Today we’d like to introduce you to Natalie Rogers.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
My journey with holistic health and complementary alternative medicine began back in 2006. My oldest child was born in 2004 and began to have some health problems. In 2006, after many unsuccessful doctor appointments, cold-calls to doctors, and researching his symptoms online, he was diagnosed with urticaria pigmentosa mastocytosis. The doctors informed me that it was a rare disease that had no cure and I was told to just treat his symptoms and that he might grow out of it eventually.
Over time I noticed that common over the counter medications were making his symptoms worse. So I began researching and looking for healthier alternatives to the common products sold in pharmacies. My son started to respond better with alternative medicines and a holistic viewpoint to this rare disease. So that became our new normal and he continued to lead a fairly normal life for a child.
Fast forward to 2015 and this is when I really started to become curious about what types of formal education were available to pursue so I could learn more and help my son and the rest of my family better. In the Summer of 2016, I filled out an application to the American College of Healthcare Sciences and was accepted. This began my education to become a holistic health practitioner with a focus on herbal medicine.
My goals in helping my son the best that I can so he can learn how to handle his health when he is an adult gave me the drive that I have. I also decided that I want to focus on educating the general public and offering services to the low-income community. I feel that holistic health education and guidance should not be limited to the individuals who can afford it, or to the ones who can afford health insurance. Nobody should be left in limbo when they want to learn to become healthier.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There have definitely been some obstacles and challenges along the way. I knew from the beginning that my education would be rigorous and quite time-consuming. I’ve had to gain quite the self-discipline to make sure that I keep up with my studies and not fall behind, especially when some of my days can be filled with up to ten hours of school work. As a stay at home mom, who also homeschools, I have had to spread out the daily chores more and typical housework things to make sure I had time to focus on assignments and research, and also make sure that my children are working on their school work.
I think my biggest challenge has been sacrificing some family time. I do my best to work ahead on school work prior to birthdays and holidays, but sometimes I have to miss out on a family gathering due to a test or to study. Another one of the big challenges I have met is networking with other healthcare professionals across the healthcare industry.
It was definitely something that was out of my comfort zone and new. But I now have a wonderful group of colleagues that are incredibly supportive and have given me advice on starting a business and how things work in the industry.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Sacred Perennial story. Tell us more about the business.
Sacred Perennial started in 2015 just as a platform for me to share information that I was learning myself from researching topics I was interested in. After starting my education at American College of Healthcare Sciences, I began to share what I was learning in my classes and also sharing the research papers I had written on various topics. Holistic health practitioners help educate people on how to make healthier lifestyle choices which can include physical activity, nutrition, how to safely use aromatherapy and herbal products to support their body systems, as well educating them on how the human body functions in a synergistic way.
I seem to be known for my honesty and humor which I think is a good thing. I want people to be comfortable speaking with me and sharing information with me so that I can help them. I feel that transparency sets me apart from many others, and my open dedication to my studies and going beyond the minimum. I am scheduled to graduate this Fall 2018 and will continue my education in pursuing my Associate’s degree in Complementary Alternative Medicine.
I have obtained membership through the American Herbalists Guild and am planning on joining other professional organizations upon graduation which shows that I am held and bound to a high standard for work ethics and professionalism as well as obtaining the required education. I think anybody who is involved in the health industry should be transparent about their education and be willing to answer questions about it. Especially nowadays since there are many diploma/degree mill schools out there. I want people to know what my background is and my experience with holistic health.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I haven’t really thought about the role of luck in my life. I believe that things happen however they are destined to happen. When things are going good I feel confident in the path that I am on and have a clear mindset. When negative things arise, I see them more as just a challenge. And I am always up for a challenge, so I find the silver lining and keep on working towards my goals I want to accomplish in life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.sacredperennial.com
- Email: sacredperennial@gmail.com
- Instagram: @sacredperennial
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/sacredperennial
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