82: why I share my Barista FI journey
and my June update
Very soon, these Barista FI updates will only be available to members of the Soft Life Circle. But before that shift, I want to tell you why I’ve been sharing them so openly.
It’s simple:
Small steps matter.
Beginnings matter.
We’re so used to seeing people only after they’ve “arrived”. We scroll past the book deal, the dream sabbatical, the six-figure launch, and try to jump into someone else’s now.
But we rarely get to witness the becoming.
That’s what I’m offering you with these updates. A window into the process. A chance to walk alongside someone who’s still in it. Still listening. Still building.
Financially, I started in the hole in 2022. No retirement savings. Nearly $50K in credit card debt.
Now? No credit card debt. And close to $50K in investments.
That didn’t happen overnight.
If you’ve been reading since the beginning, you know that.
It didn’t take that long either.
Maybe that’s why sometimes it seems like an overnight success.
You also know that this feeling of peace—of being in flow again—wasn’t always here.
It wasn’t there when I wrote my first post, Not. From Scratch.
I didn’t claw my way back.
Nothing so dramatic.
I didn’t leap and wait for the net to appear.
I walked.
Step by step.
Bit by bit.
I followed breadcrumbs.
Whispers.
Impulses.
I haven’t “arrived”.
I never will. Because there is no there.
But I’m here.
In the arena.
Fully alive.
And I hope you’ll join me—wherever you are in your journey.
Now, the updates. But first…
💫 The Goal
I deeply desire to be a woman of pleasure by October 2, 2030.
To me, that means financial peace of mind, time freedom, and a life where my primary purpose is pleasure.
I want to retire well. That means being healthy - physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, socially, and financially.
🧘🏽♀️ Physical Health: My Body Knew Before I Did
2025 Goal: Manage blood sugar with diet and exercise
My commitment: Move my body for at least 25 minutes a day (or 5,000 steps), 20 days a month
Update
I hit 13 movement days in June—not quite my target, but almost double the previous month. That’s a win!
And so is this: my doctor reduced one of my blood sugar meds.
(Cue happy dance! 💃🏽)
A tangible step toward my goal to manage blood sugar with diet and exercise, and eventually eliminate all meds.
So what shifted in June?
The last week, I got on a roll.
I had more energy, more ease, and that quiet hum of alignment I hadn’t felt in a while.
Not coincidentally, that was also the week I picked up the keys to my new apartment.
It’s funny, my body seemed to know I was safe before my brain did.
Once I found my new home, my flow returned. Walks felt easier.
Even making meals felt more nourishing than draining.
That’s the part of Barista FI we don’t talk about enough.
It’s about more than the money.
It’s about creating a life your body wants to live in.
🧑🏽🤝🧑🏽Community: A Soft Shift Toward Belonging
2025 Goal: Be able to describe what a thriving community looks like for me.
My commitment: Talk to 3 friends or cousins each week
Update
What I want as thriving community is starting to take shape. It includes friendship and mutual care.
The kind of community where someone drives you to your colonoscopy. Where you check on each other. Where you’re not navigating life’s big and small emergencies alone.
I’ve been longing for that kind of connection here in Charlotte.
In June, I surprised myself.
I reached out.
I made brunch and dinner plans. I met someone from my online community in person for the first time. I even had a lovely, unexpected connection with the leasing agent at my new place.
I may make friends in Charlotte yet:-)
Digitally, I also got back into flow with Letters from Nneka. After a long stretch of silence, I published two letters in June—and they felt like me.
Thank you for opening them, reading them, and replying. That connection matters more than you know.
💸 Financial Health
2025 Goal: Add $12,000 to my Barista FI fund
My commitment: Contribute to my 401K up to the match - hello, automatic doubling!
Update
The numbers for June are in… and they’re solid.
As of June 2025, my Barista FI total sits at $44,330, and everything’s running like it should:
401K contributions continue on autopilot.
I’m contributing $500/paycheck to my Barista FI account.
I’m still building a position in PLTW, aligned with my strategy to use high-yield dividend ETFs.
If you're curious about the deets, keep reading below…
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