We recently connected with Cheryl Patella and have shared our conversation below.
Cheryl, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.
This is a story about me taking a huge risk in my life. I left everything I knew to start a whole new life I was not familiar with. I was born and raised in Miami, had a successful business of 40 years, and lived in my more recent home of 14 years that I had remodeled to what I wanted. Everything I knew was there – family friends, business contacts. Even my previous home, a condo on Miami Beach, I was in for 25 years. It was a way of life I was very familiar with – it was my comfort and safety zone.
My business is personal training, with some consulting for gyms and spas. I also write starting as a grant writer for the non-profit I worked for alongside fitness. Eventually I started writing wellness and professional articles. When covid hit all sources of my income shut down – gyms, spas, community centers, residential communities, even clients’ homes were off limits. Everything stopped. I waited to see what was going to happen – the whole world did.
I think I was in shellshock along with the rest of the world. I went through the gamut of emotions – fear, uncertainty and being on the edge of panic. Then I put my faith to work and trusted that all would work out. Fear and worrying would not help anything. I passed time on the computer looking at places I wanted to travel to – well – when we could. A few weeks went by, and I noticed my internet surfing had turned to looking at homes to rent for a vacation. A few more weeks passed and the next thing I knew I was looking at areas to move to and buy a house. It was crazy and so totally unlike me. I was like a train in full speed with no caution to the risks involved.
My three kids – 4 legged kids, weighing in at 75, 95 and 105 pounds would be going with me. They deserved a bigger yard and more space. Just so I don’t get ahead of myself here I need to tell you that a few months before all of this took place one of my nieces – also in wellness – did some life coaching with me. As part of the process, she asked me to write my vision of the next house I would buy – my dream home. I wrote in my journal that I wanted enough land that I could not hear my neighbors, where my dogs could run free, a bigger bedroom and master bath, lots of windows, high ceilings, a great kitchen with space for everything including a gas stove, and a fireplace. When I prayed about it, I saw myself writing on my laptop surrounded by woods and mountains. The vision I had was as clear as day to me.
I was both excited and had peace about this massive step in my life. The realty was it was a huge risk. My home was my largest investment, and I was going to sell it not knowing where I was going. Usually, I am conservative and fairly careful with my money. Its only me and I have nothing to fall back on. I had been paying down my mortgage, so it was low, and the real estate market was exploding. It made sense to me. If I was going to make a major change in my life, now was the time to do it. While I am still young enough to make the changes and adjust.
The time came to meet with my realtor and put my house on the market. Beforehand I prayed about the selling price and it was to be $400,000. She and I met and shared her assessment and comparisons and said $375,000 was the better price. We finally agreed on $395,000. Being a single businesswoman most of my life, my faith is what keeps me focused. I was not comfortable with the compromise to $395,000. This was in 2020 and I bought it at the previous market spurt at $210,000, 14 years ago. But I went with it.
The day came for the listing to go live. Five appointments were booked in the first two hours. At the end of the first tour day we had four solid offers. So many things happened after that. The final offer and contract wanted to close and move in by Thanksgiving – less than 2 months away – and I hadn’t even found a house yet. It was very unsettling and brought it home that this was happening. In fact, it was scary, and I began to question what I was doing. Again, I had to step back and lean on my faith. Then things changed and the end result gave me an additional 3 1/2 months to stay in the house. Our selling price was $407,000.
So much was happening that was uncertain. It was a whirlwind of emotions. Again I prayed and came to a place of peace. It was time to find a new home for me and my kids. I went on hot pursuit to match my vision. Time was passing quickly and I had about four months to find my new home, pack and move. I flew (another risk during covid) to tour homes in mountainous areas in Alabama and Georgia. These homes fell in line with my dream home and vision of woods and mountains but didn’t feel right. Another niece saw a property she felt was ideal for me in North Florida. Next stop North Florida. This house met most of my dream list except there were no mountains and it was in foreclosure which meant it would take an extra 3-4 months to close with legal proceedings.
It felt right. It was on 5.6 acres. I made an offer – $30,000 under the asking price! In spite of everyone telling me it was too risky offering that much under the selling price – it was accepted! I knew this was the house for us! Now I only had to find a place to live for the extra 3-4 months with 3 big dogs. Finally on the very last month we got a one bedroom in a Marriott about 30 minutes from the house. All of my belongings would have to go into storage.
Moving into a hotel was another big risk. Didn’t sound like it at first but I had 3 very big dogs that were trained to protect me not to be friendly in a hotel setting. Every time another hotel guest or housekeeping would pass by the room, they would go crazy thinking someone was trying to get in. I will say it kept people away from our room. It kept them busy. After a month it began to wear on me. I had to walk each dog separately – twice a day. So much happened during that time – both good and bad.
One day I was taking my big boy out for a walk and the other boy rushed the door and I shut it quickly with the first dog left in the hall, on a leash still in my hand. A hotel worker chose that moment to run by him and got bit. Really? A huge Shepherd barking in the hall and he decided to try and outrun him? This happened in 5-10 seconds. The short of it was he filed a complaint and reported me to the police. I was terrified they would take my boy from me. Animal control came to see him to determine if he was a vicious or rabid dog. They saw a beautiful German Shepherd who was well behaved. My boy must have known how important it was to listen during that visit – thank God! They let me keep him but in quarantine even though I had proof of his shots.
The worker, who it later turned out had been stalking me, tried to sue me. Now let me explain an important detail. When you own a house and have a dog, and your dog bites someone your homeowner’s policy covers it. But I didn’t own a home as we had not closed yet so I had no protection whatsoever. I saw the bite. It was little more than a scratch but he played it up big time. My big boy could have ripped his leg off at 105 pounds. I was terrified, first that I would lose my boy, and second, lose the money sitting in the bank for the new house. I hadn’t realized the risks involved. The hotel worker hired one of those billboard attorneys that swore they would get you money. I called my lawyer and good friend, Alan Fertel, in Miami for help. Alan is a well-known attorney with a great record of winning. He sent a strong letter to the opposing attorney.
Two days later, about 5:00am, I was doing my routine morning walks with my big boy. We left the stairwell of the hotel and walked in the dark around the area. I turned and heard the stairwell door close again as someone else walked outside. I was being followed. The person, a fairly big guy, stood there in the dark, watching me. By then I was pretty scared with the pending lawsuit and was living in fear. It was the same hotel worker who was suing me. I reported it to the Manager and said I would call the police if it happened again. I told my attorney, and a letter was sent to his attorney showing proof the worker was stalking me. It was a mess. But I got control of my emotions and prayed. This journey was based on trusting God that it was the right thing to do. I finally got to a place of peace.
A few days later my niece found me a rental house and we moved away from the stalker. I have another item to share with you so you can understand how amazing all of this was for me. My whole life I have been afraid – mostly at night. Several things happened as a child and it was very hard for me living alone. I would never live in a house, only a condo with security and on a higher floor – never the first floor. That fear has been a major factor throughout my life. My first dogs I inherited from my dad when he passed away. They were two very aggressive German Shepherds. I was living in a condo but moved into a house with them and they changed my life. I had peace at night and at home as long as we were together. They watched over me and kept me safe. These 3 dogs moving with me were a second group of dogs – originally 4 but one passed from cancer before we moved. They were also great protectors and I felt safe.
While enduring delays on the closing and recruiting tradesmen for much needed work I stayed strong and we waited. Once work could start I had a six foot privacy fence built covering 1/2 acre to both protect my dogs and the neighbors. My one boy could clear a five foot fence easily. In the country people will shoot to protect their livestock. Once the fence was completed we moved in! Work started and we were very happy! I knew it was the right move in spite of the many risks we had faced!
There is so much more to this story. What a huge risk I took leaving my active business in Miami to start over – or so I thought. I got incredible affirmation in business. I left Miami with 3 clients, leaving the remaining clients with my certified trainer niece. In 6 months at the new house I was back up to 12-14 virtual clients across the United States. My business went completely virtual!
My new home needed work. There was damage from the previous owners-busted doors, holes in the walls, they took the front gate, bathtub, washer and dryer, dishwasher, poured paint on the wood floors and rammed a pipe up the water heater. I had the money to do the work and house had great “bones”, lots of windows, high ceiling and everything I wanted.
A huge lesson that I am still learning is managing the land. I am working everyday towards my vision. The house itself was a country farmhouse style and I was moving to a French country house. I added irrigation and probably 70-80 trees and gardens around the house. Yesterday I mowed and saw the cedars have grown to about 10 feet high and the bamboo close to 30 feet! In a few years you won’t recognize the property anymore. Do I make it sound easy? There are days that I have to reach deep inside to reaffirm this was the right decision.
Life is different. I live in the country – no traffic, no noise, just quiet, with roaming deer and other animals. Keeping up with the landscaping is a big job. Summertime means mowing every week. What took me 4-5 days I can complete in a day and a half now. Weed eating is a painful art I am learning.
This is a new lifestyle living in the country and making this acreage a beautiful home. Living with actual seasons is a major change. Fall comes and its incredibly beautiful at 60’s-70’s in the day and 40’s-50’s at night. You can see the changing tree colors and in winter trees hibernate and you have to prepare for freezes. The risks were many in reflection, but the outcome is a life dream.
It is 3 years almost to the day since I moved into the house. My new home is almost exactly as I want it. The land is getting close to my vision but it will continue to be in process as nature takes its time.
My kids got me through all of it: the traveling, the hotel, the rental house, lawsuit, moving in, remodeling and all that went with it. Last year they went to heaven. They were 12, 13 and 14 years old. For big dogs that’s a long life but a very sad time. I miss them so much. It’s as if God gave me them to see me through this big change in my life along with all of the risks we took (dog=God backwards). If I had not taken this risk I would not know the joy I experience every time I look around and have this incredible new life.
I have 2 new kids and they will be my side as life unfolds going forward. They don’t know about the past and what we went through but they are willing to see me through whatever we may face together in the future.
Cheryl, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a seasoned Master Personal Trainer with 45 years’ experience. I love what I do, and I love to write. After a career as a Flight Attendant, I went back to college to major in business. I had gained about 35 pounds and was unhappy. I took control, created a workout and eating program for myself and lost the weight. In those days the only fitness programs were Jazzercise and certifications for instructors didn’t exist. Getting through college I worked as a secretary for a chain of health clubs and my employers saw my workouts and asked me to start teaching classes. I got the body and good health I wanted and was able to help others do the same. My career took off. I changed my major in school. I also worked for a non-profit and became a grant writer. I loved writing and eventually began writing manuals for work, and later professional articles. During my career I had a wellness column for two years and have published many articles since. My first book, The 21st Century Woman, was published last year by WestBow Press, and I am working on another book to be released soon on “aging”. I have a tendency to grow in my profession and expanded to consulting, remodeling gyms and spas and designing programs. My education has grown with 3 degrees and over 15 certifications in various modalities of training. My work experience includes luxury spas such as Fisher Island Spa Internationale, Williams Island Spa, The Biltmore Hotel & Resort. I have consulted and designed in other countries such as Belize, Japan and Mexico.
My Personal Training work is done virtually allowing me to help people all over the United States. My clients have the benefit of my extensive experience and education delivering the best program, customized for them, and that gets them results. They are amazed that I see every nuance of their movement and provide the needed correction to keep them safe while reaching their goals.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
When I made the offer at $30,000 less than the asking price, everyone told me it would not be accepted. I believed that if the house was to be mine it would be accepted. And it was. I never wavered in my faith on this issue. I had learned from setting the selling price on my house which was a compromise to ask $395,000 when in my prayers God told me to ask $400,000. When it sold for $407,000, I promised God I would not compromise again.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
I would choose wellness again definitely! It took years to recognize the depth of what I do and how I have helped so many people including myself. My choice of wellness has afforded me a greater quality of life in terms of health and motivation. Health is the greatest wealth you can have. Health is the complete picture: good eating habits, movement ability, positive attitude, quality sleep and being happy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cherylapatella.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cherylpatella
- Facebook: https://.facebook.com/TotalConditioningLLC
- Linkedin: https://www.lomkedin.com/in/cheryl-patella
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKZcFyBflcVCFpeVzjJu6Rg
Image Credits
Pictures of Cheryl by Marie Cetin