Let’s be honest as much as we want to forget the pandemic, it woke something up in all of us.

I had just survived a brutal break up, lost my dog, survived a tornado that temprarily affected my living and work situaion. 2019 was about being resilient in every moment.

Life was not settled down by any stretch of the imagination when the pandemic hit. I was no longer living out of suit case, I was back working in our broken but functioning hospital.

I was wearing many hats, keeping programming on our unit functioning. Preparing programming for remote locations. Coordinating virtual visits while our psychiatrist and psychologist worked from home but needed to see their patients who were hospitalized. The essential workers were there giving it their all.

Stress was at an all time high. The gym closed. My family was living out of state. Everyone was on edge as we watched the crisis unfold. I needed a distraction.

My good friend who is a PA was having an online Fb Crunchi party. This started it all. I had a skin condition on my eyes for 8 years, I had stopped wearing eye make up because it hurt. Long story short, she dropped off the whole kit. I tried it- it didn’t hurt. I had seen numerous doctors of all sorts, changed my make up to “natural” products already, been prescribed every lotion and potion imaginable and they had still hurt. Whatever this “Crunchi stuff was, it was good- once again my skin was radiant”. I signed up to be an advocate immediately. I wanted the world to know how wonderful this product is!

One little caveat- If I am going to advocate clean makeup, my heart and soul wants to incorporate mental wellness into the message.

I created a private face book group- The VIP Group I am Sherry 605. I shared all the Crunchi products, incorporated Cognitive Behavior tools. Eventually Crunchi loosened the reigns and I began the public page I am Sherry 605. The algorithm and short posts were lack luster.

My impulsivity got the best of me, pretty soon my page is going in 20 different directions and no one has any clue what my page is really all about, including me!

One of my dearest long time friends and I have had a friendly competion going for years. Every idea we have turns into a business model. “ One more thing to add to our funeral broucher”.

How can I possibly narrow down a Niche? ugh. So here it is the niche is broad its being a woman-we are complex. We have many interests, we are forever evolving.

I like helping friends, solving problems, sharing the great finds in life and nature.

I went to college for accounting, side stepped into broad design, with a helping of busines management.

I managed many floral shops in the Minneapolis/St Paul area.

I was the co-owner of the coolest little flower shop with vintage decor on Grand Avenue in St.Paul -Grand Victoria Gardens.

I left there to teach advanced floral design at Technical Colleges through out MN. Served on many horticulture boards, critiqued and influenced the sylabus for the horticulture program at MN High Schools in the early 1990’s as well as developed the sylubus for Hennepin Technical college floral design program.

I owned a progressive floral design studio Botanical Ltd that set the floral industry a blaze in Eastern South Dakota.

Interior design, wired wrapped jewelry, party planning and my all time favorite Welding were a part of my expertise.

Yet I wanted and needed more in my life. A friend was working towards his masters in psychology. I was intrigued. I had already immersed myself in books for years. Always wanting to know what made people tick. What was missing, what was the fear, can’t you just drink coffee for your ADHD it works for me.

I wanted to interview for a part time position. No I don’t have the degree. I just want to work in a behavior health setting. The interview with the unit manager went well. I explained to him; if you are a good interviewer you can get people to tell you whatever you want. If you are a great sales person, you can sell the idea of why you should take care of your mental health, do the work, take the medication when necessary, and show up to therapy. He walked me to the elevator at the end of the interview continuing to sell him on why he should hire me, I was compleltely confident he wanted me on his team even if I did not have the “proper” credentials.

Fortunately for me, that same charisma led me to the most brilliant psychologist and psychiatrist team. They took me underwing, teaching me the ethics, the statistics, all the ins and outs. Provided all the tools, the books the trainings, practices that led me to where I am today twenty three years later.

My personal life is filled with friends of all walks of life. I have lived on farms, in small towns, the second largest US city- Los Angeles , and currently live in a rapidly growing mid-sized metropolitan area, the largest city in South Dakota. I have a hive of life long friends that I continue to foster those deep releationships, but relish in making new friends.

I love my side kick Duchess the cutest forever puppy face Begalier. I work to provide her the lavish lifestyle she deserves. She’s a sweet girl who puts up with all my shenanigans. You are going to fall in love with her.

Diet and exercise are a constant. I have been on every diet known to man kind. I have gained and lost weight time and time again- that pandemic weight gain is currently melting away. I have found my go to exercise Pilates, walking and the vibration plate has made it to my daily routine. Though I throw a little variety in here and there. Hopefully after my upcoming knee surgery I will get back to some of my other favorites.

Gluten caused some damage in my life and we are no longer friends. It has forced me to get creative with food. I will be sharing with you some great alternative recipes. Your friends and family will love the flavors.

Last but not least rooted in value. The spirit is the driving force. I grew up in a protestant christian home. We went to church twice on Sundays. The pastor and his wife came for dinner or cake every sunday afternoon. My sisters and I sang and created interpretive dances as entertainment for our guests. As a young adult I wanted to explore, I wanted to know God on my terms. I found him in nature, in storms, in poetry, in music, in journaling, on walks he was everywhere but not in the traditional worship sense I had grown up in. Eventually as I grew older I returned to the traditional rituals converting to Catholicism. I am not the judge or the jury and whatever your spiritual journey is currently, you belong here.

For your sanity, I am dividing my blogs into three catagories mind, body and spirit. While I hope you explore all three sections, please spend your time in the section that resonates with you most at this point of your own journey.

I am glad you are here-

I am Sherry 605.