Latest / Ay Mijita ✨ Embrace your raíces. Reclaim your esencia. / Making Room for Life with Jillian Everhart

Transcript

Making Room for Life with Jillian Everhart · Ay Mijita ✨ Embrace your raíces. Reclaim your esencia.

0:11
SPEAKER_02: Okay.
0:12
SPEAKER_02: Hi Mijita.
0:13
SPEAKER_02: Today we're doing something a little different.
0:15
SPEAKER_02: I'm sitting down with someone I've known since we were young, my longtime friend Jill.
0:20
SPEAKER_02: We've grown up through so many different seasons of our life, and we shared a lot of dichos and some beautiful travel memories for sure.
0:28
SPEAKER_02: We went to Punta Ghana during my cancer journey.
0:31
SPEAKER_02: And then I got to spend some time with Jill in Dallas.
0:35
SPEAKER_02: Most recently, she hosted us in her beautiful house in northern Dallas.
0:40
SPEAKER_02: And what I love about Jill um is that she just you balanced so many things, girl.
0:46
SPEAKER_02: So many things.
0:47
SPEAKER_02: You balance your career, your marriage, the motherhood, and you're also a travel advisor.
0:53
SPEAKER_02: And you've traveled so much in the world, so that's what we're gonna get into today.
0:57
SPEAKER_02: So speaking of today, um, we're having just a real conversation about friendship and travel and listening to ourselves and making room for the things that bring us joy, even when life is full.
1:09
SPEAKER_02: So, Jill, welcome to Ayita.
1:11
SPEAKER_02: Thank you for having me.
1:13
SPEAKER_02: So excited to be here.
1:14
SPEAKER_02: Yes, you're all in, you're such a fan.
1:16
SPEAKER_02: I love you.
1:18
SPEAKER_02: Sorry, I'm your number one fan.
1:20
SPEAKER_02: Oh, you don't miss an episode.
1:22
SPEAKER_02: You're amazing.
1:23
SPEAKER_02: Ever since the beginning, and thank you for being such a great host, I mean, co-host.
1:27
SPEAKER_02: And I don't think this is gonna be the last time, so let's hope not.
1:31
SPEAKER_02: No, no, no, no.
1:32
SPEAKER_02: Um, so why don't you start off by introducing yourself?
1:36
SPEAKER_02: I know you've been so much around the world, but where are you from?
1:39
SPEAKER_02: What like tell us a little bit more about what you do nowadays?
1:43
SPEAKER_01: Sure.
1:44
SPEAKER_01: So I am from Roselle, Illinois.
1:46
SPEAKER_01: That's where I met you.
1:48
SPEAKER_01: My folks still live there.
1:49
SPEAKER_01: It's a northwest suburb of Chicago, for um those of you that aren't familiar.
1:54
SPEAKER_01: And um I was working in the corporate world after college on human resources.
2:00
SPEAKER_01: Absolutely loved what I did.
2:02
SPEAKER_01: I was uh talent acquisition manager, but I felt kind of a calling that uh something weighing on my heart that I was in that rat race making good money, but didn't have time to really enjoy myself, wanted to do some yoga, wanted to travel more, and so I gave my two weeks' notice and um didn't know what I was gonna do.
2:21
SPEAKER_01: And cold turkey just started looking.
2:24
SPEAKER_01: Um, I'm trilingual, as you know, so I always love to use Spanish and give back somehow help.
2:30
SPEAKER_01: And I ended up in the travel industry, and it's been 12 years now.
2:35
SPEAKER_01: Um, I am a travel advisor, you're correct.
2:37
SPEAKER_01: I own my own um uh home-based travel agency, and I've been to 59 countries so far.
2:45
SPEAKER_01: Woohoo!
2:45
SPEAKER_02: And counting, and so we've known each other and we go way back.
2:52
SPEAKER_02: Um 30 years, I think.
2:54
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it's gonna be close to 30 years.
2:55
SPEAKER_02: I'll be turning 40 in December.
2:57
SPEAKER_02: You know my family, you know, like my sisters and my mom and my my whole fam, extended fam.
3:03
SPEAKER_02: And we always we always know you as La Wera.
3:05
SPEAKER_02: Yes, Laurita.
3:08
SPEAKER_02: Of course.
3:08
SPEAKER_02: Lauerita Monita.
3:10
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, of course.
3:13
SPEAKER_02: And that's where um if you had a memory from back then, like what is it that you remember from us being young?
3:21
SPEAKER_02: I remember, well, I could tell you, I'll go first.
3:23
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, because I remember that you we would I would sneak out just to go to church Bible study.
3:28
SPEAKER_01: That's what came to my mind.
3:31
SPEAKER_01: The youth group at church, we were real daring, right?
3:36
SPEAKER_02: In espanholic.
3:38
SPEAKER_02: On a Friday night, like in the Mesayos películas or a party.
3:41
SPEAKER_02: No, we were going to Bible study in Spanish.
3:44
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, not like I was searching for a boyfriend or anything, it's just you know I know.
3:48
SPEAKER_01: We were learning about God and in fellowship, and you had to sneak out of your house to do it.
3:51
SPEAKER_02: Who would have thought?
3:52
SPEAKER_02: I know that's how strict my parents were.
3:54
SPEAKER_02: Like didn't get caught until way later after I got pregnant.
3:57
SPEAKER_02: Anywho, yeah.
3:59
SPEAKER_01: I totally remember you before you even got pregnant.
4:02
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, oh yeah, yeah.
4:04
SPEAKER_02: Um, and so one thing that we've been able to do together over the years is just travel.
4:09
SPEAKER_02: So that's one thing that I wanted to you you broke me open.
4:13
SPEAKER_02: You popped me, you popped, and you keep coming back for walk.
4:18
SPEAKER_02: You know, and that's where you're my favorite travel advisor, because not only on a personal level, like it's so chill to travel with you.
4:24
SPEAKER_02: So we'll get into like the first time I ever went, the bouginess to discover luxury at a home.
4:30
SPEAKER_01: And I never thought I'd see the day.
4:32
SPEAKER_01: I literally didn't think that we would ever travel to it.
4:35
SPEAKER_01: It was always a dream.
4:36
SPEAKER_01: But yeah, when the first opportunity came, I was like, oh my goodness, is this seriously happening?
4:40
SPEAKER_01: It was only two nights, but it was like it filled my cup.
4:43
SPEAKER_02: So many times that um I would have to butt kiss no joke to Philly because for me it was it was just like my family's my everything, right?
4:51
SPEAKER_02: I'm so busy, you're busy, and you're like, come on, come with me.
4:55
SPEAKER_02: And the first one that we went to was Florida, and I remember it was a cruise.
4:59
SPEAKER_02: Yes, and it was a brand new cruise ship, and I'm just like, is this shit gonna be like the Titanic or what?
5:05
SPEAKER_01: Everyone always thinks that there's this huge fear that you're gonna sink.
5:08
SPEAKER_01: I'm like, truth be told, it's safe, it's uh it's safer in a cruise boat than it is in a car.
5:14
SPEAKER_01: You're more likely to get in a car accident than to get in a plane accident or a cruise accident, but everybody, you know, fears.
5:21
SPEAKER_02: So that's where I remember the first meal.
5:24
SPEAKER_02: And I when I walked in there, I had no expectation.
5:28
SPEAKER_02: I didn't know what I walked myself into.
5:30
SPEAKER_02: Oh, you trusted me.
5:30
SPEAKER_02: Feely trusted me too.
5:34
SPEAKER_02: I'm like the best of the best, you just come.
5:36
SPEAKER_02: And so I I remember the first meal we had was lobster.
5:39
SPEAKER_02: Oh, yeah.
5:40
SPEAKER_02: What was it like lobster?
5:41
SPEAKER_02: And then I'm like, I'm like, girl, can we get like everything?
5:45
SPEAKER_01: And you're like, you were like, Oh, you don't you don't know what this means.
5:50
SPEAKER_01: Like, I'm used to scarcity, and this is like a uh uh, I'm gonna go for one of everything.
5:53
SPEAKER_01: Like, this is it was like overstimulating all the senses and everything.
5:57
SPEAKER_02: I'm like, yeah.
5:58
SPEAKER_02: Oh my gosh, and just like tasting all these different things, and of course, I've gone out to dinner and lunch and stuff, like through my company and that, but in sushi, like I would I would like those things, but never to the point where it's like unlimited and unlimited, and you're in a floating resort, right?
6:14
SPEAKER_02: And I was pregnant, remember you were, I was pregnant, yeah, because I think before your pregnancy, like travel like before pregnancy and then after pregnancy, like so.
6:24
SPEAKER_01: I remember before I go into that, I remember um one time I was just tired.
6:28
SPEAKER_01: Actually, I was tired pretty much.
6:30
SPEAKER_01: I wasn't like lethargic the whole trip, but I remember I'm like, I'm just gonna chill over here on the couch.
6:34
SPEAKER_01: You wanted to go swimming, and I'm like, I'm just gonna rest and read a book and I like dozed off.
6:40
SPEAKER_01: And then you swam, it was really nice, anyways.
6:41
SPEAKER_01: Um, I'm a huge believer that all women, especially mothers, need a break.
6:48
SPEAKER_01: Um, and I'm a huge believer that when we do get a break, that's super healthy.
6:53
SPEAKER_01: Um, a lot of society isn't used to that, so they think the contrary.
6:57
SPEAKER_01: Oh, you don't love your kids.
6:58
SPEAKER_01: I mean, I never got it, but I've heard it like some friends can't go with me because that's what their family, you know, they won't support them or whatever.
7:05
SPEAKER_01: But I feel like um we need a break from being everyone to every everyone's everything, like being dependent on so much and just to enjoy life and feel like uh an individual instead of all these roles that we play and get caught up in and get exhausted with and whatnot.
7:21
SPEAKER_01: And then when we come back, we recharge our batteries we have more love to give.
7:25
SPEAKER_01: Um, we feel more alive, you know what I mean?
7:28
SPEAKER_01: I feel like it makes a big difference.
7:29
SPEAKER_01: And personally, since I've become a mom, that's been really important to me.
7:33
SPEAKER_01: I used to travel like on to like 12 different trips a year, like big international trips before I got married, before I met my husband, before I became a mom.
7:42
SPEAKER_01: But now um I try to at least go away once um with a friend, sometimes by myself.
7:48
SPEAKER_01: I went on a work trip to Australia for I think it was 10 days, and my husband's very supportive.
7:53
SPEAKER_01: I I appreciate him for that.
7:54
SPEAKER_01: He holds down the fort, takes care of her, takes her to school, does, you know, feeds her and everything.
7:59
SPEAKER_01: I call pretty much once a day.
8:01
SPEAKER_01: Um, but I want to give that example to my daughter too.
8:04
SPEAKER_01: That you know what, friendship is important, travel is important, space is important.
8:08
SPEAKER_01: Like it does, you don't have to be attached at the hip to love someone.
8:12
SPEAKER_01: I can love you so much more and you know, have that space in between us.
8:17
SPEAKER_01: And I want her to, I want to, you know, give her that example so that she grows up not thinking that she has to be always with the family and never, you know, have her independence and freedom and and all that good stuff.
8:28
SPEAKER_02: Well, yeah, like being in that nucleus, right?
8:30
SPEAKER_02: I'm like the family only.
8:32
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and she is such an adventurous little girl.
8:34
SPEAKER_02: Like, I love her so much.
8:36
SPEAKER_02: She loves you, hurt the other one.
8:38
SPEAKER_02: I know it's like that the adora.
8:41
SPEAKER_02: Um, she's already put in her request, it's like 10 days minimum.
8:44
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, she's like, next time, none of this two, three days.
8:47
SPEAKER_01: She's like, You gotta stay for longer.
8:49
SPEAKER_01: She was missing you so much when you guys left.
8:51
SPEAKER_01: She was like, Where are they?
8:52
SPEAKER_01: They left.
8:52
SPEAKER_01: I'm like, I told you.
8:53
SPEAKER_01: She's like, she went in the room to double check and power.
8:57
SPEAKER_02: El tiempo's cortito, and I think that's one of the things too.
9:00
SPEAKER_02: Like, it flies by so much, like so fast.
9:02
SPEAKER_02: When you're having fun, time flies by.
9:04
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
9:07
SPEAKER_02: Like that one was my first.
9:08
SPEAKER_02: And then we went to Punta Cana last year, and that's where I and that's where I experimented another kind of like what all-inclusive, adults only, five-star.
9:17
SPEAKER_01: And you were the cancer survivor, so it meant even more to go there to you know what I mean?
9:22
SPEAKER_01: Like, that was a huge trip for you.
9:24
SPEAKER_02: It was definitely part of my healing.
9:26
SPEAKER_02: I needed to kind of get away.
9:28
SPEAKER_02: And if I didn't have those trips like planned, I I was working, I actually did chemo another month just to go on that Punta Cana trip.
9:36
SPEAKER_02: So I was gonna I was supposed to do four months, I did five.
9:39
SPEAKER_02: And Philly, Philly told me he's like, Wait, what?
9:41
SPEAKER_02: You're gonna do one more month?
9:43
SPEAKER_02: I'm like, this is how bad I want that work.
9:46
SPEAKER_01: And it is healing, you're right.
9:47
SPEAKER_01: When you lose something, you know, you lost your old self, you're reborn again.
9:51
SPEAKER_01: That loss, like travel heals you in ways that are just undescribable.
9:56
SPEAKER_01: It just it's the only thing my motto is that you buy that makes you richer, like it just makes you a better person.
10:02
SPEAKER_02: We agreed way before I even learned about my my diagnosis, and so I'm like, I'm going to this trip, I don't care what.
10:09
SPEAKER_02: That's why I I was so motivated to work out, to keep you know, like my energy up, do all the things.
10:15
SPEAKER_02: And you look so good.
10:16
SPEAKER_02: You were toothpiece bikini and something.
10:21
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, you racked your um what are they called?
10:23
SPEAKER_00: Like heads, yeah.
10:24
SPEAKER_00: The the head wraps that are head wraps, they look so cute.
10:28
SPEAKER_00: Like for every outfit.
10:29
SPEAKER_00: I was like, I'm so proud of you, girl.
10:31
SPEAKER_00: Yeah, such a fun trip.
10:33
SPEAKER_02: Spa, which is great, and the people are so nice.
10:36
SPEAKER_02: Oh my gosh.
10:37
SPEAKER_02: What do we got to try?
10:38
SPEAKER_02: We also in the buffet, because I'm all foodie.
10:40
SPEAKER_02: Yes, yes, me too.
10:41
SPEAKER_02: Feel foodies reunite, yeah.
10:44
SPEAKER_02: And that's where what did we have?
10:45
SPEAKER_02: Um, I was I was thinking casson pitao, but it's not that.
10:50
SPEAKER_01: I think it was the food was delicious, and the service was like I've never seen.
10:55
SPEAKER_01: I mean, they were so humble, so genuine.
10:58
SPEAKER_01: I I loved it, and I love traveling with you.
11:00
SPEAKER_01: I feel like we travel so well together.
11:02
SPEAKER_01: I know the hospital, that there's a lot more to come.
11:06
SPEAKER_02: And the other thing that I remember was we went to one of the first restaurant, I think it was Mexican food, and we ordered some uh pinas coladas.
11:16
SPEAKER_02: And uh, and and the bartender, because we asked for them virgin, right?
11:19
SPEAKER_02: Because I was drinking, and then you by choice.
11:22
SPEAKER_02: And that's where I'm just like, okay.
11:24
SPEAKER_02: And the bartender was seeing us, and we were we were in front of the bartender's um view, and he we were laughing so hard, and he's like, Wait, did I mess up?
11:32
SPEAKER_02: Like, did I put liquor in?
11:34
SPEAKER_02: Young sentidos, we know how to have it.
11:42
SPEAKER_02: Like we're on we're on and happy like this all the time.
11:45
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
11:46
SPEAKER_02: So that's like double take, like we asked another one, and we're like, I remember that I had forgotten.
11:56
SPEAKER_02: That's funny.
11:57
SPEAKER_02: Oh my goodness, but yeah, and that's where um again you balance so much.
12:02
SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
12:02
SPEAKER_02: So so much.
12:03
SPEAKER_02: So, do you ever experience guilt when you choose something for yourself, like traveling or taking a break?
12:08
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
12:09
SPEAKER_01: Even when I like hang out with friends, and I I try to push myself because I think it's like a maternal thing, right?
12:16
SPEAKER_01: Like, I want to be there for my daughter, I want to be there with my husband, like, and I am so much, so I have to, you know, break away from that.
12:24
SPEAKER_01: But I always in my head feel like, you know, is this selfish?
12:28
SPEAKER_01: Should I not be doing this?
12:29
SPEAKER_01: Is this wrong of me?
12:30
SPEAKER_01: My husband's tired from work, and like he's always, you know, very supportive, which I'm super grateful for, and I am for him too when he needs to travel for work, or he's gone on solo trips as well.
12:40
SPEAKER_01: But yeah, I definitely I never talk about it, so I'm glad you asked the question.
12:44
SPEAKER_01: But usually it's it's there, like uh, but I don't let it hold me back because I'm like, you know what?
12:49
SPEAKER_01: I know how healthy this is, and touch wood.
12:52
SPEAKER_01: I was very fortunate to see my mom, my grandmas, my aunts.
12:57
SPEAKER_01: Like, I come from both sides of very independent, strong, educated women.
13:02
SPEAKER_01: And I saw my mom go on trips with her friends, my parents go on trips and pay for a babysitter for a week to take care of me and my sister.
13:11
SPEAKER_01: Like at the time, I didn't understand.
13:12
SPEAKER_01: I was like, that's not fair.
13:13
SPEAKER_01: Like, how come we can't come, you know?
13:16
SPEAKER_01: But looking back, I'm like, what a great example they gave me that I wish to give my daughter because that space is so important.
13:23
SPEAKER_01: Like, yeah, it's so, so important.
13:26
SPEAKER_01: We become too attached, and as Buddha says, not to get too philosoph philosoph, not too much into philosophy, but um, attachment is the root of all um sorrow.
13:38
SPEAKER_01: Like, we have to learn to detach, and we can still love immensely, like the most ever without that attachment.
13:45
SPEAKER_01: And so that for me has been a goal, you know, like at the top of my mind.
13:50
SPEAKER_01: Like, I love my family and my friends from the depths of my soul, but I need to keep being independent and free, and travel gives me so much passion.
13:59
SPEAKER_01: I travel with them a lot, but it's also important to travel with friends, to travel by myself, like you know what I mean, to get away from the daily duties because it's exhausting.
14:08
SPEAKER_02: Definitely.
14:08
SPEAKER_02: And I and I actually growing up, my parents never traveled on their own.
14:12
SPEAKER_02: If anything, it was like solo trips because someone died or things like that.
14:16
SPEAKER_02: Um, and I didn't fly a plane until I was 30.
14:19
SPEAKER_02: Wow, so yeah, so it was it was a lot of yeah, very, very meaningful.
14:24
SPEAKER_01: You appreciate even more.
14:25
SPEAKER_01: I feel like when you when you don't have it all the time, then it creates even a bigger appreciation that man, this is yeah, I want to keep doing this.
14:32
SPEAKER_01: And you've been great, like exposing your family too, you know.
14:35
SPEAKER_02: I just had an epiphany right now.
14:36
SPEAKER_02: It's like we went from for me sneaking out to Bible study to me actually traveling on my own.
14:42
SPEAKER_00: I know, look at that.
14:43
SPEAKER_00: Girl.
14:44
SPEAKER_02: Gonna be Jill, yeah.
14:45
SPEAKER_01: Development, I tell you.
14:47
SPEAKER_01: Oh, it's Antarctica expedition.
14:49
SPEAKER_01: What do you say?
14:50
SPEAKER_02: There you go.
14:51
SPEAKER_02: Go pick or go home.
14:53
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if we go to space, Jill, you and I'm going to the moon.
14:58
SPEAKER_02: You want to come with?
14:59
SPEAKER_02: I know, right?
14:59
SPEAKER_02: Let's just do it.
15:00
SPEAKER_02: It's a whole moon to do it.
15:02
SPEAKER_02: Actually, it was.
15:03
SPEAKER_02: Um, but yeah, and we recently stayed with you in Dallas.
15:06
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
15:08
SPEAKER_02: So, what do you enjoy most about opening your home?
15:11
SPEAKER_02: And I know making memories with friends, especially when your support system, right?
15:16
SPEAKER_02: Like your immediate, let's just say, support system, like what I would know as my mom, my sisters, you know, and we kind of grew up alike where you have two siblings, um, sisters.
15:27
SPEAKER_02: You grew up with sisters and then your your parents, and so how how is that look like for you?
15:33
SPEAKER_01: Not having them around, you mean?
15:35
SPEAKER_01: Yeah.
15:36
SPEAKER_01: Um, it's difficult, but uh I revert back to travel.
15:40
SPEAKER_01: I feel like I traveled abroad, um, I studied abroad twice when I was in college for one semester in Mexico and Guadalajara, and then the other semester in India.
15:49
SPEAKER_01: And I feel like with all the travel that I've done, it's made me more flexible, more resilient.
15:56
SPEAKER_01: Um, I'm able to adapt.
15:57
SPEAKER_01: Like I was excited to move.
15:59
SPEAKER_01: I have my tribe, you being at the top of the list in Illinois, I have my tribe in Michigan, where I just moved from Ann Arbor.
16:05
SPEAKER_01: Um, and I love you all dearly.
16:07
SPEAKER_01: And I feel like I've created this foundation where you know, we visit each other.
16:12
SPEAKER_01: We we might not talk every day or so often, but like we always pick up right where we left off.
16:17
SPEAKER_01: You know, it's like not surface level, it goes really deep.
16:20
SPEAKER_01: Um, so I was excited for the change.
16:23
SPEAKER_01: I felt like I kind of outgrew Michigan, like I had been to most of the places and like travel.
16:28
SPEAKER_01: I like to explore, I like to go to new restaurants, I like to meet new people, um, make new friendships.
16:34
SPEAKER_01: Like that's all growth, and I'm you know, growth mindset on steroids, like not fixed mindset.
16:40
SPEAKER_01: So um, I was excited about it now.
16:42
SPEAKER_01: Does it have its downsides?
16:44
SPEAKER_01: Yes.
16:44
SPEAKER_01: The caveat is you know, I don't have, but I've been in Michigan for eight years and I didn't have it there either.
16:50
SPEAKER_01: So my mom bless her heart, and my dad sometimes as well.
16:53
SPEAKER_01: My sister's less, but they do come and visit.
16:56
SPEAKER_01: My mom's usually, you know, she's a giver, she always says, like, oh, I see you're really tied up with work.
17:01
SPEAKER_01: Do you want me to go and pick up your daughter?
17:03
SPEAKER_01: What can I do for you?
17:04
SPEAKER_01: Can I put in a load of laundry?
17:05
SPEAKER_01: Can I drop her off at school?
17:07
SPEAKER_01: So um, I really appreciate it because I never expect anything.
17:09
SPEAKER_01: I, you know, like to be the hostess with the most us.
17:12
SPEAKER_01: But um, it it is difficult in the sense that we only have each other, so we've gotta we spend a lot of time together, my husband, my daughter, and I.
17:20
SPEAKER_01: Um, but I've made friends too.
17:21
SPEAKER_01: So again, it's kind of finding that balance.
17:24
SPEAKER_01: Um, I haven't, and her her teacher said that she could babysit her, um, that we could hire her for that.
17:30
SPEAKER_01: So I haven't done it yet, but there are still options, you know.
17:34
SPEAKER_01: I would trust her teacher to do it.
17:36
SPEAKER_01: Um, it's not convenient and easy, but I feel like what's convenient and easy doesn't lead you to growth and more opportunity.
17:43
SPEAKER_01: I have so many opportunities here with my business, my personal life that I didn't in Illinois because I had my family and everything there, or even in Michigan.
17:51
SPEAKER_01: So I feel like you have to take a risk.
17:54
SPEAKER_01: Um, sometimes it goes well, sometimes it doesn't, but if you don't put yourself out there and trust and divine God, you know, universe, like you'll just never know.
18:03
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
18:03
SPEAKER_02: And that's so amazing about you because everywhere you go, you make friends.
18:09
SPEAKER_02: You are the lights and lagria that when you walk in.
18:13
SPEAKER_02: And especially I appreciate you because you actually cook stuff from scratch.
18:18
SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
18:18
SPEAKER_02: Like that.
18:19
SPEAKER_02: Um I was like, wow, this is amazing.
18:21
SPEAKER_02: You like bagels?
18:22
SPEAKER_02: I know, donuts?
18:24
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, no, those pumpkin donuts were oh my gosh, like and then cinnamon rolls.
18:29
SPEAKER_02: That's where I I loved going over coming over to you to you when you were in Michigan and then I'm now in Dallas.
18:34
SPEAKER_02: Gotta have you coming back for more.
18:36
SPEAKER_02: I mean, I have to entice you with food.
18:38
SPEAKER_02: But you have your gadgets though.
18:40
SPEAKER_02: Like, I think the biggest one for me was the garlic one.
18:43
SPEAKER_02: Instead of icing the garlic.
18:45
SPEAKER_02: Oh yeah.
18:47
SPEAKER_02: And so, and we I mean we like spice, right?
18:51
SPEAKER_02: And your your husband likes spice, so he makes some dishes.
18:54
SPEAKER_02: And I think, well, when we were down there, he made a dish.
19:00
SPEAKER_02: My daughter wasn't too happy, but yeah.
19:05
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, no, but she um, but definitely we got to enjoy some of the the Dallas kind of like flow, which um Texas barbecue, you love?
19:13
SPEAKER_02: Yes, the Texas barbecue.
19:15
SPEAKER_02: You got the real experience.
19:17
SPEAKER_02: Have you told people about it?
19:18
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, definitely.
19:20
SPEAKER_02: And there's people that have been down to Dallas, it's like that's a must.
19:22
SPEAKER_02: Like, oh yeah, if you're down there, you have to do that.
19:24
SPEAKER_02: I was so stuffed.
19:25
SPEAKER_02: I think I was still burping the stuff as I was making my way up.
19:28
SPEAKER_02: That's hilarious.
19:29
SPEAKER_01: Or Illinois.
19:30
SPEAKER_01: And then we went for ice cream, and you know, there's always room.
19:33
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and then we had so oh my gosh, it was so good.
19:35
SPEAKER_02: Every time that we go over there, it's like we make these awesome memories of you know, just spending.
19:40
SPEAKER_01: And your husband taught my daughter how to finally ride a bike.
19:43
SPEAKER_01: They went out again last night and she did it the whole way.
19:46
SPEAKER_01: It was, I mean, that was huge.
19:48
SPEAKER_02: I'm so proud of her.
19:49
SPEAKER_02: But yeah, and that's where also the beauty of it.
19:52
SPEAKER_02: I work from home, you work from home.
19:53
SPEAKER_02: But just because you're home does not mean you're always you're resting.
19:57
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, oh, you have more time.
19:58
SPEAKER_01: I'm like, no, I'm attached to my my seat.
20:01
SPEAKER_01: I've got so much going on, yeah, so many deadlines, you know.
20:05
SPEAKER_01: I love what I do, I'm so passionate about it.
20:07
SPEAKER_01: And there's a huge, huge difference.
20:09
SPEAKER_01: Like, people always think, right?
20:10
SPEAKER_01: They ask, like, oh, what's the difference?
20:12
SPEAKER_01: Um, oh, travel agents still exist nowadays, or I could just do it on my own.
20:18
SPEAKER_01: There's so many myths out there, there's so much misinformation, the internet's knocking, and it's not only about price.
20:24
SPEAKER_01: When people say, Oh, can you get me cheaper than booking.com or Expedia, like the wealth of experience I have, the education, the certifications, the trainings I continuously go to, the connections, excuse me, those all make a difference, you know, they add value.
20:39
SPEAKER_02: Definitely.
20:40
SPEAKER_02: What do you think maintaining friendships becomes so important as we get older?
20:45
SPEAKER_01: Well, it's a known fact.
20:46
SPEAKER_01: Like, I even read those books and studied about like the blue zones, right?
20:49
SPEAKER_01: Like where people live longer, like five of them around the world.
20:52
SPEAKER_01: And one of the things, it's not only what you eat, which is huge, and you're being active, not sedentary, community is huge.
21:00
SPEAKER_01: The friendships you make, and not surface level, but deep, truly caring, uh, putting forth efforts, investing time in giving and receiving that love, that companionship, that support.
21:14
SPEAKER_01: I mean, throughout all of our years, I don't care if you're a hundred or you're two years old, like no man is an island.
21:19
SPEAKER_01: We need each other, you know.
21:21
SPEAKER_01: And when one hurts, we all hurt, we're all connected.
21:24
SPEAKER_01: So I feel like a lot of people, as they get older, because life is hard, right?
21:29
SPEAKER_01: And as a working mother, you and I know it's difficult to keep a balance.
21:33
SPEAKER_01: And so usually we're selfless and we're just so tired to take anything else on.
21:39
SPEAKER_01: But I feel like true friendships and creating that tribe are what keep me going.
21:44
SPEAKER_01: Like they actually give me energy, and I feel like that purpose in life like I want to give, I want to learn, I want to, you know, that exchange just of positive energy.
21:54
SPEAKER_01: Um, it brings me a lot of joys.
21:55
SPEAKER_01: Obviously, the wrong people in your life will give you a better life, but creating like.
22:00
SPEAKER_01: Like investing the time in finding your tribe and building it, I feel like it's top priority for me, no matter where I live, no matter anything.
22:08
SPEAKER_01: It just it it gives me so much happiness.
22:11
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
22:11
SPEAKER_02: And that's where when I found out about my cancer, the first person I called, well, yeah, was you.
22:18
SPEAKER_00: And I was like, so that's where again it's like I'm gonna miss the eye here.
22:23
SPEAKER_02: Um, yeah, that that's where it's like it's not necessarily being physically present, it's called being present with like you know, present with the person.
22:32
SPEAKER_02: So even though we're miles and miles away, um, like a thousand miles to be exact, yeah.
22:37
SPEAKER_01: You know how much I love you and care.
22:39
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, that call, I was just like, oh my gosh, like uh speechless.
22:43
SPEAKER_01: I never would have expected that.
22:44
SPEAKER_01: I'm like, wait, what?
22:46
SPEAKER_02: Right, and that's where I mean you kind of saw the whole like shebang there because the whole weekend I was processing and I'm like, I don't even want to tell feeling you're like, yeah, I'm just tile hand, you know.
22:56
SPEAKER_02: So you and Josie, my daughter, were the only ones that knew, like for that weekend, and just having that with me, it's like, oh my gosh, but heavy, heaviness, right?
23:04
SPEAKER_02: So thank you for holding space for me and in those deep, deep moments.
23:08
SPEAKER_01: And seeing your journey, you're talking about amazing.
23:10
SPEAKER_01: Oh my god, you've grown so much and continue to grow, and you're also a go-getter and you know, a mover and a shaker, like talk about balance, like you know, not te quedas atrás, you're the same, like always in all the things, and you know, like I'm super proud of you.
23:26
SPEAKER_01: Like, you've come so far, and I feel like sometimes we have to go through hardships to bounce back up and learn more and be even better.
23:35
SPEAKER_01: And I see you just like that, like you say, Dora, version 2.0, you know, totally improved.
23:41
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, more.
23:42
SPEAKER_02: That's where I feel like I'm not afraid to like tear stuff down to just build it back up even better, right?
23:47
SPEAKER_02: And it took me a very long time to understand that a fail, like I grew up failing or making a mistake is like boom, like you know, like you have these reprimanding, especially in in our culture.
23:57
SPEAKER_02: Um, that's where you kind of see it from all these different sides, and that's where not only you know multi-literate and trilingual, um, but just like being able to immerse yourself in all these different cultures and learn, and you've had all this like appetite for that ever since like not only just for the food, because I'm a and you're so versed, you know, and and that's where once you see something you cannot see it, right?
24:21
SPEAKER_02: But when you see it like live and and being there is so different, like pictures don't even do it justice, yeah.
24:27
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah, or videos don't even just do it justice.
24:30
SPEAKER_02: Um, so I want to end with a few more questions.
24:35
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, please.
24:36
SPEAKER_02: Um, so what's something you wish more women understood about giving themselves permission to enjoy life?
24:42
SPEAKER_01: Whew, that's a heavy question, right?
24:45
SPEAKER_01: What's something I wish more women knew about giving themselves a better life?
24:48
SPEAKER_01: Is that right?
24:49
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, to enjoy life.
24:51
SPEAKER_01: Um that space is healthy, like I said earlier, that leaving your kids and your husband shouldn't make us feel guilty, that you deserve a break, that you deserve to enjoy a different culture, a different cuisine, be pampered with a butler if you wish.
25:10
SPEAKER_01: Like even if it's three nights away, it doesn't have to be a three-week vacation, but not to feel that guilt because our kids are watching and they're learning more from what we do than what we say.
25:24
SPEAKER_01: So the example that we give them and the amount of love and respect we give ourselves is what we're teaching them to do as they grow older.
25:32
SPEAKER_01: So it's not selfish, and you will get naysayers, you're gonna get, you know, negative Nancy's being like, Ay, you know, quien se cree, que egoísta, que clase de mujer is que deja sus uh, you know, hijos y se va a divertirse, no sé qué.
25:46
SPEAKER_01: Una mujer hecha y derecha, super saludable.
25:50
SPEAKER_02: Oh, yeah.
25:50
SPEAKER_02: As I told Philly early on in our relationship, if you want a house, if you ha want a housewife, I'm not it.
25:57
SPEAKER_02: I'm like, oh yeah, I'm so not it.
25:58
SPEAKER_02: I was not born to be submissive.
26:00
SPEAKER_02: Props to those that are.
26:01
SPEAKER_02: That's not me.
26:02
SPEAKER_02: Like I'm like, let's just put that straight right now.
26:05
SPEAKER_02: And so he understood that from the get-go.
26:07
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, yeah.
26:08
SPEAKER_02: To feel free, to feel like my priorities are my priorities, are very different than probably your what you grew up with, and then also what you're what is on your plate.
26:15
SPEAKER_02: So having that communication.
26:17
SPEAKER_02: Exactly, exactly.
26:18
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I feel I wish that all women knew that and lived that.
26:21
SPEAKER_01: And I feel like fear holds us back.
26:23
SPEAKER_01: So oftentimes, if they don't have the support from their family, or much less from their husband, they just don't, you know, push the envelope.
26:30
SPEAKER_01: But um, every woman, every woman deserves, I don't care their age or their circumstance, even if it's a road trip and a one-night, you know, hotel, like it's not about the money, it's not about the glamour, it doesn't have to be luxurious, but we all need breaks and to enjoy life.
26:46
SPEAKER_01: Oh, yeah, definitely.
26:48
SPEAKER_02: Um, and what's one thing someone could do this week or create more ease or joy um when it comes to like having their personal space or connecting with that?
26:59
SPEAKER_01: Um, I think to does it have to be related to travel or just periods?
27:05
SPEAKER_02: No, yeah, travel even, yeah.
27:06
SPEAKER_01: I think that's totally okay.
27:08
SPEAKER_01: Either depending on their interests, picking up a travel book, going on YouTube, and you know, searching.
27:14
SPEAKER_01: Yeah, searching a certain country that they're interested in, um, that they want to learn more about.
27:20
SPEAKER_01: I mean, it's never too early to plan.
27:22
SPEAKER_01: It's actually better to plan in advance.
27:24
SPEAKER_01: So even if you take, you know, two, three years to plan your dream, you everyone can save up for it.
27:31
SPEAKER_01: It's about priorities, it's about, you know, getting organized and setting that goal and then working toward it.
27:36
SPEAKER_01: And of course, working with a professional like myself that can make payments if needed, and you know, I include an app and everything like that.
27:43
SPEAKER_01: So definitely enhance your experience.
27:45
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and then for someone dreaming into this about traveling, but feeling overwhelmed, what's the what's the more practical step that they could take um for them to just like look it up, Google or you know what nowadays Chat GPT is a big thing.
28:02
SPEAKER_01: It is, but you'd be surprised.
28:03
SPEAKER_01: People think that it can plan trips.
28:05
SPEAKER_01: Oh my god, there's so much information.
28:06
SPEAKER_01: It's good for ideas, but not for right, right, right, right, right, right, right.
28:10
SPEAKER_02: But I mean, yeah, and that's where sometimes like I was surprised when I when we planned our Oaxaca trip with you.
28:16
SPEAKER_02: I was surprised how I can like how affordable it was.
28:19
SPEAKER_02: Affordable it was.
28:20
SPEAKER_02: I was trying to pick the right word, but affordable it was, and we got to do like the escalpasting, and you had us going all over the place in Oaxaca City, and then we went up in the jungle with like pitch dark jaguars in the night.
28:33
SPEAKER_02: Puerto Escondido.
28:35
SPEAKER_02: And then yeah, it was just amazing.
28:37
SPEAKER_02: So that's where and then the app is oh my gosh, that's where when you showed it to me, I was like, oh my gosh, that is so much so so great.
28:44
SPEAKER_02: Yeah.
28:44
SPEAKER_01: People see the app, they're like when other clients come home and show their friends, they're like, Who's your travel advisor?
28:50
SPEAKER_01: I need her in my life.
28:51
SPEAKER_01: I feel like if people are overwhelmed, they're not gonna take the initiative.
28:54
SPEAKER_01: Their lives are already busy, so probably not looking on YouTube or or reading, probably just coming to me.
29:01
SPEAKER_01: Um because people who are overwhelmed, they do better with someone like putting it all together, designing their trip from scratch, working with them, listening to them.
29:08
SPEAKER_01: What are their needs?
29:09
SPEAKER_01: What are their goals?
29:10
SPEAKER_01: What's their budget?
29:11
SPEAKER_01: And um, making, you know, their dream trip come true within those parameters if they're realistic.
29:17
SPEAKER_01: But you don't have to be a millionaire to travel, you don't have to be rich, like honest to goodness, there's a right way to travel.
29:23
SPEAKER_01: You don't want to get bed bugs either and stay in motels, like no.
29:27
SPEAKER_01: But um it's it's attainable for everyone.
29:30
SPEAKER_01: I just feel like a lot of people don't know where to start, and that's where working with a professional like myself would really help kind of ease a lot of their anxiety, and you have someone that's in your corner that cares that can answer the questions, yeah.
29:42
SPEAKER_02: And that's where if somebody is interested in soliciting your services, because I am definitely um feeling I went to Oaxaca for our 20-year anniversary, but all honestly, honestly, we didn't we never had our honeymoon, so that was like the best trip ever for us, yeah, yeah.
30:00
SPEAKER_02: So that's where I'm like, you're so detail oriented, and I love the notes, like the personal touch and everything that you do.
30:08
SPEAKER_02: Um you've had I love the pictures.
30:10
SPEAKER_01: You were sending me the videos and the pictures.
30:12
SPEAKER_01: I'm like, oh my god, I'm like vicariously living through you guys.
30:15
SPEAKER_01: This is amazing.
30:17
SPEAKER_00: So good.
30:18
SPEAKER_01: So where do people find you?
30:20
SPEAKER_01: Um, so my website is www.ever ready travel with two R's.
30:25
SPEAKER_01: Um my email is Jillian, J-I-L-L-I-A-N at Everready with two Rs travel.com.
30:32
SPEAKER_01: And um I have, you know, I'm on social media, I have a presence there, and yeah, we'd love to love to help.
30:38
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, and then we'll put I'll put the links in the show notes.
30:41
SPEAKER_02: Perfect.
30:42
SPEAKER_02: Um, so people know how how to find you.
30:43
SPEAKER_02: I'm sure I'm gonna get hit up like, hey, where where to go next?
30:48
unknown: Yeah.
30:49
SPEAKER_02: Where's our next trip, Dora?
30:50
SPEAKER_02: I have a question for you.
30:51
SPEAKER_02: So where are we going?
30:52
SPEAKER_02: Yeah, that's where I'm gonna have to tell Philip.
30:53
SPEAKER_02: It's like, hey, where are we going to do this?
30:55
SPEAKER_02: Only momos.
30:57
SPEAKER_02: Oh, start brainstorming.
30:59
SPEAKER_02: Let me know.
31:00
SPEAKER_02: I'll start playing.
31:01
SPEAKER_02: Oh, yeah.
31:02
SPEAKER_02: It's so great to have you.
31:03
SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
31:04
SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
31:04
SPEAKER_02: Thanks for having us.
31:06
SPEAKER_02: This is only the first of many.
31:07
SPEAKER_02: I we definitely need to come out with our show, uh, like an episode on um dichos because girl.
31:13
SPEAKER_02: So you're dichena.
31:16
SPEAKER_02: Like, okay, let's go.
31:19
SPEAKER_02: That's funny.
31:21
SPEAKER_02: I love you so much.
31:22
SPEAKER_02: I love you too.
31:23
SPEAKER_02: Um, and yeah, thank you everyone for watching or listening.
31:27
SPEAKER_02: And we'll definitely come back next week for more.
31:29
SPEAKER_02: And I will put everything, all the links, and references down in the show notes.
31:33
SPEAKER_02: So thank you, Jill.
31:34
SPEAKER_02: Love you.
31:35
SPEAKER_02: Thank you.
31:35
SPEAKER_02: Love you too.
31:36
SPEAKER_02: Have a good one.