Sheryl Guir: An Embodiment of a Strong, Resilient Woman

From grief to grace, Sheryl chooses courage, community, and small daily wins to raise two daughters and rebuild a meaningful life

When life gives you lemons, what do you do? The proverbial phrase tells us to make lemonade, but Sheryl Guir chooses to make Margaritas instead. This is how she transforms even the sourest and most bitter moments of her life into sources of strength, becoming the strong and resilient woman she is today.

A single mom of two, Sheryl wears many hats to support her family. She mirrors a bumblebee, diligently pursuing her life’s dreams. She is not just an insurance agent; she’s also an environmentalist, a breastfeeding advocate, a dog lover, a passionate freediver, and a small-time entrepreneur who owns Sweet Sheryl Goodies. Her baked goods are always in high demand, especially her famed and delicious Puto Cheese, available in Malunggay and Carrot flavors.

Delving deeper into Sheryl’s life, I discovered that there is more to this elegant and kind-hearted soul. I remember her from high school, always approachable, a great conversationalist and she also possessed grace and talent in dancing.

Fast forward to the present, Sheryl remains candid and articulate in sharing her personal stories and life lessons on social media. She is an open book; those who know her have heard about how she has endured and conquered various challenges. Allow me to share her story, one that is both inspiring and heartbreaking, rich with valuable insights and wisdom.

The Unexpected Twists of Love and Fate

Sheryl became a mother at the tender age of 20, and the moment she held her baby daughter, Ash, in her arms was priceless. This led her to make the difficult choice to leave college in 2010 to care for her child. Fortunately, with the love and support of her family, friends and her then-boyfriend of nine years, Jeypee, Sheryl navigated the challenges of motherhood with greater resilience.

She envisioned a happily ever after with Jeypee, especially when she discovered that she was pregnant again with their second daughter, Zach, years later. It was 2015, and she had dreamed of walking down the aisle toward her happiness soon, but fate had other plans that dramatically turned Sheryl’s world upside down.

“I thought I knew what I wanted in life. I wanted to get married and have a family. But God had other plans for me,” Sheryl recalled. “My partner left me for another woman. I was three months pregnant then, and we had a five-year-old daughter. It was a devastating blow.”

This heartbreaking experience was tough on Sheryl, compounded by her pregnancy in the first trimester. At one point, she wanted to give up. Illness and emotional turmoil took a toll. “I couldn’t control my emotions. One time, while I was having dinner, I started crying out of the blue, and my tears fell onto my plate.”

But then she thought about her eldest daughter and what would become of them if she wavered. “What kept me strong was my daughter. She was five years old, and I knew that if I were weak, it would affect her,” she recalled.

Her second pregnancy proved to be challenging as she had to work and study full-time. “People often asked me how I managed to juggle everything on my plate. If there’s a will, there’s a way. If you really want something, you can do it.” Eventually, Sheryl had to give up her job to focus on her health and pregnancy. Months after they broke up, she finally realized the bitter reality she had to face. “There was no more ‘us.’ Our relationship was truly over,” she lamented.

As Sheryl gradually moved on, another heart-wrenching event forever altered her life and her daughters’. On May 27, 2015, she received a call from her sister, who heard the news on the radio. “Normally, I’d check messages on my phone and social media frequently, but that night was an exception. My sister delivered the most tragic news of all–the father of my children had been shot and killed. I immediately grabbed my phone, checked my messenger and scrolled through Facebook. It was all there, confirming the grim reality.”

Nobody told Sheryl immediately because she was already six months pregnant. He was already at the funeral parlor when she learned the news. “They were worried about how his death would affect me emotionally. But I insisted that I had to go. I wanted to be there,” she revealed. 

“I wanted to wake up. I hoped it was all just a dream. But when I arrived, I saw his entire family crying. I went further in and saw his lifeless body. In that tragic and painful moment, my mind froze. I was in shock. It was real. It was happening, but I didn’t want this to happen.”

Everything else happened in a blur as Sheryl mourned the passing of her former partner. “He left me, but this time, he left me for good,” she tearfully said. “It’s just heartbreaking that we never had closure. I want to stress the importance of closure. You never know what might happen to someone you’ve had a relationship with or to anyone else. If you can talk to that person, do it now,” she emphasized.

The Journey from Grief to Healing

Carrying the weight of grief daily became Sheryl’s new normal. “It was like carrying an invisible weight that others can’t see, but I feel it constantly. People often say time heals all wounds, but I’ve come to understand that healing is a complex process that doesn’t follow a linear path.”

Many ask her how she managed to move forward. Her response has always been, “Moving on is a deeply personal journey, and it’s different for everyone. In my case, I didn’t move on; I learned to coexist with the pain. If you were to ask me, I’d say that I’m still grieving, even after eight years. With each passing year, the pain didn’t fade; instead, it became a part of my memories, a part of who I am,” she remarked.

Grief is not something that people can simply “get over.” It’s more like a companion that walks beside us, sometimes fading into the background but never truly leaving, and that’s alright. “It’s okay to grieve, to feel the pain and to remember,” she expressed.

As Sheryl continued her journey as a single mom, she shifted her focus from the pain of her former partner’s absence to cherishing the time they had together. “Healing is a continuous process with no fixed endpoint. Today, I can say that I’ve found a sense of peace, not through forgetting, but through remembering with love and acceptance.

A Daughter’s Love

Sheryl’s story is a reminder that healing is possible even after the most profound losses. In 2022, she faced yet another painful ordeal involving another family member. Her father received a devastating diagnosis, a terminal illness that left him with limited time.

As the sole family member with the flexibility and time to care for him, Sheryl took responsibility for looking after her father. She ensured his comfort and well-being, tirelessly attending to his needs. It was an emotionally taxing journey, filled with nights when tears flowed freely and prayers were offered for her father’s well-being.

Yet, she remained resolute and positive while caring for him. “I made every effort not to shed tears in his presence so that he wouldn’t feel sorry or weak in his helplessness,” she remembered. Fortunately, with the invaluable help and support of other family members, relatives and friends, Sheryl navigated this challenging chapter of her life.

“I believe it’s a gift from God that we were granted an extension. We celebrated his birthday last year, followed by Christmas, and then the new year of this year. We had one last opportunity to spend time with our father,” she revealed.

Months later, on a sunny Friday afternoon in her hometown in Antequera, Bohol, Sheryl carried a basket of flowers in her hand as she revisited her father.  Two beautiful girls accompanied her, Ash and Zach, also carrying flowers to commemorate their grandfather’s birthday. However, this year’s birthday was different for all of them, as it marked the first time they celebrated this special event at the cemetery.

Life’s Journey Through Unexpected Paths

As each one of us continues to face different battles every day, not everyone possesses the strength to remain standing and unwavering in the face of life’s adversities and challenges. Yet, Sheryl remained a formidable example of resilience and love.

She learned that it is important to be patient with yourself and to allow yourself to grieve in your own way. She also learned that having a solid support system and focusing on the positive aspects of your life is essential.

“As I continue my journey, I carry the lessons and strength I’ve gained from my experiences. Death is not the end. When a loved one departs, we gain the privilege of carrying them with us every day as we reflect on our thoughts and memories of them,” she disclosed. “They have shaped me into the person I am today—strong, resilient and ready to face whatever challenges life may bring.”

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