Jessica Di Re: Desperate Housewives, Broken Kneecaps, and Self Discovery

Have you ever dimmed your light to make others comfortable? Jessica Di Re's powerful story will make you question why we sacrifice authenticity for acceptance.

When Jessica broke her kneecap in a freak accident, she was forced to pause her non-stop lifestyle as a successful real estate broker. What could have been devastating became transformative. "I got really quickly right into mindset coaching," she shares, turning immobility into an opportunity for growth through journaling and intentional consumption.

Her candid revelations about reconnecting with her estranged father parallel her journey through the end of a significant relationship. Jessica articulates with remarkable clarity how these parallel processes helped her recognize patterns: "I excuse certain behaviors, and I think it's because I said no to my father for certain things, but I allowed other men to do that in relationships towards me."

Perhaps most moving is Jessica's experience as a stepmom, a role she embraced wholeheartedly—making special lunches with encouraging notes and creating adventures for children who weren't biologically hers. Though that chapter has closed, her reflections on balancing caregiving with self-preservation offer wisdom for anyone navigating blended family dynamics.

"Don't ever dim your light," Jessica advises women who might be shrinking themselves to fit others' expectations. "A lot of people will come into your life to dim it and not want to see you shine for their own selfish reasons... But at the end of the day, people are going to hate you, whether your light is dim or not."

Follow Jessica's journey on Instagram @JessicaDiRe or at jessicadire.com to join a community of women refusing to diminish their brilliance to make others comfortable.

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Chapters

• 0:00 Meet Jessica D Ray
• 2:35 Reconnecting with Father
• 5:29 Navigating Life as a Stepmom
• 17:55 Real Estate Journey
• 25:15 Injury and Personal Growth
• 29:49 Don't Dim Your Light
• 33:28 Sports and Future Aspirations

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:37

Welcome back to one on one with Mr you. Of course, I'm your host, mr you, in studio with us. Real estate broker Jessica D Ray is in the house today. He is so much more than just a real estate broker. We'll get into it. You're going to hear it fleshed out throughout the course of this episode. But, jessica, good to have you in the house today. How are you?

Speaker 2: 0:53

Thank you. Thank you for having me. I'm great it's the morning, it's sunny, good Something's good, good Look.

Speaker 1: 1:05

I just want to ask our guests to come in and kind of share a little bit of their childhood and their upbringing, how you got from there to here. If it's messy, we can handle it, we got capacity for it, no worries. But just share as much or as little as you'd like to Go ahead.

Speaker 2: 1:16

Awesome. So I'm currently 35 years old. I come from an Italian upbringing. Essentially, you know, I grew up with one parent that really took care of the household as I grew up. I recently just rekindled with my father again, and so that kind of brought up a whole other slew of emotions and feelings. You know, as I transition into this new period of my life, I just became single, getting back into the game. So, you know, having, I think, my father come into play at this point in my life was obviously, I think, something that was meant to happen and by God's grace it's it happened.

Speaker 1: 1:57

This can we get into, because this is a little bit deeper than the last conversation that we had. So I'm like okay, so you're giving me more room to ask you more questions. Sorry, that's okay, I threw the pitching line in. It's nothing to apologize. No, this is good though. This is good if you're good with it. So you're talking about getting into the game. I would never want to do this at this stage in life. Go back into the singles realm with all that goes on out there, all the complexities of the single life. If you will Tell me how you feel, like you know, getting to a weekend little issue with your father, how does that play into what you're looking for or you know, or what you're not looking for? Can you get into that a little bit? Help me the single post out who might be in the same spot absolutely.

Speaker 2: 2:46

I think everything is all about timing.

Speaker 2: 2:49

So I think that my relationship ending after five years correlated a lot with the men, the men I possibly chose in my past, my father not being there or around, not by default, I just think. There was just a mesh of personalities there and I took a step back and so did he. But now that I've, you know, regained this newfound confidence and being single and being on my own, I think reconnecting with my father also brought to terms like he is who he is, I am who I am. I'm not perfect, neither is he, but I can come to the table in agreement and now moving forward, understanding who he is as a person, understanding myself, um, as a person as well. I can also, you know, in this new stage of life, being single, I can see, okay, what do I really want in the person I want to share my life with, you know, and kind of see why didn't it work with my mom or my father and what can I take from that and put it into what I really want with my partner moving forward.

Speaker 1: 3:49

Do you feel like you got to hold on what that hard part was in your upbringing? That kind of got you to where you are? You kind of figured out, you know. You know what you don't want to be doing, you know, are you dealing with the rough stuff or is it like a work in progress?

Speaker 2: 4:08

It's always a work in progress. I'd say if I ever, if I ever had to figure it out, there's always going to be something that's going to come up right.

Speaker 2: 4:13

So yeah, essentially I think I'm the type of person it's like if you do me wrong, um, I kind of take a step back and kind of refigure like no, I don't want that. But then again that translated totally different into the relationships I allow myself to be in. I excuse certain behaviors and I think it's because I said no to, perhaps my father, for example, for certain things, but I allowed other men to do that in relationships towards me, so I kind of was an oxymoron essentially. So I kind of was an oxymoron essentially. So I kind of had to refine and retune things to recalibrate what I really want.

Speaker 1: 4:49

Thank you. It's a trailblazer in many ways, really getting some things regarding the industry you're in, and I believe you have a voice for voiceless women, so I want to get into that too. But one of the parts of your stories is so interesting to me I spent time with you on it when we were in our pre-interview and that's your role as a stepmom. I'm moved by that because I was a part of a blended family as well. I came into this situation many years ago. It's been almost 30 years now, so it's not really fresh anymore. But I was astounded by how you approached that and I loved it. I got the permission to talk about it on the show, so if you change your mind, I think it's really good. So tell me, how did you grow into the role of mom? I'm assuming that was your first experience. How did you navigate those challenges of being a mom without having any idea what you were doing?

Speaker 2: 5:46

talk about that a little bit I, you know what it's kind of, I think, if anything, even new moms, they kind of just wing it or it's a natural instinct, I feel you don't know, right. They always say you're never ready until you have to get be ready, right. So I'm going in, going into it. You know, I kind of prepped myself. I knew I was always good with kids. I babysat very different story, but maybe that when I was younger very good with kids, I loved doing, you know, activities, adventures, stuff like that. So I knew I'd be like the cool stepmom.

Speaker 2: 6:20

I always knew that in my heart that that was a role that I could possibly play. But obviously, when it came to disciplining kids or you know, you kind of have to rely on the other person in the day that's not your children, right. And so I kind of really relied on the other person, kind of bringing that to the table and I'm just there to possibly be the nurtured, you know, the one that's giving the nurturing and giving the most fun possible, like the cool aunt in a way. But I left that, the hard stuff to to the parents, I guess you could say the maternal parents, and my role was to just be a support system and I think I really excelled at that part for sure and we did share, uh, and we want to go into too much, as much as you want to go into with this, yeah, and you were no longer in that role anymore.

Speaker 1: 7:08

What's that look like on the back end now For the child and or children, and for you?

Speaker 2: 7:16

You know what? I always had their best interests at heart and with everything I did I enjoyed making their lunches in the morning, or getting creative and giving the little notes or things, or guiding them through their scenarios sorry, I love that.

Speaker 2: 7:33

That's awesome yeah, I know I actually really enjoyed being a send mom, to be quite honest, you know, yes, you do forfeit a bit of your own self to be in that role, and you know if you have them every so often so week by week it's, you know, every two weeks I would basically have them, that sort of change on a weekly week to basis. After a certain point in time and I did find I did I was losing a bit of myself and putting a lot of emphasis on my surroundings and these children. But that's kind of the role you almost have to accept and you also have to put boundaries. I think that was something I needed to learn myself too was okay in order for me to come to the table, you know, fully in my element and with my glass full empty, not empty, sorry, how can I make sure that it doesn't become empty? And so I had to put proper routines in place.

Speaker 2: 8:25

So making sure I work out in the mornings, I get my alone time at night or somewhat in the day while they're at school. So it's just really emphasizing, you know, those, those roles throughout the day. But after, now that I'm alone, I'm realizing, yes, I do have more time for myself and I do have more time to make sure my glass is always filled. But there's obviously that there's something also lacking, like there's not somebody that's asking my opinion or wanting to do something, or there's that lack of, you know, fun. I guess you could say I'm not a big partier, so it's not like I'm going to the club every night drinking.

Speaker 2: 9:01

So I think I found fulfillment in being a stepmom, mom, and I think that's kind of gone now, um, and I wish I still had a close relationship with them, but I don't and yeah, so I mean it is what it is. I just, you know, I hope I leave an imprint in their life and they can move forward to whatever I gave them.

Speaker 1: 9:21

I want to stay there for a little while, if you don't mind me doing that Quick question Would you ever do a blended family situation again if you had an opportunity?

Speaker 2: 9:34

Different scenario? For sure I would, I possibly would. I think you know what, in every relationship, there's two people right and the other person. Well, there's the one you have with yourself and there's the one you have with another person. But bringing in a blended family, it's a relationship with you yourself, the other person and then the children right. So there's a whole mix in there and I think that you really have to rely on yourself first and foremost and I think that I was lacking that part for a bit but also on the other person as well.

Speaker 2: 10:09

We got to be super crystal clear on, like, what those values, what your day-to-day looks like. You know, what are the responsibilities like, and I think having that love between each other, too, is is tremendous, it's going to get tough, it's going to be hard. Two, is is tremendous, it's gonna get tough, it's gonna be hard. I think that you really do need to make sure that that love and that spark and that connection is always there, no matter what, because everyone will say when having children it's hard, it really takes a toll on a relationship for sure. So, yes, I would do it. Circling back to the question, but I, I would do it, but I think it would have to just be with the person that really understands what it is to have a person um come into this blended family scenario. I think it was the first for that, my ex, so it you know like even gracie. You know he was trying to figure that out too. Yeah, I'm talking for everybody involved, so that makes sense.

Speaker 1: 11:03

So, even when you decide you want to step into the realm of mom again, whether it's mom or stepmom, what do you think you bring to the table this time? I know you have a lot of experiences and you grew. I hear a lot of maturity in you. Thank you your experiences. What do you think you bring to the table for the next round?

Speaker 2: 11:21

Good question. I think I bring to the table, you know, a sense again, sense of maturity. I think that's really important. I think kids sometimes, when they, you know, are separated from their mom or their father, there's a lot going on emotionally and I think that I can bring that maturity back in and reel them back into the scenario. I can always bring that fun, that's for sure. I'm very adventurous and activity-based, so that's not an issue. And for myself, if I were to have my own children too, I mean, I think it's always making sure that I fill my cup first, because I cannot be present for my own kid or someone else's kid if I don't, you know, fill my cup first.

Speaker 1: 12:05

I did ask you a tough question on pre-interview and I asked your permission first because I know it's going to be a little bit of a tough one. But I want to ask it because I know people are watching and listening in the era that we live in and I want to give a commentary on the world and politics and such. I'm just saying that in the world around us right now there's a lot of rah-rah and a lot of empowerment stuff and people aren't really doing this is a phrase that I coined must, I guess uh, not doing the mirror time work. They're not looking at themselves and dealing with themselves. Two-part question for you, jessica how do you currently feel about love and relationships as a whole, based on what you've been through and what's your partner challenges that you went to?

Speaker 2: 13:32

so how do I feel about love as a whole? I think love requires a lot of patience. I think nowadays, as you mentioned you know, there's a lot of rah, rah, um, there's a lot of noise, and we have to filter through that noise, and divorce is a word that's been being thrown around a lot more than it was in the past. I feel like the past. People are fighting and trying to keep each other together, versus now. It's just so easy to do and everything is so accessible different women, different parts of life, and so I think, when it comes to love, I think there's just has to be a mutual loyalty and respect there, and I think that if you're going to be in love and and going to live a life together, that you're going to have to just really be trustworthy with each other and just know that this is the path and we're doing it together that's part of the second part of the question.

Speaker 1: 14:31

How do you, how do you, how do you feel about that? You gave me an answer not, we're going to do that-interview. You said you're still good with it In regards to the relationship and how things change for you and your husband. What was your part in that? Do you see a role in that? I mean, we always talk about accountability on this show. We always talk about, you know, kind of looking in the mirror and having that mirror time and you know, a lot of times people around us and the world around us, they don't want to do that. A lot of finger pointing and a lot of you know this is on you and you know, and nobody ever deals with the whole self-assessment thing. So can you speak to that a little bit?

Speaker 2: 15:09

Yes, I'm all for accountability. You know what I think at the end of the day, yes, as I mentioned before, it think at the end of the day, yes, as I mentioned before, there it takes two people to be in a relationship and, you know, I think I may have gotten mad on certain things. I didn't communicate myself and, knowing that perhaps this person communicated in a different way than I did, I kind of responded without responding. So I kind shut closed and just kind of did what I had to do to move forward, and I don't think that's the right thing to do. I think you should always be allowed to communicate and I always think you should always have a voice in your relationship. And so I think, yes, I did have a part in that.

Speaker 2: 15:48

I probably didn't communicate, or then I would blow up. You know, I wouldn't not necessarily an aggravated person, but I just be like, oh no, you know, or try to, you know, make sure that I spend time alone and didn't really answer my phone, and I just wanted some some space and peace to really think, and I think that didn't lead to that downfall. But I think obviously that person was just like oh, are you you okay, are you in this or or what's going on, but the other person also has to have a an ear to listen that's good, that's really good.

Speaker 1: 16:24

I'll leave you alone the answer the question is fantastic. I love it all right, so you are crushing it in the world of real estate. Why trying to get into it? Well, I know that there is usually impetus on making a lot of money in a. I'll say quick, I want to diminish what you guys do, but in in a timely manner, if you will. So tell me why you got into real estate in the first place. Why, why were you drawn to that genre? What's the other thing you could have been doing?

Speaker 2: 16:56

you know what and it comes down to what I mentioned before as being a stepmom and it allows you that ability to make your own hours and schedules. Mind you, we do work around the clock, so I gotta maybe take it back, but it does allow you that flexibility. So people are coming, you know, from school. You have the you know that time frame to really work around certain things of your life, and I think I went into it having that entrepreneurial mindset of like I can make my own hours, I can make my own time and I can actually really connect with people that I really want to connect with. Versus working in a corporate job and field. You're really just at a certain task with a certain team of people and you are now able to touch upon all a lot of things and you know, now there's like memes going around on, you know, instagram and facebook. Being like an agent's now got to be a content creator, a therapist and all these things which is in fact true.

Speaker 2: 17:50

So, um, I think you know in real estate why I was drawn to it was that it touched a lot of facets that I really liked so marketing, home staging, stuff like that and it wasn't for the money, it was more for all of that what encompasses real estate essentially.

Speaker 1: 18:09

So it sounds like you grew to love it.

Speaker 2: 18:11

Yes, I did, I did. It has its ups and downs, for sure, and it's a very challenging role, but I just I love giving like those aha moments to people where they're like, oh, I didn't think of it that way or I didn't see this house in this light, and so I love being helpful in that way, because sometimes I have a skill set maybe somebody else does not have.

Speaker 1: 18:33

And that makes a lot of sense, I you know. Just getting to know you. I'm a feeler so I connect with folks where I'm your friend, don't worry about it, that's just where I'm at. So getting to know you. I have a concern that I think about in your industry, what happens when things change from a world standpoint, when it comes? We've seen that happen in recent years, but it was industry. What? What is what's my friend Jessica going to do if something changes and are you preparing against that? Is there a plan? Can you share it on a live broadcast? I don't even know.

Speaker 2: 19:14

I it's funny because I was a real estate agent prior to the pandemic, during the pandemic, after the pandemic, so I've seen it all. Almost the best thing to do is almost, first of all, have your resources. Like I'm always developing a book of, not a book of business, but a book of people that I always go to, so, whether it's people that are in real um, real estate law or mortgages or anything like that, so I can help my clients further, answer their questions, say, okay, if there's like a delay in something, how does that work for you, right? So I think that's important having resources.

Speaker 2: 19:51

And obviously I really try to emphasize like let's sit down or let's do a zoom, let's figure a game plan out together, versus like you thinking okay, what, what happens next and where all these balls are falling, and you're just like where do I pick these up? Right, and you're juggling a bunch of things. So I think it's really just strategizing. And I had a client the other day that was like you know what, just talking to you makes me feel better, because now I feel like I have a plan moving forward. So I've seen it all, and then I can kind of guide people with what the plan is and I think that's the best thing to do right now we're in a very shifty market and people just don't know what to do I think it's presenting the stats, presenting what happened in the past and what we can see, moving forward a little bit and then coming up with the right game plan with the resources at hand.

Speaker 1: 20:42

You've been considered a trailblazer in the industry. Can you kind of explain briefly some of the highs and the lows that got you to the place that you are?

Speaker 2: 20:52

Sorry, you got cut off.

Speaker 1: 20:54

Oh, I hope not. Okay, you've been considered a trailblazer in your industry. Can you kind of share briefly some of the highs and the lows that kind of got you to where you are and what you do?

Speaker 2: 21:04

Oh yes, well, the pandemic was one of them. We didn't know whether or not you know if we could see houses. We had to do virtual visits, 10-minute time slots, or then it became in-person visits with 15 minute time slots and you had to. You know, there was 12 offers on the property and you had to make a decision rather quickly if you wanted to be the 13th offer.

Speaker 2: 21:26

Um, so the highs and the lows essentially was just to really calm everyone's nervous system, including my own, and make sure, and make sure that the investment was going to be okay in the end. Right, and I've literally told people I'm not writing this offer for you. I think you're making a super unrational decision, uh, and I don't think you're doing and people have actually thanked me to this day to be like, thank you, we. You know, if we wrote that offer, I would have been miserable or I would have not been happy or or something like that. So I've, I think, saying no as much. You know we're alone, we're solopreneurs, you need to make money to survive, right, and I get that.

Speaker 1: 22:06

But I think, at the end of the day, my clients always come first and saying no, sometimes it's, it's okay, it's their best interest so you talked a lot and we're getting close to the end of our show, so I want to not monopolize all of your time, but we're getting some really awesome questions in. Alright, your journey of self-discovery we've been talking about that a little bit. What are you hoping to find?

Speaker 2: 22:34

Good question. I'm always looking to find something and I'm going. Okay, where is it? Where's the? Where's the unicorn? Um I, what I'm looking to find essentially is really my, the best version of myself. I think we're always we're in it in a time where, you know, doom, scrolling, news, all these other things are surrounding us and I just kind of want to be able to just filter out all the noise and really center myself and really know and be clear as to what my vision truly is and just go down that path and continue down that path every single day. I I almost just wasn't for work. I would probably check my phone and live on a farm.

Speaker 2: 23:23

But, because there's too much media out there, but I love consuming and I think it's what we consume, and being conscious of what we consume is kind of what I really want to find, too is just being conscious of what I consume and what others consume as well. I want to be a positive beacon of light.

Speaker 1: 23:41

I love that. That's amazing. That's what we need to be doing. You kind of jettled in your real estate and I was going to notice you have any personal growth too, so I respect that.

Speaker 2: 23:50

Thank you.

Speaker 1: 23:52

Talk a little bit about your recent injury that kind of made you slow down. Now I know what this is like because if you're a hard charger, I think you and I both uh, we share that. We share that trait. So having to slow down is almost like a prison. Tell me about your injury. What caused it, how it changed your life, how did to make you reassess and gain new perspective?

Speaker 2: 24:20

go ahead so it was just a freak accident. I just fell on my knee and broke my kneecap in half, and it was not a very common thing to happen, and so I was just bamboozled with information when it happened. They were like you might be in a cast for a full year. We don't know if you need surgery, and surgery might take months and you might not be walking for a long time. So it really again filtering out the noise. I really was like no, stop listening to all this information and just get to the source and get the information. And finally I was able to get surgery rather quickly and and recover rather quickly as well too.

Speaker 2: 24:58

So that really took a toll, because I really had to put work on pause, everything on pause, couldn't walk, couldn't drive, I had to say immobile.

Speaker 2: 25:08

And so you start to think like okay, I'm, as women too, we're like health-wise, like I can't work out, I'm going to be fat and ugly, all these things, and it's just the narratives we keep telling ourselves. And then every day I was just like no, this is not what I want to do, as I'm here at eMobile, like let's just change this, this scene, right. So for me, I got really quickly right into mindset coaching, also into other business coaching for real estate as well too, because I'm like, let me take this time to really focus on myself. So journaling and then again, like I mentioned, like just consuming the things I really wanted to consume. So, whether it was just a show that brought some joy to myself or you know a book to dive into, I kind of really focused on just. You know, it is what it is. At the end of the day, there's nothing I can do, but I'm able to at least consciously select what I'm, what I'm doing.

Speaker 1: 26:02

I love it. What would it show that? What you're?

Speaker 2: 26:05

doing, you're gonna die of laughter. I'm a very. I'm a very nostalgic person so I said no, let me re-watch a show that brings a little bit of humor and also, you know, at the end of the show sometimes it makes you want to rethink life a little bit. And it was Desperate Housewives. I know it's quirky, it's funny and there's like some little hints of you know, just these little life lessons in the show.

Speaker 1: 26:33

And I think I know the show. I used to watch the show, but I guess I know the show. I used to watch the show, but I guess, I guess I didn't get the deep perspective part at the end, you know what?

Speaker 2: 26:44

no, because there's like little life lessons between you know the the moms on the show. And so I really dove into that show for some odd reason, I don't know why, and I just kept laughing. It was certain a lot of you know laughable moments and I think it kept my spirits high and I just it was one of those shows where I was like you know what, if I have nothing to do, I'm gonna go to the next episode, and so that's kind of what I did.

Speaker 1: 27:05

Desperate housewives okay, it's okay, no judgment. I'm just surprised you shocked me on that, you. You got me, okay, cool I'm here to surprise you.

Speaker 2: 27:16

I'm here to surprise you.

Speaker 1: 27:17

You did a couple of times already. There's probably more to come in the future. All right, so, based on all that you've experienced, all that you've gone through we're getting close to, I'm going to have to start cutting questions. I have so many more questions for you, but we don't have enough time for all of it. But what do you believe you have to give to the female entrepreneur that's listening and watching right now? They may say, oh, they just heard a story. But what do you think you can give that's germane to every female entrepreneur that you know will be impactful for them if they take your advice? What would that be?

Speaker 2: 27:53

hope, hope, yes, hope. You know things will always. Things are always going to change and keep changing and no matter where you are in your life or in whatever area you are in, there's just always hope. Just give it, give yourself time. I think we just are always struggling and running around and doing all of the things, but just know that with time and just give yourself hope that things will just work in your favor and you will get to the other side. Just give yourself that hope and give yourself that grace as well, because we're so hard.

Speaker 1: 28:36

You talked a lot about women not dimming their light. I want to give you an opportunity to kind of speak to women who may be watching this, who may be in that category. What do you advise for them? Help some women out, jessica.

Speaker 2: 28:50

Help them out I dimmed my light for so long.

Speaker 1: 28:55

And I Explain what it means.

Speaker 2: 28:58

Sorry, explain what that means too, just so people might Dimming your light, I feel like the person you are, your essence, your aura, the bubbliness that you are, the things that you say, the things that you do that just bring light and joy to the people around you. I think I dimmed that down a lot because of the people that really did not want to see me shine for a very long time or always had an opinion, and I decided to dim that down so I can fit in other people's boxes. And now I've realized, like no, why do I need to do that? This is my life, my journey, my script that's already been written for me and I continue to write my own story. Why do I?

Speaker 2: 29:39

I'm the main character. Why do I need to dim that light? And I think maybe that's the message to women is don't ever dim your light. A lot of people will come into your life to dim it and not want to see you shine for their own selfish reasons, and I think you always just have to reel yourself back in and be like no, this is who I am and I'm not going to change, unless it's a bad behavior. But I think you should never dim your light for anyone because at the end of the day, people are going to hate you, whether your light is dim or not.

Speaker 1: 30:12

Yeah, I love that. Thanks for sharing that, and you're building a community for like-minded women. I wish I had more time to get into that, because I find that fascinating. What kind of support do you believe women need most right now? What are you providing in your community? What are you seeing and hearing?

Speaker 2: 30:28

I think women are like a little bit more confused than ever because there's so much noise again in the media like, oh, skinny, or you have to have a, you know, do this and do that and be an entrepreneur, and hustle and grind and be a mom, and I think there's just so much stuff is what I'm going to call it coming at women and I think we're just losing the right vision to move forward. Like what, what is it that you really want at the end of the day, if you don't want to hustle and be in that hustle culture, don't? You don't have to. There's no playbook saying that you have to do that.

Speaker 2: 31:03

Some women just naturally are just good at you know being a mom and staying home and you know helping out the family, and that's okay to do that also. So I think it's just what women need right now is just the support of like-minded individuals, and I hope that they can seek that out through like groups or their community. Um, just go out there and just try to look at the people that want the same thing as you and just connect with those people. I think we need to.

Speaker 1: 31:30

We need more of that last two questions to the show and at the end I'm going to have you let everybody know where they can find you. So the next to last question. You talked a little bit about your Italian heritage, but I think you told me you hadn't been there yet, right? No, tell me. Tell me what the pull is for you. What do you want to experience? What do you want to feel when you finally get a chance to get to that place physically, to be on that ground, geographically? What do you want to feel? What do you want to see? What do you want to learn?

Speaker 2: 32:01

history. I mean we learn it on paper and books and things that we watch and read. But I want to just be there and really absorb everything with my own eyes, my own ears, my own sense. I just want to be able to see the history of everything and where I came from. But in the day, it's my background, it's where my grandparents came from, it's where the values and culture came from, and I think, being in a place where that awesome food oh, my god, oh yeah.

Speaker 2: 32:28

That I mean untasteful for this, but just tasting the real, authentic food. It's not the same as it is here, right? So I think, just absorbing all of that, the food that my grandparents lived you know with and and came with their recipes from, and all that sort of thing, I think just being in that essence, will just be mind-blowing okay, this is our final question of the episode, the CMV question.

Speaker 1: 32:58

All of our guests know about it in advance. We're in mission and vocation question Now to diminish your work and your skills and your experiences. They're all valuable to you and to me. I wanted to really wipe everything away that you've done up to this point. It's a hobby wiping it away. If it's a work you've done in career, a mission, wrapping it away. What is jessica most likely doing right now, outside of what she's already done? What do you think you're doing? You could, you, you can still keep your entrepreneurial mind that you have. You can still keep that. Answer this question what do you think you're doing right now?

Speaker 1: 33:33

I would either, I would either two things I always wanted to be um in sports in some way, shape or form.

Speaker 2: 33:44

I played sports my whole life. Yeah, I played soccer my whole life. So I think, just being in sports, either if I was a player myself, or just perhaps I wanted to be a sports. Oh my God, what's the word I'm looking for?

Speaker 1: 33:57

Broadcaster. Yes, something of the sort, yeah something in sports I'm telling you, or an agent, sports agent, is this now? I always I don't always follow up with this, but I have to ask. Another question Is off the table, completely no chance that stuff? Is going to happen Sorry.

Speaker 2: 34:20

Is there no chance this could potentially happen? Oh, no, that's that ship has sailed. To become into sports again? Oh, at this juncture? No, I think that. No, I had to start much younger, I think maybe well, I tried to you know, coach, when I can, and this year I couldn't because of the knee injury, but I think sports would have been. I love sports.

Speaker 1: 34:43

I got a story for you that might change your mind. Stay on with me after we get done. Okay, don't go off. Stay in, make sure the upload goes through, but then I have a story for you that might change your mind. But thank you again for being on here, jessica. I really appreciate it. Let everybody know where they can find you and just be fine with your work, go ahead.

Speaker 2: 35:01

Yes, just you can follow me on Instagram at Jessica D Ray, just my first and last name, or jessicadraycom, and I'm on Facebook as well.

Speaker 1: 35:11

Awesome. All right, I'm looking sorry, so I hope you guys watching and listening. Thank you again for tuning into this live episode. It's on all of our social media platforms and, with a few exceptions, we get Instagram going in about 30 to 45 minutes. Of course, in about an hour, all the listening platforms will have this episode. This is going to be on Spotify, apple Podcasts, iheartradio, pandora. She's going to be everywhere. So thank you again, jessica, for being here with us. We appreciate she's going to be everywhere. So thank you again, jessica, for being here with us. We appreciate it. Thanks for watching, listening guys. Have a fantastic day. Jessica and mr you, we're out of here. Have a great day.