My first interaction with Sarah, was at the pediatrician’s office. My little one getting their immunization shots. It’s always an uneasy visit, but I was observant of the nurse practioner. She seemed, cool and calm despite the fussy baby at hand and the hard job of having to administer pain to littles for the greater good. Fast forward almost two years, and I see her again, this time behind the counter at a local eatery in town. I recognized her and it didn’t take long before I found a chance to chat her up.

Sarah is a beautiful soul. Resilient. Steady. Great smile. Talented. Authentic eyes. She’s had her challenges. And she’s no stranger to overcoming them.

I’m really looking forward to sharing her story with you. She has dreams she’s finally having the chance to pursue. She welcomed me into her home and showed me around and told me stories of the past and more importantly, vision for the future.

I’m sure this story will need a follow up in time. For now…I present to you, Sarah Long.

NIRA VIDA: If we met at a party randomly, what question would best help me get to know you? Rather than the typical … “What do you do for work?”

SARAH LONG: A fun icebreaker that my friends would say is : Show me how you dance on the weekend! A fun and silly way to start a conversation and see some really smooth moves; but if you’re into mellow convo I would ask me what concert have you been to recently or what is your favorite movie. I love any Paul Rudd movie but my all time favorite movie is Dogma, in case you are wondering…

Where are you likely to meet your next closest friend?

This is a tough one. It is harder to make new friends as an adult but I have started a new thing where if I think of someone or meet someone new I vibe with I like to ask if you want to get together (like kids in the sand box).

I have given up on being afraid to just say, “Hey, I like your vibe, want to get together sometime and hang out?”

it is getting easier the more I do it! The connections that are made are really fun and it is so exciting to be able to get to know people even just a little. We all potentially have so much to offer others that we don’t even realize. So when someone offers, you should “hop on the bus Gus” because you never know, that might be the place you meet your closest friend…

Are you from Minnesota? Where are you from and where have you lived?

I was born in Clinton Iowa. We moved to Minnesota when I was three and have lived here since. I grew up in Buffalo and lived in Winona Minnesota for 8 years after I graduated high school.

Sarah Long crafts — *Photographed at Sarah’s home. Sarah showing a variety of art projects she embraces.*

How has this shaped you to who you are today?

I grew up in a small rural town of Buffalo and was blessed to have made some really great friends as I grew up. Some I am still very close with today! I barely Graduated high school, it was a struggle. I felt isolated due to being compared to others and told that “if you don’t make the grade you won’t be be successful in life”. A lot of people underestimated me. I’m sure you can imagine how a teenager would feel hearing this often. There was a time where I started to believe that I really wasn’t “enough” .

My grades were low but I don’t think that it was because I was not smart, it was because traditional education seems to set so many up to fail. I didn’t get a project done on time my senior year which the punishment was I wasn’t allowed to walk for the graduation ceremony. Well…at least I graduated.

What happened after high school?

I spent a little time traveling around the US. I went west to California and Washington, Montana and South Dakota then headed south through Illinois down to Georgia and Florida. Soon after I returned to Minnesota. I headed to Winona where friends were living and going to college.

I eventually settled in as a teacher assistant at Bluffview Montessori school where I learned so much. It blew my mind watching the teacher demonstrate something like math in a concrete form. It was tangible…I understood it!

It was there where I became friends with the school nurse. She encouraged me and told me I would be a great nurse, I gave it some thought and even though I was scared, I decided to just go for it.

Tell me more… .What was your living or marital situation around then?

At this point I had my first two children and they were able to come to school with me. I would ride my bike and pull them in the bike cart. They were always so content when we would ride. They were able to participate in headstart on the college campus when I went to my classes. It was a dream! I surprised myself when taking my math course. I did well. I believe it is because of my friends at bluffview. At The age of 25 I learned how to do math, lol. After I began the nursing program my living situation started becoming more difficult, all of my family is in Buffalo so I decided to transfer to Saint Cloud tech to finish out the program.

A year later I met the love of my life! After graduating we decided to try for a baby and it was a boy! I worked as a clinic nurse and in nursing homes providing wound care and other skilled cares but my favorite by far was the most recent. I recently worked in pediatrics with a doctor whom I respected and adored.

My co-workers were phenomenal! You don’t find a solid team like that often but when you do you become dedicated and stick around. My plan was to retire from my position many years down the road, but the universe had another plan…

I was born with no fingers on my left hand and sure, there were things that I had to do differently to adapt but no big deal. I was born this way so anything I did was natural.

So you no longer work for the pediatrician you speak about? Why not?

Fast forward June 2024, my third year of working at my dream job. I grabbed a stamp for a form and as I stamped it I lost feeling completely in my right hand, the good one. Oh no.

I had surgery for carpal tunnel along with physical therapy and occupational therapy and

still unable to feel my fingertips and my arm decided it likes to cramp up making it

impossible at times to hold even small objects.

Seriously? Now what? I found my identity in nursing and I am lost! I feel like I was in

mourning for a while. I am fortunate that I have an amazing support system between my

family and my dear friends.I have had so much time to look inward and self reflect. I now

realize that I have been gifted time! Time to figure out what the rest of my life is going to

look like, at least “foreseeable” future. (Nothing is guaranteed, I’ve learned that!)

sarah long homestead — I have decided I am going to homestead so to speak. I have a wonderfully large yard where I will be raising chickens and learning how to garden with focus on herbs, berries and flowers. I am going to slow down. Unplug and get back to the basics.
I have learned over the last year that all of the things we think we need are really causing us stress and sickness. I want to move forward living as my highest self. My job on earth is to spread kindness and love and I will continue to do so every day.

creative projects sarah long — **Do you have any regrets in life?**

I don’t have any regrets in my life. Every experience is meant to teach us about ourselves and what we should or shouldn’t do. I have learned the hard way many times but I do not regret any of the choices I have made!

**What’s your favorite time of day?**

Morning. I love getting up with the new day and setting intentions.
**Introvert or Extravert?**
I am definitely a combo an “introverted extrovert”, I love and need to be social but I also need a great amount of time to restore my energy with solace and down time.

What’s one vice you wish you could give up?

Smoking cigarettes. I am still an on/off smoker. Mostly when I am in a large social setting and others are smoking.

Fortunately my answer is not alcohol as I was able to stop drinking completely approximately 2 years ago and my life has never been more clear and getting through difficult times has been so much easier without that playing a part in my life.

What are your most important values in this season of your life?

Love, forgiveness, Compassion, creativity, accountability and altruism. Acceptance is the big one I am working on. The others are easy and are coming naturally. Staying close with my family and friends. Paying attention to how everyone around me is doing and making sure to be available and present when someone needs me. Even though I struggle with my own emotions occasionally it's important to me to keep positive and learn to accept my new reality of not being able to practice as. Nurse.

What’s something you notice about someone when you first meet them?

Their energy. I can almost always sense a person's energy and am able to feel if they are genuine or not. When someone has a pure and wholesome energy (that does not mean they have never made poor choices, it means I can tell if the person is authentic and honest). Most people I meet are trustworthy until they prove me wrong. However there are people I meet that I know within my entire being to steer clear of and I have never been let down by this intuition.

What’s playing on your music app (or record player) these days?

Ooh! Sierra Ferrel, I’m having a lot of fun listening on vinyl and streaming through anything I can listen to for free. Currently loving the folk and bluegrass scene again. Other favorites include Jayhawks, Mason Jennings, modest mouse and many many more. We are really big music fans in our home!

Do you have any secret (or random) talents?

I can sing. I used to play guitar but with this whole hand thing going on it is really difficult. I did recently buy myself a ukulele (much easier to hold and press the strings) and though some days I can’t physically play I have been able to learn a few songs. Stay tuned, maybe you will catch me at an open mic night, lol.

**What three words would you use to describe yourself? Why?**

Creative
*I am constantly creating art, or ideas of art that will eventually come to fruition.*
Funny
*I have a thing especially in the most delicate and or sad situations to make someone laugh not sure if it is healthy but certainly my favorite of “coping” skills, lol.*
Comforting
People tell me that They feel comfortable around me and I agree. I have a great sense of empathy and intuition and it helps others to feel calm or comfortable around me. That sounds a little braggy or whatever and I am ok with it. I love that I can be a safe space for anyone that needs it!
***—Art work painted by Derek Settergren***

How do you intend to make our community a better place?

I am hoping I will be able to teach families that homesteading is possible. Getting back to the basics in life.

What are you most looking forward to in the next year or two?

I will be helping my buddy run his new food truck which will be up and running by June, also I am hoping to assist Nira in her Flower farm adventure!

How about the next 5-10?

This is still in the dream phase, but My five year plan is to be able to open a summer camp on the same land as the flower farm to teach kids in our community what it looks like to garden (I am a beginner myself so I still have a lot to learn about stewardship of the land) but am ready to learn and will be excited to extend that knowledge to our community! I think learning how to work the land and to raise small animals like chickens it’s extremely important for everyone as our society becomes more fast paced and out of line with nature. It is necessary for as many people as possible to learn to bring our earth back without chemicals.

What is the best way for the community to connect with you?

I am on facebook, instagram and TikTok, I check into each of those daily or every few days. I currently do not engage a lot as the political stuff everywhere becomes too much. I don’t like all the fighting happening out in the digital world. I only have a few people that I will speak to about politics or things like that. It opens the door for rapid judgement and hate too often so I say leave your politics at the door and we can have many more meaningful conversations!

the reinvention of … Sarah Long

I have given up on being afraid to just say, “Hey, I like your vibe, want to get together sometime and hang out?”

I eventually settled in as a teacher assistant at Bluffview Montessori school where I learned so much. It blew my mind watching the teacher demonstrate something like math in a concrete form. It was tangible…I understood it!

It was there where I became friends with the school nurse. She encouraged me and told me I would be a great nurse, I gave it some thought and even though I was scared, I decided to just go for it.

My co-workers were phenomenal! You don’t find a solid team like that often but when you do you become dedicated and stick around. My plan was to retire from my position many years down the road, but the universe had another plan…

I was born with no fingers on my left hand and sure, there were things that I had to do differently to adapt but no big deal. I was born this way so anything I did was natural.

Fast forward June 2024, my third year of working at my dream job. I grabbed a stamp for a form and as I stamped it I lost feeling completely in my right hand, the good one. Oh no.

I have decided I am going to homestead so to speak. I have a wonderfully large yard where I will be raising chickens and learning how to garden with focus on herbs, berries and flowers. I am going to slow down. Unplug and get back to the basics.

I have learned over the last year that all of the things we think we need are really causing us stress and sickness. I want to move forward living as my highest self. My job on earth is to spread kindness and love and I will continue to do so every day.

I don’t have any regrets in my life. Every experience is meant to teach us about ourselves and what we should or shouldn’t do. I have learned the hard way many times but I do not regret any of the choices I have made!

Fortunately my answer is not alcohol as I was able to stop drinking completely approximately 2 years ago and my life has never been more clear and getting through difficult times has been so much easier without that playing a part in my life.

nirifisher@gmail.com

the reinvention of … Sarah Long

I have given up on being afraid to just say, “Hey, I like your vibe, want to get together sometime and hang out?”

I eventually settled in as a teacher assistant at Bluffview Montessori school where I learned so much. It blew my mind watching the teacher demonstrate something like math in a concrete form. It was tangible…I understood it!

It was there where I became friends with the school nurse. She encouraged me and told me I would be a great nurse, I gave it some thought and even though I was scared, I decided to just go for it.

My co-workers were phenomenal! You don’t find a solid team like that often but when you do you become dedicated and stick around. My plan was to retire from my position many years down the road, but the universe had another plan…

I was born with no fingers on my left hand and sure, there were things that I had to do differently to adapt but no big deal. I was born this way so anything I did was natural.

Fast forward June 2024, my third year of working at my dream job. I grabbed a stamp for a form and as I stamped it I lost feeling completely in my right hand, the good one. Oh no.

I have decided I am going to homestead so to speak. I have a wonderfully large yard where I will be raising chickens and learning how to garden with focus on herbs, berries and flowers. I am going to slow down. Unplug and get back to the basics.

I have learned over the last year that all of the things we think we need are really causing us stress and sickness. I want to move forward living as my highest self. My job on earth is to spread kindness and love and I will continue to do so every day.

I don’t have any regrets in my life. Every experience is meant to teach us about ourselves and what we should or shouldn’t do. I have learned the hard way many times but I do not regret any of the choices I have made!

Fortunately my answer is not alcohol as I was able to stop drinking completely approximately 2 years ago and my life has never been more clear and getting through difficult times has been so much easier without that playing a part in my life.

F A R M G I R L

nirifisher@gmail.com