Monica Packnett - Chronica of Monica

Think hard for a second... what does determination in the face of adversity truly look like? Who in your life is the definition of "at first you don't succeed...?" Where do you pull your unexplainable understanding for life and love? Who can you say honestly never gives up? What does it look like when somebody refuses to take "no" for an answer? For me, all answers point to Monica. She is the inspirational GOAT for several reasons, so let's jump right in, shall we?

 SPOTLIGHT, ON!

"Family may seem like a simple concept, but there is no simple definition of family. In its most basic terms, a family is a group of individuals who share a legal or genetic bond, but for many people, family means much more..." (family.lovetoknow.com).

I met Monica when I was 18 years old. Now thinking back on the past six years, I'm not sure where I would be without her. Over the years, I have watched Monica grow and change. It didn't always seem like she was changing for the better. I watched and tried to help as she made decisions which at the time seemed destructive. I yelled and tried to coach. We cried and tried to laugh. We've shared secrets and pain. What I love about her though, is her "I'm gonna do it anyways," attitude. I love the way in which she admits her wrongs and comes back swinging. Monica has this unique way of being a force, despite her adversities and personal flaws. She uses them all to her advantage in a way that I've never seen done. 

She's always telling me how proud she is of me for the things that I'm doing. What she doesn't realize is that I couldn't have done them all had it not been for her; late nights on my college dorm room floor, crying and painting as she would sit and watch in awe, making little brush strokes seem like huge victories. It was the way she pulled out her camera so effortlessly to take a photo of something miniscule, that ended up being the most beautiful thing I had seen all day. It was the way she fought for herself, even after she had made mistakes and the way she proved herself to not only the people that didn't believe in her, but to herself... for herself. 

Inspiration is a funny thing. This is my blog and my section, so I can highlight whatever I want. I can highlight detrimental mental health if I so choose, as long as it inspires me. Spotlight, ON!, isn't solely created for the powerhouses who are doing phenomenal work in business, but for the individual who never takes no for an answer. I like to feature those individuals who take slow strides to save their energy for their massive leaps. Monica has inspired me in so many ways and she has encouraged and pushed me in so many directions. I owe her many thanks for staying in my corner all these years. We both know that I was a mess before it all started to come together for me. 

Today, the spotlight is on my sister, Monica, because in the wake of her struggles, she is going to BOOM! She is determined, focused, hardheaded, genuine, caring, motivated, energetic, creative, and mindful. She amazes me in ways that I can't even begin to describe and then she does even more. A proud and humbled sister I am. A better person thanks to her, I am. So thank you Widdle Stoopid Munka, for inspiring me, for believing in me, and for showing me a standard of excellence that is unparalleled. Thank you for helping me to create experience from nothing and reminding me that life is short. Thank you for encouraging me to get out there, to love hard and to laugh harder, and for allowing me to be me, through it all.

For More Heart-Wrenching Dedication to Life, Follow Monica @chronicaofmonica