Who I am
This article may contain affiliate links where I make a small commission for purchases you make from links that you click from this article. By purchasing through these links, you support me at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support.
I have been working in Corporate America now for 14 years – how time flies. How can that be – I still feel like I’m 22 and just starting out. After all, what 36 year old has friends throw her a roller skating birthday party! My ass still hurts from that party!I live in New York City – I’ve developed a love/hate relationship with it. There’s no place in the world like it (at least from what I’ve seen so far). So much variety and newness everyday, so many choices, so many noises, so much garbage, so many people, so much creativity, so much concrete, so much, so much, so much…
Someone once called me a tumbleweed – I only stay somewhere about 3 years – and then I must tumble to the next place. Yet this time, I’m tumbling to the next adventure – the globe. This propensity to tumble around is strange considering I grew up in the midwest (Peoria, IL) in the same house for the first 18 years of my life. Then something happened…I got out…and never looked back. I slowly moved to bigger and bigger cities. First the midwest (Omaha, Minneapolis), then the west coast (San Francisco), then the big, big city – NYC. I’ve been in NYC 3 years now, I’m itchin’ to tumble again!
I was 30 yrs old when I got my first passport and went out of the country – Istanbul. I went with my friend, Giancarlo, who grew up in that area. It was overwhelming to have Turkey be the first country you go visit – but that’s when I caught the bug. Part of me wishes I could do that trip over again as I feel like more of a seasoned traveler now, but at the same time the newness and innocence of it all was perfect.
I have been working in the Information Technology industry and have finally realized that no matter how lucrative of a job it is – it’s not me. I don’t get excited by bits and bytes. I get excited about photography, creativity, sunlight, and socializing, but not hardware and networks.
So maybe this is my midlife crisis…a little early I know – but I’m not really sure what is driving me to do this. I just know that I need a break. A break from New York, a break from Information Technology, and I need to stretch my creative muscles a bit, and see other things – and sorta find myself.
Everyone always asks me what I’m going to do when I come back. I have no answer to that question, and that makes me nervous. But I’m telling myself to live each day to the fullest and not worry about it. I will leave my dance card wide open and just see what happens. However – mainly I will enjoy my year of not being in a conference room, with an agenda about stuff that doesn’t interest me. I will no longer have to daydream during those meetings about other exotic places – I will be living it.
Sherry,
You made a nice start here. We have had some good comments about your site. Probably would not hear the bad ones though Ha!
Dad
Sherry,
You made a nice start here. We have had some good comments about your site. Probably would not hear the bad ones though Ha!
Dad
Sherry,
You made a nice start here. We have had some good comments about your site. Probably would not hear the bad ones though Ha!
Dad
Sherry,
You made a nice start here. We have had some good comments about your site. Probably would not hear the bad ones though Ha!
Dad
Sherry,
Wow, what an exciting adventure. I’ve got your blog bookmarked and will be following your journey.
Looked at your photos too and must say you are an artist!
Best wishes, Elaine
Sherry,
Wow, what an exciting adventure. I’ve got your blog bookmarked and will be following your journey.
Looked at your photos too and must say you are an artist!
Best wishes, Elaine
Sherry,
Wow, what an exciting adventure. I’ve got your blog bookmarked and will be following your journey.
Looked at your photos too and must say you are an artist!
Best wishes, Elaine
Sherry,
Wow, what an exciting adventure. I’ve got your blog bookmarked and will be following your journey.
Looked at your photos too and must say you are an artist!
Best wishes, Elaine
Sherry –
Based on the itinerary, you’re on your way up (or down?) Kilimanjaro at the moment. I’m sure your checking the site …
Regardless, I hope all is going well and I’m very excited for you.
Have fun!
Alex
Sherry –
Based on the itinerary, you’re on your way up (or down?) Kilimanjaro at the moment. I’m sure your checking the site …
Regardless, I hope all is going well and I’m very excited for you.
Have fun!
Alex
Sherry –
Based on the itinerary, you’re on your way up (or down?) Kilimanjaro at the moment. I’m sure your checking the site …
Regardless, I hope all is going well and I’m very excited for you.
Have fun!
Alex
Sherry –
Based on the itinerary, you’re on your way up (or down?) Kilimanjaro at the moment. I’m sure your checking the site …
Regardless, I hope all is going well and I’m very excited for you.
Have fun!
Alex
Hi Sherry,
I’m working on a story about Executive Life’s new wiki and I noticed you’ve published a couple articles there. I’d like to use some of the info you posted about Bangkok in my story. Please let me know if that’s o.k.
thanks,
Rachael
Hi Sherry,
I’m working on a story about Executive Life’s new wiki and I noticed you’ve published a couple articles there. I’d like to use some of the info you posted about Bangkok in my story. Please let me know if that’s o.k.
thanks,
Rachael
Hi Sherry,
I’m working on a story about Executive Life’s new wiki and I noticed you’ve published a couple articles there. I’d like to use some of the info you posted about Bangkok in my story. Please let me know if that’s o.k.
thanks,
Rachael
Hi Sherry,
I’m working on a story about Executive Life’s new wiki and I noticed you’ve published a couple articles there. I’d like to use some of the info you posted about Bangkok in my story. Please let me know if that’s o.k.
thanks,
Rachael
Excellent to stumble upon this site. I too, am considering embarking on a similar adventure. Look forward to reading your posts and following along. I grew up in the midwest, too (Central IL) like you, have spend most of my adult life away from where I grew up (honolulu, eastern europe, seattle, chicago and now san francisco). all the best to you.
Excellent to stumble upon this site. I too, am considering embarking on a similar adventure. Look forward to reading your posts and following along. I grew up in the midwest, too (Central IL) like you, have spend most of my adult life away from where I grew up (honolulu, eastern europe, seattle, chicago and now san francisco). all the best to you.
Excellent to stumble upon this site. I too, am considering embarking on a similar adventure. Look forward to reading your posts and following along. I grew up in the midwest, too (Central IL) like you, have spend most of my adult life away from where I grew up (honolulu, eastern europe, seattle, chicago and now san francisco). all the best to you.
Excellent to stumble upon this site. I too, am considering embarking on a similar adventure. Look forward to reading your posts and following along. I grew up in the midwest, too (Central IL) like you, have spend most of my adult life away from where I grew up (honolulu, eastern europe, seattle, chicago and now san francisco). all the best to you.
Sherry,nrI read all of your blogs, they were awsome!nrKeep it up!nr-Megan
Sherry,nrI read all of your blogs, they were awsome!nrKeep it up!nr-Megan
Sherry,nrI read all of your blogs, they were awsome!nrKeep it up!nr-Megan
Sherry,nrI read all of your blogs, they were awsome!nrKeep it up!nr-Megan
Pretty interesting to go back and read the posts at the beginning. I like your “year of freedom.” Life takes some wild turns, doesn’t it Sherry?? I’m glad you re-shared this.
Love seeing you “in the beginning!” I look at your face now and see so much more confidence and wisdom. What a great journey you’re having (both internally and externally).
Thanks Betsy – yet I look at me now and see many more wrinkles! But good memories come with those wrinkles!
Hi Sherry, I’m Mariana from Argentina (I received one of your postcards from Alaska). I’m reading your blog from the very beginning seeking for inspiration. I’m about to embark on an adventure similar to yours in 2006. Basically, by reading your blog, I hope to hush my fears about leaving my job, my home and family behind and move to another country.
Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Mariana
Ps: i love your instastories!
Hi Mariana! Thanks for your lovely note AND for digging deep into my archives! It sounds like you have an exciting adventure on the horizon. Yes, there are a lot of fears that go with that, but trust me, once you get on the road you’ll work your way through those fears. I was terrified to leave – and cried at the airport, but in the end I knew it was what I wanted to do and I had to push through the fears. Do me a favor and for every fear you are feeling – take a moment and think of one positive thing that could also happen – give the positive thoughts equal time! You deserve that! Let me know if I can be of any help!