About Sheryl... a little more of my story

I wrote this for the Raw Food Celebration ebook that we launched in December and wanted to share it with you too. You can learn a little more about where I've come from and how I got where I am today. This is such a wonderful journey and I am loving it.

Happy reading!

Cheers,
Sheryl

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Raw food for me was an absolute revelation. I had struggled with overeating for so long and it always seemed so hard to lose weight. Then one day I stumbled on the concept of raw food. What could be easier than eating natural living foods when you're hungry until you're full? I lost heaps of weight (and I'm still going), my acne (a constant struggle since I was a teenager until my early 30's) suddenly cleared up and everyone started commenting on how I glowed! I went from an office worker who didn't like to move to one who spends holidays biking around foreign countries and swimming in the oceans of the world.

Growing up baking was one of my most favorite things to do. I have such fond memories of time with my mother, then little sister Lori in the kitchen. We were always so proud to share our creations with each other, my dad and our golden retriever Cindy. My first creations were in an 'Easy Bake' oven powered by a light bulb! I LOVED to cook. Later as a teenager my love for adventure and cooking continued. I volunteered my summers through most of high school on a tall ship that was run by teens teaching leadership and sail training to other teenagers. We sailed 24 hours a day around the Great Lakes of Canada. I was quickly promoted to cook within weeks of joining and proceeded to cook for 30+ people three meals a day for the next three summers. This was a little challenging in a 72 foot ship, with a small fridge, a diesel stove (and often on a 30 degrees tilt). I loved to cook and upgraded them from hot dogs and canned peaches to home-made macaroni and cheese, chocolate cakes and cheesecake, poached pears and roast beef (this was in my pre-raw and pre-vegetarian days)! They loved me and I loved every minute of contributing to make their experience the best it could be!

Next in my life came the big decision... what to do! I loved reading about medicine and health and seriously considered going to medical school. Since I couldn't start medicine until the 3rd year University in Canada I started off in Nursing. I had dreams of finding a career that helped people feel great, but realized soon that nursing was not it for me. Medicine I also decided wasn't for me... everything I read and people I knew made me realize so few doctors have time for a life outside of work. So I looked for other opportunities.

After finishing a 4 year BScH in Psychology focusing on human behavior and biology I did a computer programming course and went to work at a bank (banking runs in the family). Within a few years I became a manager. I worked for a fabulous company, was surrounded by the most amazing people, but still I longed for more. I knew that there was something else waiting for me, and wanted to find a way to get that spark back I knew was missing in my life.

So what did I do? I went to FIVE Tony Robbins courses around the world in one year (he's a personal development speaker). I visited Florida, Monterey California, Palm Springs California, Hawaii and back to Florida again. It was one of the most amazing years of my life and so many things happened. I learned so much about myself and what I wanted in life. I traveled to beautiful places, met wonderful people. I made some big decisions in my life and went from being a computer programmer to a technology manager at Bank of Montreal. And I discovered raw food.

I also met the love of my life, now my husband, Piers Duruz. Less than 2 years after I started my voyage of personal discovery I found myself living a totally new life. I live in Australia with my husband Piers. Tropical fruit grows locally and we live less than 10 minutes from the beaches of the Gold Coast, some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

We started a raw food company called Raw Pleasure, and bring in all kinds of amazing books and products to Australia. We included the word 'Pleasure' in the company name because we feels it's so important for people to find a way to live and eat that they LOVE. If you love to so something it's easy. There's no such thing as willpower or complicated decision. You just do what you love and your body and life just keep getting better.

We LOVE what we do and so enjoy sharing all the things that have made such a difference in our lives with people around the world.

When we stared looking at doing another ebook Nomi was the first person I asked. It was her book "The Raw Gourmet" that I choose as my first book on raw food, so she holds a special place in my heart. We have been talking often over the last few years and it was a delight to get to know her more while we did this ebook together. I'm so proud of what we've created together. One of the reasons I'm so proud of it and excited to be sharing it with you is that the menus in this book are unique and geared for entertaining. With them you can experience the same joy and excitement of throwing a dinner party and still eat tasty interesting food that tantalizes the taste buds of your guests. Even people used to cooked food will love what you prepare!

We have dinner parties at Raw Pleasure about once a month. Up to 24 people gather and we have multi course gourmet raw food meals. And I have to say I have never seen so much fun and laughter at any dinner party I have been to. Ever! There is something magic about eating healthy food you adore that brings back the magic in life. That sparkle that many assume is only available to the young and innocent, experiencing the joys of life for the first time, suddenly returns. Just try a week, maybe two, on all raw food. You'll see what I mean. You will never look back.

Through Raw Pleasure we offer food products and educational materials, kitchen toys and classes too. In 2007 we are also starting to offer retreats to let people really experience the delights of what raw food and a more natural lifestyle can offer, in an environment that makes it simple and easy for those that are just starting out. I hope to meet you one day soon at one of these events, or on our forum at www.Raw-Pleasure.com.au. We'd love to meet you there. Please drop by and say hello. Both Piers and I visit daily, and the forum is a great place to ask questions, read about other people's experiences (there are almost 24,000 posts there) and find support for living a healthier more vibrant life.

Thank you for the gift of allowing me to share raw food with you!
Sheryl