Author: Jean Bonnette, CPCC, ACC

Soul Mates

I know, I know the title is very controversial.  Thank you to the movie Meet Joe Black for this memorable scene. How many people out there really believe in this type of love, when 50% of marriages end in divorce?  If you’ve been reading my blog you’re probably thinking I’m the last person who should believe in soul mates.  Well, it’s actually the reason why I left, because I do. Sounds crazy?  Keep reading… I may be wrong but not very many of us believe in love anymore.  Our world is so full of cynicism, pessimists and negativity that there doesn’t seem to be any more room for true human connection where love grows.  We are so bombarded with having things and having money, having the perfect wedding, having the perfect dress, having that house with the car and 2.5 kids that we lose sight.  I know cause I’ve been there, it’s all part of the “status quo” mentality.  We were never taught to stop and think about what truly makes us happy?  What is it …

Higher Love

Going from a full-time position to a part-time position was not an easy process. When people look at me with envy they don’t realize just how much sacrifice went into getting to this place.  It took two years of planning, praying, working and creating the vision.  It didn’t happen overnight and it was painful to let go of what was familiar. I got here through hard work, determination and with a crystal clear vision. Here’s a big secret, having a vision is key. What does that have to do with love you ask? Everything! If you have a clear vision of what you want in love then you will get it. You need to be super clear. Think about how you bought your car.  You went to the dealership with a make and model in mind, the color, the fabric of the interior, the exterior colors, etc… If we can all be that clear about the type of love we want versus the type of car we buy, this would be one happy world. My …

Surrender

A few years back I decided that I was going to try ice skating! I’ve never really mastered regular skates but I was determined to try it. I was very excited because it was an outdoor rink and so beautiful. I eagerly got my skates and went straight to the ice rink. As soon as my foot touched the ice it was a bit harder than I expected! The ice was full of gashes and my skates would stop and stall which caused me to wobble trying to find my balance. I made it around a couple of times holding the rails. Then I got more courage as I would push myself off the rail and find the nearest open rail across the way. To my surprise as I pushed off I hit a deep gash on the ice and my skates stalled. I had two choices keep moving forward or reach backwards for the rail. It felt like moving forward was too scary so I reached back and fell! I realize that if I …

Poetry

Recently I’ve been drawn to poetry. Rumi is my favorite poet thus far. It’s so interesting what emerges when we give it space and no judgements. I think my love for poetry has always been deep down inside but never did I really entertain the idea. I remember in 8th grade we had a school assignment to memorize a poem. Everyone searched through the book frantically looking for the shortest poem ever created. I think there was one about a bat and it had 10 words. I heard that poem at least 15 times on the day we had to get in front of class. However, I found Robert Frost and just had to choose The Road not Taken. At the age of 13 I wanted to memorize the longest poem imaginable! I think I was 13 going on 30. Also, I was so shy at that age that choosing to stand in front of the classroom to memorize the longest poem ever was so out of character for me. I still can’t believe I …

Truth-Seeking Journey

I have come to believe this paragraph above as the biggest certainty of my life.  In many ways the past few years have been a truth-seeking journey for me both professionally and personally.  I left everything familiar.  After an unexpected loss, I experienced grief which changed my life, a blessing wrapped in tragedy.  It was a wake up call that changed the course of my path.  I asked myself am I  truly happy?  Is this the life I want to live?  Does my career give me fulfillment?  What do I really want in life and in love? It didn’t happen overnight that’s for sure.  I would need to write a book to share my whole journey but I will give you the Cliffs Notes version.  It happened in small increments and the first step is making the decision and owning your truth.  My truth was I wanted to be a Life Coach.  It gave me a feeling of fulfillment that I’ve never felt before.  Once I made a decision to leave a full-time job that …

Lessons on Joy at Union Station

Joy at Union Station doesn’t sound like they should be in one sentence. However, today was a special experience. I took the train at Union Station to attend a morning meeting. I remember it was rush hour and I had to balance my phone all while holding the rail so I don’t trip on the abrupt stops. Well at one stop I missed the rail and almost slipped! Yes…I’m clumsy it’s one of those things I need to accept about myself. I was a little embarrassed as people are so quiet and during the ride it’s as if no one is breathing. Later that afternoon I rode the train to get home getting closer to Union Station, my final stop. To my surprise the train slows down and picks up not one herd of small kids but three herds of them! I love children but not sixty all at once and in such a small crammed space. Well to my dismay a group came rushing in full of laughs and energy! The adults were outnumbered. …

The Sacred Sunrise

The past year had so many changes that it felt like keeping up with a moving train as I’m running beside it!  I started automatically waking up much earlier than usual so I decided to make use of that time.  It was as if my body needed to work it all out physically and mentally.  I just needed some relief from all the constant thoughts and the need to know what the future holds.  I used the early mornings to get quiet and listened to what I yearned for. I turned to nourishing my body from the inside out.  I made it a morning ritual to drink some warm tea.  There’s just something so gratifying about watching the hot water flood the floating tea bag.  I found a cozy corner of my living room and lit a candle to bring in some light.  In front of me are my spiritual guides, a little statue of Mary and in front of her a little Buddha statue that I love.  It was still dark and I didn’t …

Love & Worthiness

This has been the biggest lesson of my life and also the hardest.  In some way I think if we are honest with ourselves, we all struggle with this lesson.  What is it about love that we feel like it needs to be earned?  If we had the right career, the right car, the beautiful home, perfect hair, a toned body, a certain height, a certain amount of money then we are lovable!  How did this get so ingrained in our DNA?  I’m sure the answer is multifaceted influenced by our environment, our experiences, being bombarded by media everyday, etc… The fascinating part of us all is how imperfect we are and all the beauty that it holds.  How did you get to this point in your life?  What was your journey like?  What are the scars you carry?  What parts of yourself is hidden and so unlovable?  If you have ever had the courage to let someone in it’s a testimony of your vulnerability and your humanity.  This is where we connect, through our …

Welcome 2018!

Any arbitrary turn along the way and I would be elsewhere, I would be different. -Under the Tuscan Sun Happy New Year!  It has been a long long time since I wrote on this blog.  I got really busy with creating a new business partnership.  The past year was really about building and creating our product.  In addition, it has been one roller coaster ride this year.  There was a creation of a new business that aligns with my life purpose, a tragic death of my family member, my best friend’s wedding, my other cousin’s engagement, the birth of a new baby in our extended family, a pregnancy, changes of a relationship and an awakening of my soul.  To say the least it was a very busy year! I tell people it is as if the Tasmanian devil spun around my life and flattened everything.  The only things that were left over were the most important that I could carry with me.  I took the love of family, self-love & confidence, health and peace of …

Just Keep Swimming…

As you can see I dedicate this post to Dory our beloved endearing Disney fish.  I recently saw the movie “Finding Dory” and I was touched with the depth of the story and how much a little faith and trust in our instincts can lead us back home. The part I related to the most was closer to the end when Dory was completely lost.  She lost her friends, she lost her family and she lost her way.  How many of us at certain points in our lives can relate to that exact moment?  She looked around in the deep blue sea and saw nothing…However, she got quiet, she dug deep and followed her instincts.  Dory followed the clues that led her back home.  Most of the time we panic and make hasty decisions without truly listening to ourselves. When we have nothing left we just need to be still and look around to find the little clues, the little voices, the little pulls that tell us left or right.  We need to listen carefully …