Casey Berglund:
I'm curious to start by asking you how you would define the season of life that you're in right now.
Deborah Rocket:
Big question. And I feel like, I know before we've had lots of discussions about life and where we're at, and with you moving back to Canada, there's been another friend leaving Spain. It's kind of thrown a few questions into my mind of like, am I in the right place? Am I doing the right thing? And it really has also brought me back, like, full circle, back to the fact that I am in the right place. And I just sat on the terrace before this call and just sat in the sunshine and was like, I just love it here so much. Like I love my life here in Barcelona so, so, so much. And I think the chapter that I'm in right now is like reevaluating, like, what the next chapter is in Barcelona. Like when I first came here, it was like settling in, getting grounded with my business, making friends, making this my home, like really integrating. And now it's like after four and a half years, like what is the next chapter of Barcelona? And I really feel like that is the kind of the desires that I really want in my life, which is like the one day to become a mother, to meet my soulmate, to create family here, to create even more roots. And I think for me, that really means like integrating further, like learning the language, integrating with the traditions, and like seeing this as like Barcelona version two for me, exploring what that means. And I have realized I'm in the right place, but it doesn't mean that I can't go and come back. And I think sometimes I've kind of been always like, "Oh, I need to be here because my visa relies on it." And I really want to spend my time here. But also I have a little feeling that I just want to go to England for a couple of months and use the freedom that I have to be with my family while I don't have my partner and while I don't have, like, my full-term home here. So the season that I'm in is like exploring the freedom that I have, while also still knowing that I have this home in Barcelona to come home to. So I just feel like empowered in that decision and just knowing that I'm on the right track and also being, like, open-minded—like being open-minded to what unfolds these next few months and knowing that I really have the vision, and however that happens, it will happen.
Casey Berglund:
You really do have the vision. And it feels important to celebrate the season that you have already made happen. Like I heard you say there, you've been here for four and a half years, and you moved from England, from the UK. And the intention was really to land and start to build a life and bring your business here and make friends. And I just want to reflect back to you how brilliantly you have done all of that. Like you have beautiful friends. You have grounded into the space and the culture here. You do have a business that offers freedom and flexibility for you to live in Spain. You've gone through some of those initial challenges of what it means to relocate. And so I think, obviously I want to celebrate this next version of you that is coming forth and the clarity you have on what you're calling in in the next chapter, but not without celebrating where you've been and how you have really made that happen. And I think it's hard sometimes for people to understand who haven't moved abroad, how big of a deal that is and how much it takes to be in a space and stay in a space. And I just love that through our friendship and through open and honest conversations, we both have come to our deeply aligned truth, which on the outside is opposite decisions in a way. Me returning to my home country, you staying in this country and making it yours even more. So I just think that's really cool. And I also would love for you to slow down a little bit of what has happened in the questioning, you know, as you started to notice some friends leaving Spain, some of your expat friends in particular who are returning home or moving to another country. Like how specifically has that brought up questions for you, and how did you navigate those questions to come to this decision that you're here, you're staying, you're in it?
Deborah Rocket:
Thank you, Casey, firstly, for like celebrating me for this past chapter, because I think, you know, in life, we always kind of, once we reach something, it's like we go to the next, the next goal, and we often forget to actually celebrate how far we've come. And like you say, how difficult it can be to navigate moving abroad, like especially with a different language, different customs, and all the things that come up with it. So, you know, I am really so grateful for my life here. I really, really am. And the friendships I have have just been an absolute blessing. My friends here, like, literally light me up and have become like soul family, and I'm forever grateful for that. And you know, when I had like these questions coming up recently, the way that I really navigated it was just reflecting back on like the things, the decisions I've made in the past. And you know, when I lived in London for five years, I had a great life there, had great friends, felt like something was missing, felt like I wanted more adventure. So then I went traveling, went back to England, went back to the North of England for a while, then ended up coming to Barcelona, which was kind of just this happy accident that happened and unfolded. And since I came here, I built a whole new life. And I realized yesterday it was like coming to that five-year period, and I was like, do I have a five-year itch? Like they say the seven-year itch, but do I have a five-year itch where every five years I go through this cycle? I build a life, and then I kind of run off and want to chase something new. And that really made me think, like, what is it that you want, that you're thinking might be better somewhere else? And like, is there always somewhere better? Like, yes, maybe there is, but, like, people say the grass isn't always greener. And, you know, sometimes in life you have to make decisions of like, do I want to be grounded, or do I want to expand and grow and start again somewhere else? And I'm at the stage in my life—I'm 35 now, and I know that's still young—but for me, I have different goals other than starting again on my own and building all of my new friendships again. It's like my current goals are to meet my soulmate, to create a family, and to build a stable life together. And that might mean moving with someone, but it doesn't, for me, mean moving on my own. I think the chapter of doing things on my own in terms of like moving, like living on my own, is over. The next chapter for me is how can I bring in my soulmate along for the ride with me? And that's the chapter I'm focusing on. It really made me think, okay, if I'm going to travel and find something else, yes, I could meet someone along the way, but right now it's not really something that's on my heart. And why am I moving from something that I've built and I've worked this hard to get here, you know, especially living in Spain with the visas and everything? I worked really hard to get here, and five years in, I don't want to give that up for the unknown, even though I do have freedom in my business. So like some people, sometimes people say to me, like, "Debs, you could just be a digital nomad, travel the world, go wherever you want to," and yeah, I could. And, you know, sometimes I do do that travel, but for me, it just doesn't give me the same satisfaction that it once did. And I have come back to my truth, and my truth is that I really value stability. I value routine. I still value travel and expansion, but right now I am excited to do this with someone in my next chapter.
Casey Berglund:
I hear you, sister. I hear you. I also have been the woman who prides herself on solo adventures and the empowerment and the courage to do things on your own and be that independent woman and change your whole life over and over and over again and go through multiple cycles of death and rebirth. And in some ways, I think that is an ongoing journey when you're a growth-oriented human. And sometimes the growth looks like stillness and planting two feet on the ground. And the other saying, the other "grass is greener" saying, is like the grass is greener where you water it. And what I'm hearing you say is I want to water my grass here. I want to be here. And...
Deborah Rocket:
Yep. I want a wild meadow with beautiful grass, thick and luscious and abundant.
Casey Berglund:
Yes. I love that. I love that so much. And that image is so beautiful. And I think what I also hear you saying is like, I want to be here and I want to do this with my person. And I think there's something that is, there's a maturity and there's a wisdom in that recognition of like, I have done the solo adventure thing. I have proven to myself that I can do it. And now what I desire is different. And I think sometimes we can judge ourselves for that shift or we can feel like, oh, I'm losing my independence or I'm losing my sense of adventure. But actually, it's like, no, this is a different kind of adventure. This is a different kind of courage. This is a different kind of growth. And I think that's really beautiful.
Deborah Rocket:
Yeah, exactly. And I think, you know, there's nothing wrong with wanting to share your life with someone. Like, I think we live in a society where it's like, you know, girl boss, independent woman, do it all on your own. And yes, like I've done that and I'm so proud of that. But also, like, I want to share my life with someone. I want to create a life with someone. And I think that's equally as powerful and equally as courageous. And I think, you know, sometimes we can feel like we're not being independent if we want that. But actually, it's like, no, I've proven to myself that I can be independent. And now I'm choosing to share my life with someone. And I think that's a really powerful choice.
Casey Berglund:
Absolutely. And I think it's interesting because I think in the personal development world, in the spiritual world, in the entrepreneurship world, there can be this glorification of the solo journey. And there can be this sense of like, if you need someone or if you want someone, then that's a sign of weakness. And I think that's actually really damaging. And I think what you're speaking to is like, no, actually, wanting to share your life with someone, wanting to create a life with someone, that's a beautiful, natural human desire. And there's nothing wrong with that. And in fact, it can be a sign of maturity and wisdom to recognize that that's what you want.
Deborah Rocket:
Yeah, exactly. And I think, you know, I've been on this journey of like really understanding myself and really loving myself. And I think that's been so important because I think you can't truly love someone else until you love yourself. And I think that's been my journey over the past few years is really coming home to myself, really understanding who I am, what I want, what I value. And now I feel like I'm ready to share that with someone. And I think that's a really beautiful place to be.
Casey Berglund:
Yeah. And I think there's something about like, you can't call in the right person until you know who you are. And I think that's what you're speaking to is like, I've done the work on myself. I know who I am. I know what I want. I know what I value. And now I'm ready to call in the person who aligns with that. And I think that's really powerful.
Deborah Rocket:
Yeah. And I think, you know, I've also been on this journey of like understanding my worth and understanding what I deserve. And I think that's been so important because I think in the past, I've settled for less than what I deserve. And I think now I'm at a place where I'm like, no, I know what I want. I know what I deserve. And I'm not going to settle for anything less than that. And I think that's a really empowering place to be.
Casey Berglund:
Absolutely. And I think that's such an important message for anyone listening who might be in a similar place. Like, you don't have to settle. You can hold the vision for what you want. And you can trust that the right person will come along when the timing is right. And I think that's really beautiful.
Deborah Rocket:
Yeah. And I think, you know, I've also been on this journey of like trusting in divine timing and trusting that everything is unfolding as it should. And I think that's been so important because I think sometimes we can get so caught up in like, when is it going to happen? Why hasn't it happened yet? And I think that can create a lot of stress and anxiety. And I think when we can just trust that everything is unfolding as it should, that takes so much pressure off. And I think that's been a really important lesson for me.
Casey Berglund:
Yeah. And I think that's such a beautiful reminder. And I think, you know, as we start to like wrap up this conversation, I'm curious, like, what would you say to someone who's listening who might be in a similar place, who might be questioning like, where do I want to be? What do I want? How do I navigate this?
Deborah Rocket:
I think the biggest thing I would say is just tune into yourself. Like, really get quiet and tune into what your heart is telling you. Because I think we can get so caught up in what other people think or what society tells us we should do. But at the end of the day, you have to live your life. And I think when you can really tune into yourself and listen to that inner voice, that's when you'll find your truth. And I think that's the most important thing. And I think also, just be patient with yourself. Like, it's okay to not have all the answers. It's okay to be in the questioning phase. And I think just trust that you will find your way. And I think that's really important.
Casey Berglund:
Beautiful. And I think that's such a powerful message. And I think, you know, as we come to the close of this conversation, I just want to say thank you so much for sharing your story, for sharing your wisdom, for sharing your journey. And I think what you've shared today is going to resonate with so many people. And I'm just so grateful for you and for our friendship.
Deborah Rocket:
Thank you, Casey. And I'm so grateful for you too. And I just want to say, you know, you've been such an important part of my journey here in Barcelona. And I'm so grateful for our friendship and for all the conversations we've had. And I'm so excited to see what the next chapter holds for both of us.
Casey Berglund:
Me too. And I think, you know, even though I'm returning to Canada, I think our friendship will continue. And I think we'll continue to support each other through all the different chapters of our lives. And I think that's really beautiful.
Deborah Rocket:
Yeah, absolutely. And I think, you know, true friendship transcends distance. And I think we've built such a beautiful connection. And I'm so grateful for that.
Casey Berglund:
Me too. So as we come to the close, I'm going to ask you one more question. What are you already stepping into as part of your next chapter here in Barcelona?
Deborah Rocket:
Wow, that's an exciting question, actually, an exciting thought. There is so much. I think one thing that really feels called to me is that I am so frustrated with not knowing Spanish or not understanding the Spanish language enough. It's, you know, after four and a half years, I'm at a stage where I feel, to be honest, a bit embarrassed that I don't speak the level that I want to. And I think for me, you know, I would love to meet a partner who speaks Spanish, English, is bilingual. And I believe that to be able to be attracting the person that you want, you kind of have to embody those values and be that person yourself. You have to be the person that you want. You want to meet yourself. And I, you know, I know there's feminine-masculine values in everyone, which is different in every person, but I also really want to push myself because I feel like this is going to expand my life and my brain, and I'm going to get a new personality in Spanish, and I really want this for myself. I want to push myself to be this bilingual businesswoman who lives in Spain, has a base here, is traveling, who has the income that she wants, who has a partner that she wants, who's built a life, built the stability, and has a family here and really nourishes and looks after herself and also enjoys the fact that she's getting older because we're all getting older. And, you know, since I dyed my hair, I've gone back to my natural brunette hair recently, and that's also kind of been like a, in a weird way, like a journey back to my true self. And I think the blonde for so long had kind of been this mask of like confidence. I felt like hotter with blonde hair. I felt like I looked better. I felt like I, I don't know. I don't know if I was trying to hide from my truth, but I feel like I'm coming back to the fact that you don't always look perfect, Debbie. Like no one does. You don't have to be this perfectly presented, perfectly blonde woman. Like what even is that? Like, what are you trying to mask by this? And I think since I dyed my hair brunette, it's been like this homecoming, and it's made me love myself in whole new ways. Just like, you know, I'm even seeing my gray hairs come through, and I'm like, wow, I think I'm even grateful for you. And like I'm not rushing to go and get a bottle of hair dye, or hide them, because it's a sign that I'm grateful. I'm lucky enough to be growing older. And, you know, there's always one person in my life, this girl Harriet. I used to work with her in London, and she was 32, 33. She'd just got married. She was in her first year of marriage, and she got cancer, and she passed away pretty fast. And I always remember the last time I saw her, and I remember just how precious life is. And I often think about her and just like how much she wanted to live and how much of a gift it is to live. And like, it's okay that you have a gray hair. It's okay that you're getting older. And trying not to stress. I think one thing is trying not to stress about getting older and the body clock and everything, but just remember that life is a gift. And even those really tough, hard moments in life, which we all have—like there's times in my life that I would never want to repeat. And in my family's life that, you know, have been absolutely awful, to be honest with you. And like, yeah, really tough, but they've made me and my family stronger. And I think I'm just grateful for all of the tough stuff because not only has it made me stronger, it's also made my family bond stronger and also made my friendships stronger. And I really know who is there to support me and like who I can be my true self with. And like in life, if we can't be our true self, then what can we be? Like there's no point pretending to be anyone else. And I think that to kind of conclude, I've got to a stage where I love myself enough to be my true self. And that's why I feel like I'm ready to call in my partner because I am my full self, and the right person will love me for that. So like with anything—business, life, friendships—truth and integrity will prevail and will always shine through. Like if you're ever questioning if you're doing the right thing or if you're in the right place or anything, I think just tuning into yourself, like, do I feel like my true self in these moments? If you don't, that's a sign that you need to change or do something different or be with someone different because life is too short to not be who you want to be. So yeah, I think that's my kind of concluding thought, and I hope that made sense what I shared, but I think it's just about being integrated in your truth, living your truth, speaking your truth, and looking your truth, you know, especially in a world where we're so surrounded by cosmetic surgery and treatments. And just embracing growing old.
Casey Berglund:
Mm, because it's a gift.
Deborah Rocket:
It's a gift. And gratitude, like you said earlier, gratitude has been like my shining light through all of this. You know, even in those tough moments, finding gratitude for the smallest moments, like the sunshine on your face, you know, the first sip of that delicious matcha. Like everything—they're all gifts from God. They really are the gifts, precious gifts. And we can overcome hard times. There's always someone out there to support you and to bring you on the path. And that's also in the Rocket VA Academy. It's like, I want to provide this mentorship, this support to help people who once were where I was. And maybe after listening to this might be where I am. Well, there's always someone who's walked the walk before you. And, you know, I didn't have that mentor, which is why now I'm so happy that other people have that mentor in me. And yeah, I'm just excited and grateful for all the opportunities and the journey to get here.
Casey Berglund:
Mm-hmm. Yeah, you're the perfect person to lead the way, to lead the VAs, and not just that, Debbie, like lead your communities, your friendships, your people into truth, into inspiration, into authenticity. I just really, really appreciate all of who you are, and I'm so, so grateful for this conversation.
Deborah Rocket:
Yes, come with me. Thank you, Casey. Ditto. And I just want to also end with just saying that you are and forever will be an inspiration to me. And I'm so grateful that we connected. We had this like little blind date almost, and you came into my world, and you just brought this amazing, shining, strong, inspiring energy. So thank you for inviting me to share my journey. And I can't wait to listen to more of the inspiring women that you've got on this program.
Casey Berglund:
Thank you, Debbs. Love it.
