Show Notes will be uploaded at a later date… --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/monique-monge/message

Show notes will be posted later… --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/monique-monge/message

Principals, Possibilities, Promises, and Power. In this episode of The Lifeterian Podcast, with me Monique Monge, I talk about principals, possibilities, promises, and power. I share my story of overcoming adversities after going through the loss of my loved ones without losing my optimism and passion for life. Listen in to learn the principles that I have utilized as I maneuver through the most challenging moments of my life. You will also learn why it is important to drop negativity in your life and how you can begin a positivity journey instead. “Resilience; The ability to bounce back after tragedies; Being able to adapt to life’s misfortune.” What You Will Learn from This Episode: • [0:12] How I maintained optimism amid of loss. • [1:42] Why you have to accept complete ownership of your feelings about the situation. How not to disconnect from these feelings no matter how bad or hard it is. • [2:52] Develop a positive mental attitude. Avoid being constantly exposed to negative situations. • [3:46] Learn how you can begin your positivity journey. • [4:48] I share my personal affirmation that I learned from Dr. Stan Harrison. • [5:50] Why you need to have patience. • [6:32] The power of being resilient. • [8:19] How to release your fear about the ugly things in your life plus how I accomplished it. • [8:54] Why you have to exercise your faith- whatever that means to you. • [10:06] Have hope- the light at the end of the tunnel. How I exercised hope during adversities. • [11:35] How to have genuine forgiveness in your heart. • [13:01] Why you have to reclaim your own personal power. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/monique-monge/message

Show Notes: The Gift   In this episode, Monique shares her another one of her life-altering experiences, encapsulated by the theme: “The gift was a miracle and the bow was a bandage.” Monique met Ruben in the Spring of 2010. There was an immediate spark, and something beyond friendship quickly developed. Of all the things they had in common, the main trait that the couple shared was “a mutual desire for success, happiness, and love.” The story begins as Monique recalls a minor eye surgery she had to have at Grady Hospital, which she tried to conceal from Ruben. That was not about to happen—Ruben was there with her at the follow-up appointment. Monique’s embarrassment was highlighted by the fact that the physician did not hold back in saying that she was losing her eyesight at a very rapid pace. She was referred to the Center for the Visually Impaired to “begin training immediately.” In short, Monique and Ruben had just learned, out of left field, that she was going blind. Monique left the hospital crying uncontrollably. She impulsively told Ruben that perhaps it was time to call off their relationship. Calmly, Ruben simply said, “Woman, I already love you. I’m not going nowhere. I got you.” Tears again; but this time, of joy. They were married 18 months after they met, on January 20, 2012. A dream was realized. A few years later, another dream became reality: Monique was able to visit West Africa during a study abroad trip. She regards one particular day of the trip as nothing short of miraculous. The group visited the Akonedi Shrine in Larteh. Once inside, an Akan priestess entered, offered up a prayer, and recounts her journey to becoming a priestess, along with the history of the shrine. Later, as the group took their leave, the priestess gently touched the right side of Monique’s face and spoke in her native language of Twi. “I did not understand what she said,” recalls Monique. “But I heard her.” The translator caught her as she exited the shrine, and mentioned that the priestess said, “Speak what you see.” During the rest of the bus ride home, Monique was silent, looking out the window, with tears streaming down her cheeks—impacted, yet unsure of exactly what the priestess meant. One week after returning to Atlanta, Georgia, Monique was to have a cataract removed from her right eye. After the operation, when her bandage was removed, Monique was surprised that she could see. Apparently, she was born with a rare genetic eye disorder called retinitis pigmentosa and, according to her medical team, there seemed to be no explanation to how she was able to see again after a simple cataract removal. Not only could Monique now see with both eyes, but she no longer had glaucoma. “I believe that the Akan priestess, known for performing miracles in that small village in Larteh, blessed my eyes, and for that, I am truly grateful.”  https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/retinitis-pigmentosa http://www.mamiwata.com/akua.html --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/monique-monge/message

Show Notes: Lifeatarian - Family Affair ​In this episode, Monique presents an interview covering an incredible event that took place at her home in December 2019: a heartwarming reunion with her cousin Eugene, who had not seen his biological family for 58 years after being adopted. ​To start the interview, Monique introduces her long-lost cousin Eugene and his wife Sheila, along with Eugene’s brother Vincent and his aunt Rachel. Eugene reveals that it was Sheila who initially pushed him to go look for his biological family. He subsequently hired a private investigator, who got him back in touch with his siblings. ​Eugene pours out his love for Vincent—a type of bond that only brothers could ever share. He also expresses his admiration for Vincent’s wife and the authentic love that clearly binds them together as husband and wife. Eugene admits that his love for his biological family is amplified on account of his being away from them for almost six decades. Initially, Eugene was reluctant to face his relatives once again for fear of being ostracized. However, he was welcomed back with open arms, which added to the depth of his admiration for them. He likens the experience to waking up from a coma. To any other black man who may eventually share Eugene’s experience of reuniting with their biological family, he advises them to “take it slowly.” It is important to ask questions and brace oneself for possible hurtful truths and reactions, as these are all part of the package for such an ordeal. Aunt Rachel explains that, as her sister Connie was no longer around to welcome back Eugene, Rachel felt a responsibility to make the reunion a reality. She knew right away after hearing of Eugene’s search that he was her long-lost nephew. She wasted no time in facilitating the meeting between Eugene and his brothers, James and Vincent. She also explains that it was not only Connie, but Rachel’s other sister Margaret who put a child up for adoption. Rachel recounts the circumstances that led to these life-altering decisions, and her criticisms against the local legal system which, she believes, are the true forces that kept their family members apart for so long. Sheila closes the conversation by emphasizing the role of love over both her and Eugene’s actions, all of which culminated in this emotional reunion. She pours herself out, thanking Eugene’s family for welcoming him back with such warmth and enthusiasm. The paramount importance Sheila places on family was what prompted her to motivate Eugene to go on this quest to find his biological relatives. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/monique-monge/message

Show Notes: Lifeatarian - Unbeautiful ​In this episode, Monique recounts a gruesome childhood experience that, quite literally, scarred her for life. She recalls her four-year-old self attending her first day of school, enthusiasm overflowing. Arriving home later that day, as Monique regaled her amazing time in class, she accidentally provoked Sparky, a Doberman her mother was watching for a friend. The next thing she knew, the dog had ripped off the entire right side of her face. Needless to say, Monique was rushed to the hospital where, for the next several hours, she experienced nothing but gasps of horror from everyone who looked upon her mangled face. After what seemed like an endless period of waiting, her mother, a police officer, finally arrived. Monique later learned that her mother had shot Sparky right before departing for the hospital. For the next two months, the hospital became Monique’s home. In preparation for the surgery, she had to attend school at the hospital in the morning with the other sick children. Her mother would bring Monique dinner every day and stay with her until her daughter fell asleep. It took extensive reconstructive cosmetic surgery to repair the damage done by Sparky. Following this harrowing experience, Monique had to endure the cruelty of other children who threw all manner of insults at her new unbeautiful face. But she quickly came to realize that “the cutting words of other children could only hurt me if I allow them to.” Inside, she allowed a little voice to repeatedly assure her that she was beautiful in her own unique way. Monique did quite well after this incident up until her teenage years. By then, she needed a lot of self-assurance as only a teenager would require. She worked night and day to improve her appearance and perceived maturity. While this may seemingly have produced changes on the outside, her deep-seated insecurities meant that she was maintaining little more than a facade; and that this facade would eventually collapse. What’s more, the standards of faux-perfection perpetuated by pop culture only served to fuel her negative self-talk. This self-loathing eventually turned outwards. She did not like herself; now she did not like other people. She developed a bad temper and negative attitude towards those around her. It took years of personal growth, nurtured by “the village of women who raised me”, before Monique could finally shed her destructive paradigm of herself. Monique warns against the potentially harmful influence of media and mass marketing on our minds. The majority of what they preach is superficial and materialistic in nature—that those with the nicest cars, houses, and clothes win. Instead, Monique proclaims that we must embrace every feature about ourselves, as we were personally handcrafted by God. “You will always be imperfectly perfect just the way you are.” --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/monique-monge/message

Lifeatarian - The Skeleton Keys   In this episode, Monique discusses the “centuries old” topic of family secrets—those skeletons in the closet that some people would go to any lengths to keep from being exposed. While there are different types of family secrets, Monique touches on three specific categories: individual secrets, internal secrets, and shared secrets. Individual secrets are those that a single person keeps from the rest of their family. Internal secrets are those that only two or more members of the family are privy to Shared secrets are known by the entire family, and are kept hidden from outsiders. Monique now gives nine examples of these three types of dark family secrets, from a gay individual hiding their identity from relatives, to a married man having multiple children with two different woman, to a brother having sex with a sister half his age, to Monique’s personal discovery at the age of nine that she has a long-lost half brother, along with her late realization that her older brother has bipolar disorder. With these nine examples of family secrets on the table, Monique now asks, “What motivates families to keep secrets?” Naturally, negative feelings such as shame, fear, or guilt fuel secrecy. Motives such as protection from punishment and avoidance of judgement are also common. Let’s not forget that certain social stigmas may also force families to keep certain secrets. These include abortion, adoption, alcoholism or drug addiction, divorce, mental illness, rape, sexually-transmitted diseases, job loss, extramarital affairs, homosexuality, fetishes, eating disorders, incest, criminal behavior, and suicide. “What motivates families to break secrets?” In short, guilt. Its crushing weight may eventually break the secret keeper/s. Along with this, a family member may wish to release a relative from the burden of having to keep dark secrets hidden from the rest of the world for the rest of their life. When unveiling a secret, the family member must ask themselves: “Am I revealing this secret out of love or spite?” In other words, what is the motive for breaking the secret? Is it to help the relative, hurt them, or even help oneself at the expense of that relative? Consider also the consequences of revealing certain secrets—is there support in place for those who will need it immediately after the secret is out? Be prepared to experience an overwhelming feeling of powerlessness, along with possibly even losing the relationship, or becoming alienated, distrusted, or physically harmed. Family secrets are never an easy issue to come clean with, and they always affect more people than just yourself, even if it falls under the category of “individual secrets”. Take special care to plan out for the short- and long-term repercussions that will follow the revelation, and make sure that, no matter what happens, the family bond is preserved as much as it possibly can be. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/monique-monge/message

Lifeatarian - The Skeleton Keys   In this episode, Monique discusses the “centuries old” topic of family secrets—those skeletons in the closet that some people would go to any lengths to keep from being exposed. While there are different types of family secrets, Monique touches on three specific categories: individual secrets, internal secrets, and shared secrets. Individual secrets are those that a single person keeps from the rest of their family. Internal secrets are those that only two or more members of the family are privy to Shared secrets are known by the entire family, and are kept hidden from outsiders. Monique now gives nine examples of these three types of dark family secrets, from a gay individual hiding their identity from relatives, to a married man having multiple children with two different woman, to a brother having sex with a sister half his age, to Monique’s personal discovery at the age of nine that she has a long-lost half brother, along with her late realization that her older brother has bipolar disorder. With these nine examples of family secrets on the table, Monique now asks, “What motivates families to keep secrets?” Naturally, negative feelings such as shame, fear, or guilt fuel secrecy. Motives such as protection from punishment and avoidance of judgement are also common. Let’s not forget that certain social stigmas may also force families to keep certain secrets. These include abortion, adoption, alcoholism or drug addiction, divorce, mental illness, rape, sexually-transmitted diseases, job loss, extramarital affairs, homosexuality, fetishes, eating disorders, incest, criminal behavior, and suicide. “What motivates families to break secrets?” In short, guilt. Its crushing weight may eventually break the secret keeper/s. Along with this, a family member may wish to release a relative from the burden of having to keep dark secrets hidden from the rest of the world for the rest of their life. When unveiling a secret, the family member must ask themselves: “Am I revealing this secret out of love or spite?” In other words, what is the motive for breaking the secret? Is it to help the relative, hurt them, or even help oneself at the expense of that relative? Consider also the consequences of revealing certain secrets—is there support in place for those who will need it immediately after the secret is out? Be prepared to experience an overwhelming feeling of powerlessness, along with possibly even losing the relationship, or becoming alienated, distrusted, or physically harmed. Family secrets are never an easy issue to come clean with, and they always affect more people than just yourself, even if it falls under the category of “individual secrets”. Take special care to plan out for the short- and long-term repercussions that will follow the revelation, and make sure that, no matter what happens, the family bond is preserved as much as it possibly can be. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/monique-monge/message

Today, Monique talks about the dark side of love, or as she calls it, The Black Rose. We take a deep dive into a tragic moment in Monique’s first marriage, when, after 23-years, she lost her first husband to suicide. The day was Sunday November 26th, 2006, a day when Monique recalls in graphic detail, how she witnessed the sudden, final moment when her husband took his life with his own firearm. She shares the imagery and the screams of panic and chaos of the incident. Regardless of still having a pulse, her husband was pronounced dead shortly after the ambulance arrived at the hospital. Before she was able to even tell her children that their father was dead, she was taken into custody by law enforcement for over 5-hours of questioning and even after, had been officially declared as a suspect of murder. Monique shares her thoughts, feelings, effort, and work that went into moving on and going forward in life while mourning, worrying for her children, and even being investigated for murder. A cautionary tale of how you to can offer life, love, and light.    National Suicide Lifeline 800-273-TALK(8255) or Text “B-R-A-V-E” to 741741 https://www.flickr.com/photos/tonythemisfit/3481319452/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/monique-monge/message

The Lifeatarian - The Red Balloon   In this episode, Monique shares her experience raising a child with mental health disorders. Every parent, she says, fears the possibility of receiving a phone call informing them that something tragic has happened to their kids. This fear turned into a reality for Monique on September 12, 2018, when she was told that her son had been airlifted to a local hospital and was placed on life support in the ICU. As Monique watched her helpless son laying in that hospital bed, images from Albert Lamorisse’s 1956 short film, The Red Balloon, all of a sudden flashed through her mind. The French film features a little boy who, throughout the short, follows, is followed by, is separated from, or is vying for the attention of, a red balloon. Monique likens the red balloon, in this case, to mental health disorders. Her son was born prematurely and suffered a traumatic brain injury at birth, leading him to be diagnosed with autism, bipolar disorder, and some form of schizophrenia. He is also a Type 1 diabetic. Needless to say, he is on constant medication in order to maintain life. As if this was not a rough enough life for a teenager, Monique’s son has to endure all this as an African American teenager living in the United States of America. There is a dire lack of support and services for children who suffer with mental health issues in the country. Monique calls for more voices to come together and rally for legislation to be put in place to help these children gain support. To this end, Monique created a change.org campaign to address this very issue (linked below). In addition, Monique hopes that this raised awareness will lead to a “Red Balloon Day”. Monique describes this as “a day in which we come together for massive Red Balloon releases to bring awareness to this mental health crisis as it relates to our youth.” Red Balloon Day will also serve as a fundraising platform that will allow for the building of educational programs to better inform educators, law enforcement officers, and families on how to care for youth with mental health disorders. http://chng.it/cX54dPxkyM https://ssir.org/articles/entry/the_crisis_of_youth_mental_health https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Carl_Bell/publication/247584972_Prison_Madness_The_Mental_Health_Crisis_Behind_Bars_and_What_We_Must_Do_About_It/links/54a2a2cb0cf267bdb9041dc4/Prison-Madness-The-Mental-Health-Crisis-Behind-Bars-and-What-We-Must-Do-About-It?origin=publication_detail https://youtu.be/V12H2mteniE --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/monique-monge/message