Category: My Discoveries (Page 1 of 2)

Thursday, April 23, 2026 was a big day for me.

I joined a zoom meeting based on the quiz I took on my friend Melinda’s website We Are Wild Ducks.  It was all about lining up creativity with career paths.  I met amazing people and I tried to relate.

All through my years of working, there was one thought that never left my mind — the need to start my own business.  I could never let myself feel accomplished because I had not formed a legitimate business.  I spent years navigating seminars and introducing myself to people who had started some type of enterprise.  I intently listened to podcasts, purchased domain names, created logos and ultimately built a website.  I researched many of the should dos……mailing lists, newsletters and picturing ideal clients.  As I was working the steps toward a business, I took on the following jobs:

• Cleaning and organizing closets
• Organizing office spaces – home and business
• Bookkeeping for small companies
• Real Estate Agent
• Setting up monthly reports and bookkeeping for individuals
• Substitute Teacher
• Usher at Segerstrom Center for Performing Arts

BUT my risk taking meter is extremely low and even though I found comfort in all of the above projects, I was frustrated that I could not turn any of them into what I thought was a successful business with paying clients, employees and office space. I never created a podcast which was on my bucket list.  I listened to many, was a guest on a few and am relieved that I didn’t use too much energy and time trying to be in an already over-saturated medium.   The quest for business success continued until last Thursday — some 40 years.

After leaving the meeting, I stared at the blank screen and had a moment of clarity.  Most participants were questioning what direction to take next.  Through the quiz, they recognized their creative side could possibly meet their career side.  They were processing and navigating.  They were pivoting into acceptance that their choices would be hard but not impossible.  The lightbulb was getting brighter and ideas were flowing about how to take innate talents and relate them into a business model.  I sat for a while and realized, I had a business – ME!

I have done all that I listed above.  I have been able to keep my schedule flexible since leaving full time office work in 2011.  I did not have unnecessary overhead — I once made the mistake of renting a small office space before I had a plan — luckily it was only for six months.  I did all the planning and the work.  I did not have employees to train and keep busy.  I worked closely to align with the office needs of either being an employee or an independent contractor.  My income was mine.

I remember creating a bucket list for myself in 2014.  In retrospect, that was my business plan.  I married young and had my first child at age 21.  Career always took a back seat until I went back to college in the 1990’s and graduated in 2006.  That gym walk to accept my diploma became my freedom to explore my choices.  It has been the most joyful journey.  I look back with pride.

I have let go of “career” and have gravitated to “Brave, Curious, Kind and Organized.”  I have settled on the four words that have given me the chance to fulfill my “Sherry” business plan.

Meet Others Needs

Find Your Perfect Place to Create Ideas

Your Story In The Eye of Your Camera

Design Your Finances – They Give You Choices

Find Your Lightbulb Moments

Never Forget to Calendar Fun…

Remember Where You Started….

Appreciate Where You Are Now….

The Journey

My sister gave me a great visual when I felt overwhelmed by others — you’ve always been the rock, it is time to be a pebble and journey the rivers — just let others troubles pass you by.

I just turned 70 and I’m ready to be free from worry. Left to themselves everyone will survive. Now they think they might need my listening ear and encouragement but it is a habit not a need.  The front door is always open but I may not be home.

Travel is the great educator.  No matter for a day or a month, it will give me energy.  My greatest asset — curiosity — will lead the way.  I like meeting new people and hearing their stories.  I will never run out of people to meet or places to go.  

I am not scared, I’m ready.  Time goes so fast when you are sitting still and looking back. Looking forward to the future opens up windows of thought and possibility. I can’t wait to see what I come up with.

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”   Maya Angelou

Regret is a feeling of failure for me.  A bucket list gives me hope.  Waking up happy is a sign of confidence. Thinking about yourself first is a sign of growth.  Being able to be alone is a sign of liking myself. I can decide where I put my energy. A peaceful life is learning to let others be themselves — learning that control of others is not a goal.

Where do I fit with my dreams — my hopes — my attitude about myself.

There are certain duties I cannot ignore.  Spending my time alone all day would become unproductive and monotonous. A mix of alone and people time is what I crave. My early years and adult life has been focused on making sure everyone around me is ok.  The shock of my life was when I realized that no one wanted me to do this for them.  My way does not help others live their best life.  My energy has been wasted.  I felt empty at the end of the day.  No one changed their lifestyle or habits based on my words.  When I spent my day in others lives, I never had to open my soul and see myself.

I don’t want to waste any more time worrying about what I should be doing.  Everyone in my life will be okay finding their own  path.  It is not my responsibility to make sure success is a guarantee for others. My children are grown, my husband is living a full retired life and our parents are gone.  I have a flexible work schedule and make sure that my income matches our expenses — debt is not an option at this point of our lives.

Time goes by fast and at the end of the day — I want to know that I enjoyed it.  I said before that I need to exert my energy on myself.   What a concept to have a choice for my day each morning.

Adventure, Fun and Laughter

My thoughts always center around women helping women.  I want to create gatherings with women of all ages to offer support, ideas and laughter.

Fun-Support-Laughter

When I think back to my grandmothers and my own mother, I know that there were times that their unfulfilled dreams were realized within the women groups they surrounded themselves with.  I always loved the laughter that came out of the conversations I listened to and tried hard to always be in the middle of the gatherings.

Sharing Ideas

Listening is something I am good at.  I have an innate curiosity to understand how people got to this moment in time.  I am an encourager to not hold back and to find a way to make challenges become reality.

I have lived this — I went back to college and graduated with my bachelor degree at age 51.  Five years later I trained and ran a half marathon.  I needed to prove to myself that I could start something hard and keep at it until I completed it.

I want to spread positivity and give permission to women of any age who feel stuck and unfulfilled that no matter how hard or impractical an idea is — just try.

Keep The Door Open

What I’ve Learned So Far…. May 24

Being ORGANIZED brings me peace — I know what I have and take the time to think an extra minute before buying more ……

Being CURIOUS keeps me moving forward even if I don’t feel like it ……

Being BRAVE has given me courage to take on jobs just to see if they fit me . . . it also helps me say no when my gut finally tells me to ….

Being KIND brings silent rewards that last an entire lifetime.

“Kind” by Sherry Carver 2020

My four favorite words ….

Every now and then I find the need for an alone day.  My life is very structured at this moment and I feel happy to break free  and have a day with no particular plan.

I think my entire family gets a signal from the universe when I pack up my IPad and head to my favorite coffee shop to write.  They follow me there — they want to be a part of my day.  How can I turn that down? I like talking to them one on one outside of the house.  They feel heard when it is just me without the interruptions that happen at home.  They are there to absorb my energy and not rush the conversations. I value these times more than they will ever know.

I learned a valuable tool with my family relationships.  Don’t give away every detail — leave them wanting more facts/ideas/stories.  Too many words get lost on my kids and husband.  They are looking for fresh takes on life and a back and forth discussion — not an entire history of my life and how I made it to this point.  Listening is the key to keeping them close.  Silence allows for full thoughts to be spoken and heard.

There is the inevitable break when I know they are done.  A look at a watch , a deep breath or a move away from the table is my signal.  I have learned to let them go at that moment.  Leave them wanting a next time — leave them walking away with a new perspective — leave them knowing they are valued and loved.

Transitions are hard for me.  I don’t like to let go of the moment.  My close relationships are with my husband and kids because they give me honest feedback and know me well.  Other relationships are pivotal and are tied to sharing common interests.  I have been burned many times when I divulge too much and gave more than was necessary or wanted. I would rather spend time alone than feel hurt or rejected simply for being me.  Is that what you call growing up? Content? Feeling at Peace?

I don’t need to prove my worth to them.  I feel it.  I see it in their eyes.  Time is going fast.  It’s not always the words that are remembered but the feelings from the moments that are cherished on both sides of the conversation.