Women's Money Wisdom

Episode 274: Reinventing Life on Your Own Terms with Digital Nomad Sherita Janielle

• Melissa Joy, CFP® • Season 4 • Episode 274

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What does it really mean to live life on your own terms?

Melissa Joy, CFP®, is joined by Sherita Janielle—digital marketing consultant, and entrepreneur who pulls back the curtain on what it looks like to redesign your life after a major transition, reject societal timelines, and prioritize fulfillment, flexibility, and financial sustainability.

After a career in finance, Sherita transitioned to entrepreneurship. Following her divorce, she took a leap and embraced a life she once never imagined—working remotely while traveling the world. But this conversation goes far beyond digital nomadism. It’s about crafting a life that aligns with your values, your energy, and your vision of success—whether that means flying across continents or simply living more intentionally at home.

Melissa and Sherita dig into:

  • Rebuilding life and finances post-divorce
  • Why location independence can actually be more affordable than city life
  • The power of saying "no" to society’s expectations (and "yes" to your own)
  • Building authentic community while traveling solo
  • The importance of not making long-term decisions in a temporary mindset
  • Why it's okay to change course and not have it all figured out

This episode is for anyone questioning the status quo, navigating a life transition, or dreaming of a different kind of success.

Connect with Sherita:

The previous presentation by PEARL PLANNING was intended for general information purposes only. No portion of the presentation serves as the receipt of, or as a substitute for, personalized investment advice from PEARL PLANNING or any other investment professional of your choosing. Different types of investments involve varying degrees of risk, and it should not be assumed that future performance of any specific investment or investment strategy, or any non-investment related or planning services, discussion or content, will be profitable, be suitable for your portfolio or individual situation, or prove successful. Neither PEARL PLANNING’s investment adviser registration status, nor any amount of prior experience or success, should be construed that a certain level of results or satisfaction will be achieved if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. PEARL PLANNING is neither a law firm nor accounting firm, and no portion of its services should be construed as legal or accounting advice. No portion of the video content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if PEARL PLANNING is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services. A copy of PEARL PLANNING’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available upon request or at https:...

Speaker 1:

Welcome to the Women's Money Wisdom Podcast. I'm Melissa Joy, a certified financial planner and the founder of Pearl Planning. My goal is to help you streamline and organize your finances, navigate big money decisions with confidence and be strategic in order to grow your wealth. As a woman, you work hard for your money and I'm here to help you make the most of it. Now let's get into the show. And I'm here to help you make the most of it. Now let's get into the show. Just a quick note before we dive in. The information that we share is meant to educate and inspire, not serve as personalized financial advice. Everyone's situation is unique, so be sure to consult with your own financial professional for guidance that fits your life. And just so you know, the opinions shared in this podcast are my own and those of my guests, and they don't necessarily represent those of any organizations that I'm affiliated with. For more important disclosures, please go to our webpage at pearlplancom. Now let's get started.

Speaker 1:

Welcome back to the Women's Money Wisdom Podcast. I am thrilled. Today we're going to be talking about something that I think for many of you, is completely out of the box, a new perspective. Hopefully it gets you thinking. We're joined by Sherita Janelle, and she is the epitome of living her best life, according to her, which we love to hear from a woman where they can just say, yep, I've got it figured out for myself. She is a globe-trotting digital nomad who has explored over 45 countries. She is seamlessly balancing her work as a digital marketing manager more on that later with a lifestyle of adventure, and she's embracing life after 40. Sherita is unapologetically herself embodying confidence and authenticity in every aspect of her journey. If your attention is not piqued, I don't know if you're listening. Sharita, welcome to the podcast. This is going to be fun.

Speaker 2:

Thank you so much for having me, Melissa. I know we said we're going to touch on that later, but we work together on a regular basis. I'm like the manager of this show almost that's right. It's so funny to be on the other side of it and be involved in it and not just editing and whatnot. So this is exciting.

Speaker 1:

So thank you for having me. Well, for listeners out there, Sherita makes this podcast possible because she, in the background, in conjunction with the marketing company we work with, Idea Decanter, produces these episodes, gets them out, launches them each week, keeps us on task, and so. But it's time to put Sherita in front of the camera, because she also lives an amazing life while doing that, and that's what we're going to talk about today. So tell me a little bit about why we're talking Sherita. So tell me a little bit about why we're talking Sherita.

Speaker 2:

Tell me about how you live, I will say that this has not always been my life. So I, you know, I did not wake up like this, as Beyonce says. You know, I've had a very interesting past. I actually I studied finance. I was a corporate accountant. For many years I lived in New York. I worked as a commercial actress as well. I was a model. I've kind of like worn a lot of different hats.

Speaker 1:

I was a model. You just sneak that in there on the side.

Speaker 2:

I'm like, I'm like, I'm a, I'm a accountant, but a model by trade, so, yes, but it's one of those things that you, it's kind of I I've led like an oxymoron kind of life, because not a lot of people enjoy Excel, spreadsheets and painting, so you know things like that.

Speaker 2:

But with my, with my life, halfway, you know, through my journey in New York city, I launched a website. It was called busy wife, busy life, and it was my way to kind of brand myself as a on-camera talent, and little did I know at the time that blogging was its own business or it was about to be, because this was, this was back in like 2014, 13, 14, when blogs were still very new and I just, you know, I started figuring it out, as I do with most things in life. That's a little uh Marie, uh folio. She always says that everything's figureoutable. Yeah, but I did, and so I started learning a lot of marketing skills from that. I started working with brands, I learned how to design websites, I learned about these marketing concepts that, thankfully, you know, I didn't realize was setting me up for like my next life, which is this life.

Speaker 2:

And yes, now I work as a digital marketing consultant within the financial services industry and I work remotely. And yes, now I work as a digital marketing consultant within the financial services industry and I work remotely. And after my divorce, which was, you know, a long, arduous process, I said to myself you know, I don't have to be anywhere, so let me go be anywhere I want to be. And I took to the sky. People always laugh at me. Now they're like where do you live? I'm like in the sky. You can deliver my mail to Delta Airlines, they'll make sure it gets to be. And I took to the sky. People always laugh at me. Now they're like where do you live? I'm like in the sky. You can deliver my mail to Delta Airlines, they'll make sure it gets to me. Does?

Speaker 1:

that actually work.

Speaker 2:

No, it does not, it does not, it does not. But you know, they do know, you know my normal seat number. They're like oh, miss Rankin's welcome to see you again. So I've made friends with flight attendants at this point. But yes, it is, it's an unconventional life. The quote unquote digital nomad.

Speaker 2:

I know a lot of people think that this is some like you know, bros, this is traveling the world. You know that's, that's um, I think one of the, the, the thoughts of it. But it's, it's really not um, it's, it's nomading, is is not and it's, it's not as, uh, I say, backpacking or anything like that, as you might envision. You know I, I travel around, I decide where I'm going to stay for a month or two months and I kind of, as I say, set up shop there and I build a community, I learn about the surroundings. You know I start immersing myself in the cultures, I make new friends. I joined a gym and you know I I'm almost like chasing summer, because I haven't really experienced a winter in in many years and I'm originally from Detroit, so I know what that's like.

Speaker 1:

Oh, no way, I didn't know that so it's.

Speaker 2:

it's just, it's a very different lifestyle, and a lot of people are including my mother at times are a little confused, but it's. It's very, I would say, fulfilling, especially because I'm living life on my terms and I think a lot of people they can't say that for many reasons, whether it's fear or just things that are confining them or they just haven't figured out how to cut the ties of things that aren't making them happy or fulfilled.

Speaker 1:

Well, let's pause for a moment. Just in your own words, how would you define digital nomad and just give people like just the generic definition of what you are doing today?

Speaker 2:

I would say, a digital nomad is someone who works remotely, who does not, is not tied to any particular home base, that can work in any time zone that is conducive to their work schedule, and they travel either with a visa or without a visa, working within the visitor visa of that particular country, and they literally go from place to place, and it may be two to three places a year, it could be six to 12.

Speaker 1:

So it's really up to you and your schedule, so tell me what your 2025 is going to look like. I know you've been in Central and South America this year, right, yes? And so tell me where you've been and where you're going.

Speaker 2:

So I spent the first quarter of the year in Buenos Aires, and then I did a little detour to Mexico City, which is amazing, by the way. I'm spending the summer in Europe. I will probably be returning to Mexico City in the fall, and then I'm hoping to go to Cape Town for winter. So yes, that's that time zone.

Speaker 1:

It's going to be a toughie, but it's actually the same as it's the same as Europe Like.

Speaker 2:

OK it's just yeah, so it's straight down. So as long as you, I'm a night owl and it works for me. So you know, I've been on calls before people like what time is it? I'm like 10, 30 PM. They're like, is that fine? I'm like, yes, dinner just started here.

Speaker 1:

So I love it. So you have. How did you make that? So I know you had the desire to you know, kind of let's rearrange my life based on the terms that I find desirable. How did you actually figure out how to do this, because the logistics sound like a challenge to me, like you're figuring out a living arrangement for a period of time You're not just showing up in hotels, I'm assuming. So how did you get the nuts and bolts?

Speaker 2:

Well, you know. So I will say that. So I am. I was. I did win a contest a little couple years ago that did give me a lot of hotel points, so I did start out like that, but that was not sustainable for long-term. But I will say, what I do is I did my research. Surprisingly, there's a very, there's a very large community and there's a lot of resources out there.

Speaker 2:

So I started doing research. I started figuring out, okay, where is going to be affordable to actually get an Airbnb or a short term rental? I started, you know, looking at flights, trying to decide you know what makes the most sense in regards to flying places, how long, you know. I mean, I said, maybe this is the strategic spreadsheet side of me, with budgeting and whatnot. But and then you and a lot of I mean honestly, other than places like you know, switzerland and France and and you know parts of Japan, I guess you know the U? S has a larger, you know a higher cost of living than a lot of you know all of South America and parts of Europe. So, with regards to budgeting, it is a little easier when you are traveling, it was just funny little easier when you are traveling. It was just funny, this one woman. She met me and she called me the richest homeless person she knew. And you didn't mind that you weren't offended.

Speaker 2:

No I looked at her like she was ridiculous because I'm like, I'm not homeless, I'm just I don't have, I'm unhoused at the moment, but it's not, it's, it's not as if I'm I'm living on the street. So yeah, so I mean, I pick these Airbnbs, I decide, you know, and then sometimes you can, you know, and there's, there's what you can negotiate with the, with the Airbnb host. You know, if you're staying for a period of time because they want their place rented, they want someone to take care of it, If they know you're, you're professional and you're going to take care of a place.

Speaker 2:

People can be anti-Facebook, but it has a large group of, especially women. There's a lot of women international groups. There's a group called Girls Gone International and you add a city and there's a group of women in that city who are expats. There's generally women in, and then these women are happy to help, to give advice, questions, to meet up for coffees, for drinks, to be friends, and you would be surprised how many people are just willing to be a part of a community, because there's a lot of like-minded. You know souls out there who are doing the same thing and they know what it feels like to be alone and they want to provide that support Are those groups where you're going to to establish a community when you get there?

Speaker 1:

Because I'm just amazed, if I landed in a new city for a month, I'd probably, you know, hopefully I'd know two people, but I'm just not. I don't have the muscle memory of establishing new networks that quickly. How are you feeling comfortable in the communities where you're getting experience? It's not just you know, like I don't know. The other tourists that you know arrive into parties week.

Speaker 2:

I don't know. The other tourists that you know arrive into parties week. Well, I was. I am a little outgoing, so this might not be, for if you are a total introvert then this might be not the lifestyle for you. So generally what I do is I will go on the networks prior to me arriving, I post a photo, I post a little blurb about myself and I say, hey, I'll be here for you know X amount of days or X amount of weeks or months or whatnot Would love to meet up. These are my hobbies and interests and you would be surprised It'll be 10, 15 people. Oh, my God, I'm here at the same time Because generally these nomads, there's calendars that we kind of.

Speaker 2:

There's this unknown, unspoken calendar that we kind of follow and people are just ready to say I would love to meet up. Yes, I love working out. I, you know, I love board games or I love, you know, I'm a big coffee enthusiast. There's people who would literally like to do whatever it is that you're generally posting and it's very easy to to make these connections and, like you said, and these are like-minded women, you feel safe. There's no men in these groups and whatnot, so it feels like a safe space. I had a whole crew of individuals in Argentina. We had a weekly brunch that we went to. It was four of us and these women some of them were from the US, some was from the UK, so these are international, you know, travelers and they were all there for about six weeks to two, three months, and I'm now I met another, the girl I met in Argentina. We end up meeting up in Mexico City. I'm meeting another friend in Europe later this summer.

Speaker 1:

So it is really, if you think that you're alone, I guarantee you are not and that's and that is, that's a comforting feeling to have talked about potentially relocating internationally, and one of the concepts I introduced is it doesn't have to be a decision where you literally just make a commitment for your whole entire life and leave. This is a great way to test the waters for trying out different places, even potentially, if you'd like a second residence, figuring out before you commit things like that.

Speaker 2:

Exactly, and a lot of countries especially, I know, I believe, spain and Portugal they have like a non-revenue visa. So if you are retired and you're trying to just try a new place, you can get a visa to go there and not work as long as you're not making any income and you're living off of your current assets. So there's, I mean, they're encouraging this kind of travel. So it is becoming a lot easier to take advantage of these opportunities, these visas, and really explore a lifestyle that you might not have thought that you even wanted or was available to you.

Speaker 1:

Well, I want to ask a few like kind of financial planning related questions. First of all, I heard you say and this is an important part of these decisions you are thinking strategically in terms of budget, you are analyzing, you know how much, since you're working too, you're making, you're spending and it's not just YOLO. You know, like I do think this is an important component is like you do still need, for most people, some constraints on you know what you spend versus what you make and things like that. How have you tackled that side of things to make sure that the math, math in terms of your choices.

Speaker 2:

I'm not girl mapping these trips, I'm actually mapping these trips, so, yeah, so, like I said, so, as I look at these Airbnbs, you know some countries like the UK or, sorry, argentina and South America generally doesn't don't have taxes on their Airbnbs. When I go to Mexico City, there's almost a 15 to 20% tax on them. So I have to lower my budget in regards to what I'm spending because I know that I'm going to be paying an extra three $400 in tax. That, you know I didn't anticipate in Europe is they don't have tax. So it's certain things like that that I take into consideration.

Speaker 2:

You know, I look at flights, I look at eating costs and whatnot and a lot of, and exchange rates and whether or not it's better to pay with card or with cash or exchange all at once, or, you know, certain economies are a little more stable than others. So you know, so I do, I take all that into account. I literally I do research. I'm like how much is the normal, you know nomad spending on meals and whatnot? I look at the I call it the the cocktail, my, my, my, my. I look at cocktails in my way. What is it If I go out to drink? How much is it? For? You know, a good cocktail Is it. Is it $15? Or can I get a good cocktail for eight dollars and then I can like plan my my weekend budget?

Speaker 1:

this is helpful as well yeah, so it it there.

Speaker 2:

this information is available and if you think about, you know, I guarantee though, if you think about how much you're spending in the US, more than likely it is less. And but it said I love to cook, so I go to the grocery store, I'm buying, I'm buying necessities, I'm cooking for myself, I'm having yogurt in my normal routine in the morning. So you know, I'm literally doing the things that I would do had I been in the US, and it's still coming out to being cheaper. So I mean, you have to take into account that you don't have to have homeowners insurance, car insurance, car no, you know, gas, things of that nature, and so when you get rid of a lot of these expenses and a lot of these places you know are very walkable, you take the Metro, so you take into your transportation costs into consideration as well. So, as you look at your full budget, you can still come out, especially if you live in a major, a major US city. You will come out ahead.

Speaker 1:

I love it. One other thing you mentioned insurance is that you may not need, but how do you make sure that you're covered for medical care?

Speaker 2:

So I will say I am living life on the edge because I have medical insurance in the US. I go to, you know, I get all my checkups when I come and come back to the to the US. But surprisingly, you know, I've had people who've had to go to the doctor out of the country. It's not as expensive. You're not going to get a bill for $20,000 if you need to call, you know, an ambulance or go to a hospital. You know, I see videos online. A woman literally had her bill. She had to go to the emergency room get a test done. It was $181. So you know, even if you have some of these costs, they're not going to be outrageous. So I mean, you kind of, I guess, have a little discretionary fund for things of that nature, the just-in-cases and like things. I always realize that you can always come home so if something is starting to go wrong you can pack your things up and get back on a plane and go to, you know, our medical services here in the US.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, so you're not uninsured, you're just not getting, you're not purchasing international insurance.

Speaker 2:

No, that's just something I haven't done yet. I'm generally a very healthy person. I would say if you have health concerns, this might be something to consider as well. But yeah, I and a lot of that's the thing too, though A lot of countries you can walk into pharmacies and just buy medication if something's wrong, so you can say, oh, I'm not feeling well, and you can buy stuff over the counter, so you don't necessarily have to go to a doctor to treat things as much as we do in the US.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, In many countries pharmacists are actually the medical dispensers kind of first.

Speaker 1:

Exactly, that's super helpful. I think so. Probably half of you, Well, a third of you, are listening and thinking no way, I'm like here, this feels good. A third are listening like, sign me up, I'm going.

Speaker 1:

And I hope there's another portion of you that are listening and hearing that you don't need to benchmark your life to societal norms necessarily. I think that you know, especially in the age of social media, which you've capitalized upon and are actually teaching people how to live this life on social media, which we'll talk about in a moment you but you created a different footprint for, or blueprint for, yourself. That you know. I think, more and more we're pressured to be the same as everybody else and you know, have some societal norm that really no one has, and you have really been inquisitive of yourself to say what brings me fulfillment, happiness, contentment, what could I take, what could I subtract and what could I add? What kind of lessons learned do you have from taking this leap? That your mother may say what the heck are you doing, Sherita? But then you know others of us are like oh my gosh, tell me more.

Speaker 2:

Well, you know it's, it's almost like you have to think about your life and I always say what do you value, what's most important to you? And if you are leaning into the things that aren't, then it's. I decided it was time to make a change. I and I decided it was time to make a change. I looked at what I was able to do in the career that I had. Like I said, I was working remotely and I know a lot of people were working remote. They were called to go back to the office. They may feel that they're chained to a desk and they're looking for other positions, but I was fortunate enough to be able to take my skill set, work with a company and consult in a way that allowed me to prioritize.

Speaker 2:

I say living versus just working, because in New York I was. I was at one point in New York I had three jobs. I was a model, I was in office, I was a waitress at the same time and I was just you know it's, it's a lot. And then you kind of step back and I and I know a lot of people and I admire them, even like my best friend. She has this amazing career and the C-suite job and I love her for that.

Speaker 2:

And I just I knew that that was not the life that I wanted to live. I did not want to, I didn't want, I didn't want my success tied to how many meetings I had in a day. You know how much I could be making for the company. And I just started looking at myself and trying to decide what makes me happy, what. What am I fulfilled doing? And when I wake up in the morning, I love my job, I love what I do. So I don't feel that that it's taking away from the life that I want to live.

Speaker 2:

I I chose not to have any children. That was also a choice that I made. I know some women. You know that choice is made for them. But you know you have to deal with the cards that are, that are dealt to you and for you, and I just decided to take advantage. And and I would say, the lesson that I've learned is that you're going to have people who doubt you. You're going to have those who question you and you just have to be steadfast in your own decisions and know that if these people are not paying your bills, they're, they're, they're not with you 24 seven, and you have to live for, for yourself, and that's just that's how. And people are like oh, I feel bad, I'm supposed to. No, no, you're supposed to be doing what brings you joy.

Speaker 2:

To an extent, of course, like I said, I work, I'm healthy and all those things, and I think those are the most important because life is short and you know, and I also know that when you put off like these big trips and these big adventures until you're until later in life, sometimes it's not promised to you.

Speaker 2:

So I just, I prioritized doing the things that I can do now versus putting them off until later. You know when I'm supposed to be enjoying retirement, like so it's just, I just restructured, structured my life and you know who knows where this is going to lead me. I said I won't be traveling forever, but I hope that I inspire women to kind of take a leap that might sound unconventional and do things you know for them, because we support so many people, whether it's, you know, at work, we, you know, we are the multitasking Queens. Generally, you ask a man, he can't even answer a question and write something down at the same time. So it's just, you know, I, I, just I love the life that I've built, and I hope that I inspire people to do the same, if it's if it's something they want to do.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and it the life that you build may be, you know, a master garden. It doesn't have to be traveling the world.

Speaker 1:

Everybody's a little bit different, and it can be a little bit of everything, but nobody's going to stop your life and tell you now it's time to do the things that you would prefer to prioritize. And so I do think a financial planner engagement can be assistive, because our role is not to judge whether that what you desire is worthy of your pursuit. Our job is to help you achieve your aspirations and also objectively tell you when there are, you know, deficiencies or weaknesses or gaps in a game plan that might leave you either your current or future self vulnerable and it's like.

Speaker 2:

It's like what are your goals? Is it sustainable? Those are, those are like the questions that are asked and answer. And for me especially, I said coming out of the divorce, it was almost this was the most sustainable thing, because I wasn't ready to, you know, set up shop, as I say, get all of these bills. I knew that I could be in control of how much money I was spending every month, live as lavish or as inexpensively as I chose at that time, and it gave me the flexibility of knowing that.

Speaker 2:

You know, I'm not tied down to something right now if I wasn't comfortable with, if you know, I wasn't sure about my actual income or expenditures. You know it's a daunting. It's like from going from a marriage to. You know it's a daunting. Is it from going from a marriage to a single life? It's a daunting thing.

Speaker 2:

Restructuring. You know you went from sometimes splitting things to now everything falls on you. So you're just like, okay, how can I make this sustainable for me? And, like I said, it's not about, it's not about jumping on a plane and going around the world, it's whatever. You know, maybe it's starting that business, Maybe it's, like you said, starting that garden, maybe it's starting your Etsy shop, like whatever it is that you want to do. It's leaning into those fears and having that doubt of can I, should I? And kind of just casting that aside and saying yes, I can. And guess what If it doesn't work out? It doesn't work out, but you don't know, unless you try. And that's always like my mindset, because I said you don't have to do something forever, but if it's something you want to do, give it a try. You can always change your mind. Plans are always subject to change is what I always say.

Speaker 1:

And I think, just while we're on that topic of divorce, I think so many people try to recreate the house and the you know like, how can I make everything the same when everything has changed? And there is this period of time post-divorce, during and post-divorce that is highly disrupted, where you know decision-making may be diminished, making maybe diminished. Just you know you're making a commitment for how you think you're going to feel post-divorce, that it may or may not feel right for you after you've gotten you know kind of all of the disruption out of the way. So I that that fragile period, tender period, post-divorce is one where people often try to set a table that isn't one they really want to be sitting at.

Speaker 2:

Exactly.

Speaker 2:

You shouldn't make long-term decisions when you're in a temporary mindset, and I just I do believe that and, like I say you, a lot of emotions go into life changes and trying to set yourself up and feeling the pressure of, okay, I need to do this now, I need to do this. No, I'm like I realized that I needed to relax, I needed to chill, I needed to be in a space that wasn't going to be demanding. I was like there was no way in heck. I was going back to New York Cause that's like. It's like, oh, just the nice, calm city of New York.

Speaker 2:

No, so you know, said no one. So you know you have to find the space for yourself to grow to, to really, if you said, if you're thinking about doing something life change or something large, or something big that's different from where you are, be in a space that allows you to flourish in that, whether it's around a network of individuals who support you or, like I said, even if you lower, if you're lowering your expenses, so you have room to do that. The hardest thing to try to do is to build things when you're doing everything else at the same time, because I'm not sure if you said I think you have said this before that you can have it all, but just not all at the same time, so you've got to make decisions sometime on what is important and what you're going to do at that moment.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, and one of my favorite sayings is you can have anything but not everything. So you know, there there does need to be some discernment. Is there anything that you feel like you miss the most? Or you know, like every my, I love the aggregate of my life, but I got to this city and it was the worst, or anything like that.

Speaker 2:

Um, you know, I said I've, I've been, I've been smart, I said I've done my research to where. You know, every time before I get on a plane, I think to myself what are you doing? And then I get there and I'm like this is amazing. So you know, and then I'm always sad, like to leave, and my friends were like you have said you could live everywhere. I was like no, no, no, so. So I just think it's I, I, I. I don't have any regrets right now. I think the only the only thing I would have regretted if I haven't.

Speaker 2:

I didn't try this out and you know, I almost stopped traveling last year because I felt like I should and I realized I wasn't ready. So I'm going until the feeling, the spirit no longer moves me, as I would say, and we'll just see. Like I said, I will see where we're going. Life, like always, you know, sends signs and opportunities your way and you just have to be ready to receive them. So this is the space I'm in right now and, like I said, we'll see what next year brings.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, Well, a couple of lessons learned from our conversation. First of all, I think everyone has permission to grow, Grow as a person, grow in their relationship with their values and their self and what brings purpose and meaning to your life. And I think sometimes we forget about that. Sometimes we're, you know, everything's external, it's kind of happening to us, it's our to-do list. Sometimes we're you know everything's external, it's kind of happening to us, it's our to-do list. And so I really hear from you that growth mindset which I do think you know kind of brings fulfillment. And also, you know, whatever you're doing today isn't always permanent. So you have the power to both dream. And then you just described. I don't know if I'll always be doing this, but this is right for me.

Speaker 1:

Right now I don't know if I'll always be doing this, but this is right for me right now and I think that that is a really powerful way to build experiences and a journey, that it is right for someone, that that leaves you without regrets, and so if anyone feels inspired based on this conversation, it doesn't have to be that you're, you know, hopping continents all the time, although it may be.

Speaker 2:

It may be, I mean it's actually it. It's a more, it's affordable decision at this rate, and I mean I'm so ready.

Speaker 1:

But I've got this office that I also love. That brings me a lot of joy as well, as you know, tweens and teens that are a little more placed here. But I just love the story of what you're doing.

Speaker 2:

Children need routines and stability. So I do know people who are doing this with kids at a very young age, who are under the age of five, which is definitely doable as well, and then they've been traveling, they've decided to settle in a different country long term and then have them go to school there. The kids become more bilingual. So I mean there's different ways for everyone. I'm not saying you have to just be this single woman. I mean I know people who travel with their partner. So it's there, there are couples that do this as a, you know, as a way to explore, and it's just kind of. It's an unconventional life, but it's one that you know is for me desirable. And, as I said, I realized after having a network of people that I'm meeting in these different cities, that it's desirable to many. So, um, like I said, don't think you are alone, but you had to. I had to pare down a lot of things, you know the things that I travel with and things I thought were important.

Speaker 1:

Yeah, like, what's the weight of your luggage when you're going to the, when you?

Speaker 2:

head to Europe.

Speaker 1:

I am 50 pounds.

Speaker 2:

I'm 50, 51.2 sometimes. So yes, so yeah, so I, you know it's like I don't know if I can do that. That when you, when you, when you check your bag and you, I can, I know what it feels like now and I drop it on the scale and I'm like boom, like yeah.

Speaker 1:

Well, I'm glad it's always summer, because I would really struggle if it was.

Speaker 2:

Exactly, though it's always summer. You think about the items you're going to pack and you have a washer and dryer and you and you have to think to yourself I don't know these people, I don't care if they see me in the same outfit time and time again. So you know, it's not like that either, and you can always buy things. Sometimes, when you're traveling, you can buy things that you can't get at home. So that's great as well. Yeah, so I, I do, I I travel.

Speaker 2:

I say some people travel a little lighter than me, but I have, I have my bag, I do have a little carry on, I always have my computer and and yeah, so it's just, I make it, I make it work, a smart packing and decide. You know, I say this wasn't about fashion, but it's like having a color scheme. You're either going to be like neutrals or blacks and whites with some splashes. So you got. So this way you don't have to bring everything. You can bring outfits and mix and match and whatnot, which is also economical and it also that helps the budget. You, you're not sitting in Spain ordering on Amazon either. So it's like, yeah, I sit here and I've like think about. Every time I come back. I'm like click click, click order and how much money I'm saving, because I realized I don't need anything else. I'm good, I'm good, yeah, so either way it's a savings all around.

Speaker 1:

Well, your message has been that if you, if this is something you're desiring, you're not alone. You just need to find the community you are teaching people about the life of a digital nomad. Tell people where they can find your content and your lessons learned.

Speaker 2:

Yeah, so you can find me on Instagram. That's my most popular platform. I'm at Sharita Janelle. That's Janelle J-A-N-I-E-L-L-E. There will be a link in the show notes and then I'll also within my link in bio. I have a link to my Digital Nomad Blueprint, which is a 38-page comprehensive guide to getting started on this journey, and I want to help you think about the mindset find remote work, where to go, how to go, how. To date, we didn't talk about that either.

Speaker 1:

Oh yeah, that's a whole entire episode.

Speaker 2:

Maybe we'll do a follow-up on dating and the economics of that you know and travel.

Speaker 1:

Please, I would love to especially like post-divorce. Let's do that episode.

Speaker 2:

So I have all of that information in the guide. Divorce let's do that episode. Yes, so I have all of that information in the guide. There's also worksheets available that have templates for trying to find consulting work, remote work as well. I really, you know, I don't want to gatekeep anything and, like I said, if you have any questions, if you just reach out to me, I answer every single one of my DMs personally as well. I also have some information on my website too, at modernwomanagendacom. I've written some articles about traveling and my experiences as well. There's over 400 articles on the site as well, because it's shifted from Busy Wife to that Aswath Recipe, so it's a little bit. It's a busy woman's guide in the modern world, so we'll put it like that.

Speaker 1:

So yes, well, keep being amazing and keep being yourself, sherita. And also, since we have the woman behind the scenes on camera today, thank you so much for all the work that you do to make the Women's Money Wisdom Podcast a success. We really appreciate you.

Speaker 2:

Thank you so much. It was funny when you asked me to be on and I was just like I don't do anything financial and then I was thinking but my life is so, yes, yes it sure is, and this is exactly the conversations that we need to have.

Speaker 1:

Not everything is a spreadsheet.

Speaker 2:

Yes.

Speaker 1:

Although sometimes it is, but these conversations really, to me, are so impactful and you would be surprised how often you know I'm going to be bringing this conversation up in my conversations with clients as well. So thank you for sharing.

Speaker 2:

Well, I appreciate you and all the work you do to help women in the Dexter and just in the whole online community as well. So thank you so much, Melissa. Have a great week.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for listening to the Women's Money Wisdom Podcast. If you found value in this episode, the best way you can support the podcast is to forward an episode to a friend or leave a review. Go to pearlplancom and the podcast link to get all the resources and links mentioned.

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Melissa Joy, CFP

Co-host