Category Archives: Mindfulness

The Burden of Choice

Posted on May 20, 2019 by bonnevivantelife

I’m 45 years old, and I am both ecstatic and dismayed that I have one more student loan payment left. I received my graduate degree in 1997. It’s been a while. It also took me a while to understand why … Continue reading →

Posted in Empowerment, Mindfulness, Parenting | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

A Box Full of Darkness

Posted on January 18, 2019 by bonnevivantelife

“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.” -Mary Oliver, The Uses of Sorrow Mary Oliver, a poet who once said poetry mustn’t be fancy, … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Relationships | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

When Rice is Love

Posted on October 28, 2018 by bonnevivantelife

Twenty four years ago, my parents gave me an old 3-cup rice cooker, National brand. It was rusty on the outside, but it did the job. They loaded me up with used furniture, an Ikea piece or two, mismatched kitchenware, … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Parenting | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Bearable Lightness of Being

Posted on June 7, 2018 by bonnevivantelife

  I never quite know who I’m coming home to. There are two human beings in middle school who have the keys to the house and full run of the refrigerator. But I don’t know who I’ll encounter when I … Continue reading →

Posted in Mindfulness, Parenting | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Be Your Hero

Posted on February 3, 2018 by bonnevivantelife

When people think of relationships in February, they usually think about intimate relationships–their spouse, significant other, ex-lover. Too often, people don’t examine the relationship you have with yourself. It’s precisely this relationship you have with yourself that dictates and frames … Continue reading →

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When Your Heart Breaks Open

Posted on December 22, 2017 by bonnevivantelife

I tell you this to break your heart, by which I mean only that it break open and never close again to the rest of the world. -Mary Oliver There was a moment recently whereupon my heart broke wide open. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dating, Meditation, Mindfulness, Relationships, spirituality | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Grace in the Face of Betrayal

Posted on December 20, 2017 by bonnevivantelife

We’ve all felt betrayed or duped by people. We’ve all been hurt by people. We’ve all been disappointed by people we believed in, by people we trusted, by people we cared about. I’ve believed in people I should not have. … Continue reading →

Posted in Dating, Empowerment, Mindfulness, Relationships | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Life Lessons from Snow

Posted on December 10, 2017 by bonnevivantelife

I am not a professional writer because I can’t write to assignment. Yet I didn’t argue with my friend when he gently told me to go for a walk in the snow, look for something special or inspiring or beautiful, … Continue reading →

Posted in Meditation, Mindfulness, spirituality | 4 Comments

Grace: Always the Next Right Thing

Posted on November 27, 2017 by bonnevivantelife

I’m processing the end of a relationship, and some moments are better than others. It didn’t work out, but he’s a kind, gentle soul full of grace. That’s what attracted me to him the most. Just because it didn’t work … Continue reading →

Posted in Dating, Mindfulness, Relationships, spirituality | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Gratitude for When Darkness Falls

Posted on November 25, 2017 by bonnevivantelife

I lay here listening to the world wake up slowly. Cars start driving down the road on the way to work. Footsteps shuffle to the bathroom. I can almost hear the black of night turn to grey as light slowly … Continue reading →

Posted in Dating, Mindfulness, Relationships | Tagged , , | 5 Comments