“So, there is hope. I am still an optimist about this, and I’m doing as much as I can to keep myself healthy. If this is my destiny or whatever and there’s nothing I can do to stop it, that’s fine. But I’m gonna live my life to the fullest in the meantime, because nothing is guaranteed. So I’ll keep challenging myself to do things while my mind and my body are able.”
I have been following Devon Pass since before she was Devon Pass. Devon was one of the OG bloggers in the early 2010s, and I loved following her travel adventures on Tumblr. (She was Devon Mills at the time.) Today, Devon is married to her husband, Aaron, and they live in Washington with their five-year-old daughter, Evie. Devon is a copywriter for Nordstrom (cool!), and is a six-time marathoner. We cover a lot of ground in this episode — it really was just catching up with an old friend. Devon talks about how she learned to save money in her twenties, and how she was able to support herself while she traveled the world. She talks about the moments that made her stronger along the way, and talks about how she met her now husband. She shares her running story, and talks about what she’s doing right now to get faster and stronger. She talks candidly about new motherhood, and what it was like being the first in her friend group to have a baby. And she talks about her mom, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in her sixties. (Tissue warning for this part of the conversation.) It’s a well-rounded conversation that perfectly showcases this well-rounded woman.
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What you’ll get on this episode:
- How was your run today? (5:30)
- Devon shares her running story, and talks about a recent unsettling encounter on the run (9:00)
- On having a goal-oriented mentality, and where that came from (22:50)
- Devon looks back on her time traveling the world alone in her early twenties (28:30)
- Reflecting on new motherhood (40:00)
- What Devon’s days are like as a copywriter for Nordstrom (49:20)
- Why Devon says her marriage has been “stronger and happier than ever” during the pandemic (54:20)
- Devon talks about her mother’s Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis (1:03:30)
What we mention on this episode:
The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey
“Puzzle Pieces,” Devon’s post about being a new mom
Keep Sharp by Sanjay Gupta
Let Your Mind Run by Deena Kastor
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2 Responses
I enjoyed this conversation a lot! I just want to chime in about the safety issue. While I think being aware of safety is important, I also think we (specifically women) have been over-warned and over-scared. The vast majority of guys on bikes are just minding their own business. The vast majority of people in general are just minding their own business. I am an early morning runner, and at 5 am during the winter it’s dark. I never used to worry at all (although I would never wear headphones, that was mainly so I could hear cars) until my mother asked me wasn’t I worried for my safety because some scary man might get me? Then I did buy a pepper spray with a strap for my hand, which I carry with me. But I feel like I’m much more likely to use it on a dog, coyote, or other animal than a person.
I don’t want to minimize legitimate safety concerns. It’s a hard balance between being appropriately aware and being irrationally scared. I do perhaps tend towards not being concerned enough, but I guess I’d rather live my life without that fear. Taking precautions is one thing, but being hyper-aware all the time is too much for me.
Just my two cents! Enjoyed the entire podcast, thank you!
Yes! I so appreciate you sharing this. It’s so hard to find that balance — and I’m with you (and Devon, I think) in that I tend to feel a bit invincible on the run, and not aware or concerned enough. Thank you for listening and for adding to the conversation!