We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Flower Sanchez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Flower below.
Flower, thank you so much for joining us and offering your lessons and wisdom for our readers. One of the things we most admire about you is your generosity and so we’d love if you could talk to us about where you think your generosity comes from.
It comes from generational love in short.
My generosity has always been both a gift and a curse at times. Especially when it comes to discernment in friendships and relationships. However, it’s just who I am naturally. And I‘ve never regretted one bit it. I love seeing other people happy and if I’m able to help facilitate that I will. I believe in the power that giving brings into my life. I have all that I need always so why not share it.
As much as I’d like to say I have that typical Aquarius humanitarian streak, I have to accredit it all to my family for passing this down to me. Most specifically, my grandparents Florencia and Benjamin and mother Marissa.
My grandmother Florencia, was the first person in her entire family to move to America from Mexico. Once she did she has always and still to this day will welcome family from all over to stay in her home. It’s almost like her home has become the family safe haven. You arrive knowing you will be well taken care of. Not to mention fed well. She even bought her mom (my great grandmother Jesus) her own home all by the age of 21! Way to make me look good in this economy haha. I’ve watched her not only open her doors but cook, clean, make things for people when they are ill, etc., just go above and beyond for others my entire life. She even took me in off and on for a short time and helped my mom raise me all on her own. I don’t even know how she has time for bible study and her bingo club. She’s like a superhuman of some sort lol. I think in being this way, my mom growing up in that environment naturally adapted that same way of being.
My mom on the other hand has a heart of gold, no seriously. She was homeless most of my upbringing but whenever we did have housing (it was typically just a small one bedroom in the projects), she would bring in people from all different backgrounds in from the cold. Addicts even if I’m being transparent, to find a safe place to heal. She would always refer to them as an uncle or aunt so we knew what that meant. Some I never saw again and some really became extended family. This is also where I developed a lot of my empathy from, being exposed to people from all walks of life and my mother treating them all like Card Blanch holders to our section 8 pad. We would be on food stamps and she’d use it to make sure everyone was fed, always. For my family that didn’t need anything material from her, she has and is constantly lending her heart out to them. When I watch her interact with them it’s like an out of body experience where I get to see how much she is loved just as herself. The reassurance she offers my closest cousins when they need an aunt to vent to. Or if they just want her to cook delicious food for them, I don’t mind sharing her haha. For my friends she’s always been like everyone’s “other” mom. She has this ability to just uplift anyone with her kindness and I’ve always admired her for it. I’ll put it like this if she only had a dollar to her name she’d give it to a houseless man on the street and worry about herself later. My mom is just THAT person. Genuinely generous with no motive whatsoever. Rarified air.
My grandfather Benjamin, my absolute best friend whom I lost back in 2014. This man was something serious. I don’t even think there are enough words to describe his generosity. His parents migrated here where he and his siblings were born and raised in poverty. They weren’t allowed speak español growing up so that they were more easily accepted in America. This I believe fueled him to stand up for his people. He then grew up to join the Air Force to help take care of his family. He always took care of everyone. After, he took on a full time job to pay for law school. After he finished law school, He aided the migrant workers with free legal assistance to fight against any unfair treatment. He helped several of his colleagues obtain Law degrees as a mentor. He even inspired a family member in Mexico to obtain his degree. Every holiday he would lavish everyone with gifts after he became established as one of San Diego’s top criminal defense attorneys. He was the guy giving his black card out like it was free candy. I don’t know if we would’ve even had a Christmas some years of it weren’t for him. I watched him help my uncle obtain he and his wife’s first family home by co-signing for him and even take on legal cases for no charge from other family and friends. He volunteered his entire life, his mission was always to help others. He just gave. And his giving never ceased through the course of his life. I’ve never known anyone so strong, respected, and as generous as him. No ego, always just there for you. If there were anyone on earth other than me I’d want to emulate, it would be him. No question.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I wear many hats at this stage in my life. This last year I took some time for myself for the first time since I was 18. I’ve been a chef and hip hop DJ most of my life as you may already know. Then ventured into cinema in 2017 where I landed my first onscreen film. From then on it’s just been constantly evolving into this woman you see now.
I feel like as a creative and entrepreneur the challenges have become a bit much recently. This past writers and actors strike shed a huge light on what we all are up against constantly. I was happy to feel like everyone was finally being transparent and not glamorizing it as if to seem better than the next. It was like Hollywood had no ego for once. Now I think we are in this space where the lines are still undefined. Like we just shed old skin to become a new and improved place for art. It’s still a beautiful mess right now. But necessary nonetheless. I hope to be in a position powerful enough to create opportunities in this realm one day as well.
I actually decided to stop acting/working on sets for a year to focus on my wellness brand and to be a bit more hands on with my restaurant. It’s been good for me. I had time to map out our second restaurant coming this year! So excited. I was able to develop some new products for my skincare brand that are amazing and I’m super happy with. As well as begin writing my first book. Becoming a published author has always been a dream. I’m excited to turn that into a reality. Really I’m just evolving as our world does. I just had time to finally appreciate where I’m at, where I’ve been, and where I’m going. And I really needed this time. To say it’s been easy would be a lie. I really have accomplished a lot at just 28 years old and I took this year to finally reflect and appreciate it all. This was so important. Have to remember why we do what we do. It all circles back to love for me.
Being able to actually cook for my customers this year for the first time since 2016 and show my face was everything! Often times as a restauranteur we don’t always get to hop on the line because we are so busy running the business side of everything. With me being bicoastal even more difficult. It was so refreshing. Seeing new faces and watching them light up over a good meal has been priceless. I’m super thankful we’re still here a decade later and for all of the things we have in store. Forcing myself to be present physically allowed me to gain a better understanding on a business level as well. It’s important for me to make the patrons feel important. And any time I can actually get my hands cooking without the other stress I’m happy. After all, that’s how it all began.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
I would tell anyone to not procrastinate, don’t be afraid to put yourself out there, and to network! Networking is highly underrated.
I used to struggle with self esteem/ confidence due to growing up with less. I never let that make me feel like I’m less worthy than being in any room. So don’t ever be afraid to put yourself out there!
As far as procrastination, I’m the queen haha. Working in LA will strip this bad habit fast if you want it bad enough. Don’t ever think that someone else out there isn’t just as hungry for that one slot than you. Go after it like it’s the last Stanley cup at target haha. Seriously.
I always say, opportunities are increased based on the number of times they are ceased.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
I was actually recently diagnosed with Breast Cancer in winter of 2022. Just a few short months prior to that I lost my best friend and business partner to cancer. It’s been extremely challenging both physically and mentally.
I honestly have coped by just focusing on the impact I want to leave behind for my son and for anyone battling this disease. I take it one day at a time. I’m hopeful things will work out in my favor as far as outcome and I can continue to do great things in this lifetime. I haven’t allowed it to slow me down but I do listen to my body when I need to take on something less physical. I’m not useless however. I honestly don’t talk about it either because I want to focus on the good. The few that are close to me that do know have been extremely supportive and that’s all I could really ask for. This is actually the first time I’ve said it out loud and it’s honestly a bit freeing. So thank you for asking.
Being diagnosed was actually a big reason I chose to start a business in the holistic wellness field in the first place. So I do believe everything happens in it’s divine purpose. Now I’m able to share that love and help others in pain. It’s a beautiful thing to be able to give hope or medicinal aide to someone in chronic pain. I see it as a blessing now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.instagram.com/theflowerpodapothecary?igsh=MTloN2NhdHp0YTk4Mw==
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spottieottiedopalyscious?igsh=dThrNjFxbGpxdngx
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chefwillthepalate?mibextid=LQQJ4d
Image Credits
Richie Watkins
