Meet Monique Duell

We recently connected with Monique Duell and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Monique, thank you for joining us today and sharing your experiences and acquired wisdom with us. Burnout is a huge topic these days and so we’d love to kick things off by discussing your thoughts on overcoming or avoiding burnout

I wrote a book called Caregiver C.P.R. In it, I chronicled how I navigate through caregiver burnout. Avoiding it isn’t as black and white as it seems because each journey caring for a vulnerable loved one is different. What is required for me to avoid burnout may or may not work for another. For me, it took counseling, prayer and recognizing that this false sense of strength that we’re often expected to have as flawed humans is futile. The Bible says, “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might”, not our own. This tells me that I don’t have the physical stamina to keep going without the proper physical and spiritual nourishment, rest and community engagement. Fact is, we need each other to get along in this world. We all have something to contribute to the betterment of one another.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am the Founder of This Ability LLC. I work with special needs families by helping them find resources, services and supports in Prince George’s County. I also travel doing conferences, seminars and presentations based on two of my books, Grief is a Gangster and Caregiver C.P.R. When I’m not doing that, you can catch my show, Having a Moment With Moni on the airwaves on the HOD Radio Network, from Benin, Nigeria, or catch me on one of my many interviews on various shows on Youtube. My show also streams wherever podcasts are streamed. What makes what I do so special is because I eat, sleep and live what I do. I too, am a special needs guardian and caregiver times two. My adult son has cerebral palsy and my adult brother has autism. I get the pleasure of meeting new people, sharing my expertise and making lasting memories, I absolutely love what I do!

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

My passion for people, my gift of gab and my bubbly personality have catapulted me in ways that I never imagined. I’ve been told that my transparency in sharing my testimony and my journey has literally saved lives and for that, I’m grateful. For those who are still trying to figure out where they belong and the skills that they possess, keep going. Find the thing that makes you get out of bed every morning whether you were paid to do it or not, and build on that. Don’t be afraid to take a class or two or to reach out to someone who is doing what you desire to do to get a little insight on how to improve your niche.

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?

My biggest area of growth or improvement in the last 12 months has been in the area of my mental health. I have come to terms with things that I absolutely cannot change. I came to the realization that I within myself am powerless to change anything unless GOD allows a thing to be changed. I can only ask God in prayer to change myself, a person, place or a thing. It’s up to HIM to do the rest. This has saved me from trips to the ER for heart palpitations, anxiety, and stress.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/moniqueduell
• Instagram: @msdeereign
• Facebook: This Ability/Monique Duell
• Linkedin: Monique Duell
• Twitter: Monique Duell
• Youtube: Monique Duell
• Other: Email: moniqueduell@gmail.com

Image Credits

Images by Monique Duell