Uncategorized – Page 10 – Monday Morning with Mona

Art & Little Brother

I am not a creative; I am not an artist. Actually, I started this blog because I felt like I needed a creative outlet, and since I have zero creative skills, writing was all I could think to do. If you read last week’s blog, you know that I am not crafty either. That beingContinue reading “Art & Little Brother”

Hobbies

I hate hobbies that require a big up-front investment. It’s as if once you make the investment into this hobby, that you may not even like, you are trapped. You spent the money. Now, you have to do the hobby. UGH. With some hobbies, you are lucky enough to get to try-before-you-buy, but I haveContinue reading “Hobbies”

Resiliency in Cambodia

Resiliency Another Perspective – Part 2 – Loung First They Killed My Father – Author’s Note: “From 1975 to 1979 – through execution, starvation, disease, and forced labor – the Khumer Rouge systematically killed an estimated 2 million Cambodians, almost a fourth of the country’s population.” About this time last year, my husband and IContinue reading “Resiliency in Cambodia”

Let’s Revisit Carlos

Because of my own insecurities, my concern that I couldn’t follow up another blog after my biggie, I wrote about Carlos and his resiliency, but I didn’t promote it. I didn’t want anyone to read it. The blog could not compare to the one I had written the week before. Hey, it’s not every dayContinue reading “Let’s Revisit Carlos”

Resiliency – Another Perspective

Part 1: Carlos I have RESILIENCY on the brain. I think about it several times a day, and this past week, I have come across several stories of resiliency. Maybe I keep finding them because “what you focus on you find”. Why is it so heavy on the brain? Probably because I am consistently workingContinue reading “Resiliency – Another Perspective”

A Special Virtual Marathon

I struggle with what I want to share this week. I feel like this post could go in so many directions. Is it about another virtual marathon? Is it about my 17th consecutive Marine Corps Marathon (MCM)? Should I write about it being my 40th marathon? Maybe I’ll just touch on all three, because ifContinue reading “A Special Virtual Marathon”

Lighthearted in Okinawa

If you read my blog last week, it was based on the premise that “You don’t have to travel the world to know the world.” I had finally come to the realization that a trip to see my family is simply not in the cards this year. That realization was heart-breaking. If you don’t knowContinue reading “Lighthearted in Okinawa”

Wherever You Go, There You Are.

“You don’t have to travel the world to know the world.” “You don’t have to travel the world to know the world.” This is such a ZEN/Buddhist way of thinking, and as much as I wished I could live a more “zen” lifestyle, I am neither zen, nor am I Buddhist. The thought of “knowingContinue reading “Wherever You Go, There You Are.”

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

This time last year, I was in Malaysia. Actually, as I publish this, it was last week of last year, but the actual dates don’t really matter, do they? It is wild to think that just a year ago, I could hop on a plane with several friends, and we could just go to Malaysia.Continue reading “Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia”

My First Marathon

A good friend of mine recently finished her first marathon, and it was such a treat to cheer her on, to watch her grow through the training process, and to be reminded of my first marathon. It was 2004. We were living in Washington DC, and my husband was stationed at the Pentagon. My brotherContinue reading “My First Marathon”