We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Chitarra Monroe a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Chitarra, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you share a story that illustrates an important or relevant lesson you learned in school

I have a few teachers that has impact my life. While attending Holmes Elementary, Mrs. Stirrup always told me that I have a unique talent and qualities that make me special. Now did my eight year old self knew exactly what she was saying no but it stayed with me because my family stated the same exact thing. Three of my favorite teachers at Miami Northwestern Senior High School are Mrs.G. Smith, Dr. Hartfield and Mrs. A. Jackson; they use to tell me Opportunities present themselves on a regular basis throughout our lives. How I choose to respond to those opportunities can make all the difference in the world. Those who work the hardest typically achieve the most. Ultimately it does not matter what others think about me. Making a decision based on what someone else wants almost always turns out to be the wrong decision. So what does that mean to my fifteen year old self; nothing can stop me but me and always put my all into everything I do. My public speaker professor at Texas Southern University and The Art Institute of Houston always stated to me you are the potential change agent, meaning I have the potential to make a difference in the lives of those around me. I’ve built myself with the knowledge of knowing that I could achieve it; walk in my purpose and seat at the table with any and everyone.

Chitarra, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I would not be where I am today without the love and support of my family and my clients. They are all Team Chef CheeChee. If I was never challenged by my Uncle David; I will still be in the criminal justice field. If my Kids didn’t let me try new creative dishes for them; some of my famous Chef CheeChee products will still be in my head brainstorming. A Cancer diagnosis can turn someone’s life upside down but, the heart of gold of Chimere Cokley and myself brought us together to form 2Sisterswith1Mind. Our clients are what keeps Dymonds Catering and 2Sisterswith1mind going because without their constant support and lovely reviews of my clients service;We will still be trying to establish ourself. I love each and everyone of them because they are the reason I love what I do. Together we all create Magic!!!!

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I’ve had to learn as I’ve gotten older that if you want to succeed, you need to experience failure. You must understand the feeling of all the pressure on yourself and use it as motivation to continue to conquer the peak of your glory. Once we embark on something, if there is a failure, we should try to turn it into a success, no matter if we have to start again. I also failed many times in life and work. For the sake of my family and for the future, I have to try again from zero. I don’t see failure as a negative anymore. It’s part of my motivation!

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Going through cancer teaches you emotional resilience. Once you have received and navigated a scary diagnosis from tests to treatment, and recovery from treatment, your ability to handle ordinary challenges goes up several notches. One of the many surprises that cancer had in store for me when I was diagnosed was the fact that I, like so many others, would be cancer “ghosted.”I had no idea that this would happen to me at all, much less that it is so incredibly common. friends or family “ghosting” you or literally disappearing and cutting off all contact after you have been diagnosed with cancer. This is quite counterintuitive cancer should be a time when your friends and family band together to form a tight impenetrable cocoon of support. Why on earth would your family and friends NOT support you in your time of need? But cancer is funny in that way. It has a strange tendency to reveal who your true friends are, and unfortunately, who they are not. That is why I’m truly thankful for my small circle who has been there for me. I love you all so much.

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