Maris Dental Studio Patient Spotlight
The Art of Enjoying Life
What happens when you finally have time to pursue the things you've always loved?
For Maris Dental Studio patient Cheri Clearwater, retirement has opened the door to more painting, more adventures, and more time with the people who matter most.
We invited Cheri to share a little about her life beyond the dental chair. Here's her story, in her own words:
I moved from Southern California to Lee County in 1990 and spent more than 30 years in banking. I started as a teller in 1988 and worked my way through the ranks—teller manager, customer service manager, branch manager, and personal banker—before retiring in July 2020.
I could tell you how to save for retirement, plan your finances, or manage your money, but what I miss most about those years are the people. Over three decades, I developed genuine relationships with customers and colleagues, and I loved being able to help someone solve a problem, learn something new, or simply feel that someone cared. Those connections meant a lot to me, and I still miss many of the people I met along the way.
Retirement has given me something else that I treasure: time. Time to slow down, spend more time with my family, and appreciate the people who are important to me. My daughter, Rachelle, and my husband, Bill, are a big part of my life, and I value the time we have together. After spending so many years working and taking care of the responsibilities of everyday life, I've come to realize that time with the people you love is one of life's greatest gifts.
Retirement has also given me the opportunity to spend more time doing something that has always been a part of me: art.
I've been an artist my entire life. As a child, I was fascinated by horses, and that early love of animals and creating never really left me. During my working years, art often had to take a back seat to everything else life demanded. Now I finally have the time to devote myself to it.
I paint primarily with acrylics, and I don't really have one particular subject. I might be inspired by an animal or a person's portrait, waves crashing on a beach, a motorcycle, or simply a feeling or movement that catches my attention. Sometimes I can see the finished painting in my mind before I begin. Other times, I have no idea where the painting is going to take me.
That's part of what I love about it.
The process feels like a dance with the universe, and that's where the magic happens.
When I'm not painting, I love being outside. One of my favorite things to do is walk Six Mile Cypress Slough early in the morning. There's something about being surrounded by that wild, quiet environment that makes me feel connected to something bigger than myself.
I also love swimming and walking, and staying healthy has become increasingly important to me. My philosophy for retirement is pretty simple: I want to enjoy it! I want to have the energy to travel, explore, paint, and experience the world for as long as I can.
And I still have quite a few places I'd like to experience.
At the top of my bucket list is Skydog Sanctuary in Oregon, where rescued wild mustangs and their families are able to live together in freedom. I'd love to visit Santa Fe and wander through its art galleries, see New Hampshire and Vermont in the autumn, explore the Maine coast, and spend time out West discovering its incredible geology. I would especially love to paint outdoors among the redwoods or along the Grand Canyon.
These days, I find myself valuing experiences more than possessions. There's still so much I want to see, learn, create, and experience—and I want to share some of those moments with the people I love.
I spent more than 30 years helping other people plan for their futures. Now I'm enjoying living mine.
You can see some of my artwork at chericlearwaterart.com.
— Cheri Clearwater