors. One of them gave me the opportunity to do an internship that ended up opening many doors for me in my career. The other was a mentor who encouraged me and helped me advance in my career big time. I owe them both a lot and I am glad that I listened to them.


What is something you want to give up? 

Eating junk food and having so much sugar. Not having enough time to myself and using my phone too often.


What is something you want to take up? 

I want to keep learning languages, daily walks for 20-30 mins, cooking with excellence (lol).


What do you believe is a universal truth?

Love conquers all, and family is everything. 


BONUS: Tell me something good. 

I recently returned to work, and it was amazing to have the opportunity to contribute to the saving of lives once again. It is amazing to have people fighting over me joining their team :) I am also going away on a mini family vacation in the next few days, and I am extremely excited… Also, my husband and I will be starting to go out on a few dates again.

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