Meet Lynn Bonelli | Renaissance Woman

We had the good fortune of connecting with Lynn Bonelli and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lynn, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
For as long as I can remember I’ve been acutely aware that time is finite. Perhaps it stemmed from being raised a “military brat” moving every 2-3 years and, therefore, understood that our time in a certain house or state or school would come to end sooner rather than later. Or that my dad, much like Clark Griswold in National Lampoon’s Vacation, wanted us to experience everything we could while we could. When my sister or I would balk at yet another 2-hour car ride to go see the world’s biggest ball of twine or abandoned missile silo he’d quickly remind us that the 2 hours would pass whether we sat on our butts doing nothing or riding in the car to see something cool.

As my teenage years approached I developed a love of horses. When we lived in Georgia my parents leased a pony for me one year. As an 80’s latchkey kid it was a genius way to keep me out of trouble. I spent every day after school at the barn and every waking hour on the weekends too, The experience certainly helped grow my confidence which was important for this painfully shy, introverted pre-teen. Shortly after we moved across the country to California to yet another Air Force base. Let me tell you, going from a small, rural school to a school whose size rivaled a college campus was intimidating.

That sense of fleeting time started to turn into a habit of looking for and creating opportunities. I figured my dad was right, I could spend the same amount of time being miserable, lonely, and feeling like the outcast as the new kid in a school, or I could find something to fill my soul. I soon found a local horse show facility and asked if I could volunteer by grooming horses or cleaning stalls and tack in exchange for the ability to ride a horse now and then, I ended up becoming a “working student” and once again, found myself at the barn every day after school and all weekend grooming horses for other riders. But in exchange, I not only got to ride horses now and then, but I also got to take lessons 3 times a week and really hone my skills as a rider.

As an adult, this same habit of looking for and creating opportunities led to a part-time job at GM Dealership in the body shop. While not exactly the ideal job I was hoping for, it got my foot in the door. Within a year I had moved to the service department with a pay raise and full-time hours. I embraced every opportunity that came my way…from filling in for the receptionist to networking with managers in other departments, asking questions, and offering to help when I could. Soon, an opportunity to learn a new skill, get another pay raise, and increase my value in the company arose and was offered to me. I snatched it up. I kept this up for the 12 years I worked for this company until I became the assistant service manager and was headhunted by another dealership. As a shy introverted female in a male-dominated occupation, it was a real accomplishment to have a business approach me, offer me a management position, and ask me to name my price. I spent another 6 years at that dealership where I became Service Manager, one of only two females in the entire Western Region.

But this habit also helped shape my private life. When I found myself without a partner or friends who were interested in learning to kayak or go camping I located a company that offered trips for very little money…plus, they provided the kayaks, tents, and transportation to the lake. When I wanted to take my exploration further I joined an adventure group and booked a 4 day trip to Death Valley which again, included transportation, food, entrance fees, and guides. I could enjoy the things I wanted to without risking going alone and the bonus was meeting new people and making life-long friendships. Don’t get me wrong, although these were relatively inexpensive I also made sacrifices to afford them (working overtime, eating ramen, skipping meals out with co-workers, and packing my own lunch which was often PB&J). I also went to live at an ashram for a month to earn my yoga teacher’s certificate. Was it difficult to find the means to do this? Yes, extremely. And it was even more difficult to leave my husband for 30 days. But deep down inside me was that awareness of time passing. Time I couldn’t get back. So, I saw the obstacle and set my mind to find a way over, under, or around it.

There are many more examples I could share of how I made a decision, believed I could do it, and found ways to make it happen. Yes, it takes sacrifice. And guts. And hard work. And no, I don’t always succeed but I do always learn something about myself. And that’s another habit I have fostered…the habit of learning from each trial and error. I truly believe we can learn so much more from our “failures” than our successes and that’s why they occur. Sometimes often. But if you pay attention the lessons are there. Ignore them and they will get louder (and maybe more painful). So tune in to life and the messages it’s sending.

Having recently moved to SW Colorado, I was struggling to find resources to do the things I wanted in the chapter of my life…to grow some of our own food and provide a forever home to unwanted and elderly farm animals. The climate here is very different than any I’ve experienced so starting a garden proved to be quite a challenge (I lost all of my beautiful tomato plants one day late in May when we received a surprise foot of snow). I once again decided to create opportunities and started frequenting the local farmer’s market where I eventually befriended a few farmers. The next thing I knew, I became a part-time intern at a market farm right down the road from my house. I spent two days a week learning everything I could about growing veggies, milking cows, caring for chickens, irrigating fields, repairing fences, and reading the weather. Then I applied those things to my own little farm. Yes, it was a bit exhausting but the education was so worth it! I even started selling products at the farmer’s market and expanded my circle of influence quickly.

I also created the Cortez Sustainable Gardening & Farming Cooperative because I couldn’t find any groups like it in my area. While the group does utilize Facebook and Instagram to get the word out its main function is to create a network of hyperlocal gardeners and farmers and help them cultivate relationships so they can feel comfortable asking for and providing face-to-face assistance when needed. The idea behind it is the good ol’ fashion barn-raisings of yore. It is also a place where people can find events like seed exchanges or fermentation workshops as well as local resources like cost-share programs for reseeding pastures or removing invasive plant species.

But, most of all I’m glad these habits have brought me to our little place in McElmo Canyon, Mutiny Ranch, This “home for wayward animals” has become the driving force behind everything I do now. We have several elderly animals, including a 22-year-old llama and a 43-year-old miniature donkey so this concept of valuing the time we have is amplified. I don’t want to sound like a fatalist but I think it’s important to be aware that time is finite and “if not now, when”. With this in mind things like cleaning the stalls, grooming the animals, and spending an hour trying to get Fania, the llama, to eat a peanut out of my hand become cherished moments instead of chores. The time I dedicate to the animals and care of the property, in general, has led me to a new understanding and need to develop another habit; to find what matters most and say no to everything else. Put another way, if an opportunity isn’t an immediate “heck yes” then it’s a “heck no”. This means there are a lot of things that may feel like sacrifices…I no longer sell at the farmer’s market or teach yoga and I shop for most of my clothes at thrift stores and consignment shops so I can redirect that saved time and money to caring for the animals. But I no longer see these as sacrifices but instead, decisions I made to further my decision to spend my time and money on my priorities.

I now spend the majority of my time and focus on the rescue animals. This not only includes their care but also creating content for our YouTube channel, Instagram, Facebook, and Patreon in an effort to raise awareness and funds for our rescues and others we can help. Every day I seek new ways to remove obstacles, create opportunities, and move forward toward my goals.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am so in love with the part of Colorado. A visit here would include starting the day with a latte from Farenhiet Roasters and breakfast at Absolute Bakery in Mancos followed by an entire day spent at Mesa Verde National Park. Nothing captures the spirit of the area than touring a cliff dwelling. A stop at Fenceline Cider for a flight and dinner from one of the fantastic food trucks would complete the day.

Another day could easily be filled with a road trip to Monument Valley which would include driving through Valley of the Gods and nearby Goosenecks State Park. If time allowed, we’d swing by Sand Island to look at the petroglyphs and lunch or dinner at Twin Rocks Cafe where you can find local, seasonal, and even vegan food.

I absolutely enjoy off-the-beaten-path adventures so heading out to visit the less frequented sites of Hovenweep National Monument like the Holly Group and Cajon would be next on my list. Just be sure to pack a lunch, lots of water, and make sure your fuel tank is full. A nice way to end the day is with pizza and beer from Dolores River Brewery.

We’d also drop in at Zu Gallery for one of their many events…maybe game night or the listening room for live music. They have a great little wine and beer bar and such good energy that it’s a place everyone should visit. Plus there’s a ton of local art that any visitor would want to see and shop.

There are so many things to do and see. Some other favorites are hiking sand canyon and sand canyon ruins, visiting all the shops in Manocs, browsing Cliffrose and Cliffrose on Market, having a meal and cocktails at the Loungin’ Lizard, getting any needed hiking gear at High Desert Exchange, hitting up one of the farmer’s markets for local ingredients for home-cooked meals, shopping Merriweather Home + Market, cider tasting at Ecoterra, live music at Mancos Brewing, the list is practically endless.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Of course, I need to thank my father, who passed away in 2009, for teaching me at an early age the value of time and who also instilled in me the belief that life’s opportunities are limitless. I also want to thank my teachers Swami Sita and Swami Sankarnanda of the Sivananda Yoga Farm who continue to provide mentorship to this day. And to my husband, who helps remind me who I am and provides gentle redirection when I find myself overwhelmed. Much love also goes to Jodi Jarling, of Zu Gallery, for always believing in me and creating opportunities for me.

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