Meet Linda Bonner

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Linda Bonner. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Linda below.

Linda, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?

I’ve learned over the years that resilience, like contentment, comes from the inside! Like many, I spent years doubting myself, wondering if I was good enough, and trying to develop resilience with outside efforts. I fought imposter syndrome and was constantly seeking outside approval. It was, of course, never enough.

The first step for me was working with a life coach. She taught me to acknowledge my skills and talents and celebrate my wins, no matter how small. I worked with her for years, and the transformation was gradual. One pivotal moment was when she had me do an exercise recommended in the book “Keys to Success” by Napoleon Hill. The exercise was to create my Statement of Purpose. I spent weeks writing and journaling about my purpose, my life goals, and what I wanted my life to look like.

This was a most powerful undertaking, and it’s something I still use today. My Statement of Purpose reads, “I live a creative and engaged life in a community of friends with the purpose of helping and encouraging others.”

This statement is my foundation and drives how I live, how I engage with others, and how I do business. I’ve been called a ‘Random Idea Generator’, and I run each new idea through my Statement of Purpose to make sure it’s aligned with my purpose and goals.

This process not only built resilience but also keeps me grounded and focused on what’s important. It has shifted my mindset and given me the confidence to pursue my goals and dreams.

Another tool that impacted me was the “7 Rules of Life”, especially number 2, which reads “What others think of you is none of your business”. It was a reminder that there will always be naysayers and those who don’t understand. It taught me to believe in myself and rely on my instincts when I truly believe in something.

Today, I still work with a coach, I journey every morning, and I celebrate my wins. I’ve learned to accept that not every opportunity is meant for me, and that when God closes a door, I need to look for the open window. I believe resilience is something we learn and strengthen through daily practice.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I’m deeply passionate about helping people connect, and I’m fortunate to do that every day through my two businesses.

At Linda Bonner Studios, I design and sell one-of-a-kind greeting cards for all occasions. I also lead Card-Making Workshops in senior communities, bringing creativity directly to residents. These workshops are incredibly meaningful, as I watch seniors in Memory Care, Assisted Living, and Independent Living engage with art, connect with one another, and feel a renewed sense of joy and purpose.

In addition to my work with seniors, I also support families through my Amazon bestseller, Blessed with Extraordinary: Support and resources for families of children with Down Syndrome. This book offers tools and encouragement to help communities embrace advocacy, accessibility, and inclusion.

My mission is personal, and I’m the proud parent of an adult son with Down Syndrome. Sharing what I’ve learned on our journey is my way of giving back. I support families of children with Down Syndrome, other forms of IDD, learning differences, and neurodivergence through coaching, mentoring, writing, and speaking. It’s an honor to help others build a joyful, meaningful life rooted in understanding and connection.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The first is the quality of discipline, which I learned from my parents. While I didn’t appreciate it at the time, I learned to follow through on commitments, always do my best even when no one is watching, and care for others.

The second quality is accepting people for who they are. This is a quality I learned early on, but it truly developed after my son was born with Down Syndrome. While I struggled with his diagnosis in the beginning, I learning to accept him as a gift, a child with unique skills and abilities. This helped me build my ability to be accepting and compassionate toward others.

The third item is the skill of sharing what I’ve learned, resources I’ve found, and connections I’ve made to benefit others. I believe I was given my life experiences to encourage and help others. I am honored to share my knowledge and experience to make the world a better place for everyone.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Partnerships and collaboration are important in life and in business. Building relationships first is the key to lasting and impactful partnerships.

For Linda Bonner Studios, I’d love to partner with senior living communities, nonprofits, private schools, and others that are looking to create a dynamic open house experience by offering card-making opportunities. This gets the guests involved and gives them a handmade item to take with them to remember the event.

Connect with me:
www.lindabonnerstudios.com
lindabonnerstudios@gmail.com
LinkedIn: Linda Bonner
Instagram: Linda Bonner Studios

For Blessed with Extraordinary, I’m looking for speaking, panel discussion, or workshop opportunities to reach parents and caregivers of children with IDD. A few topics include transition planning, building a personal network, creating community connections, and educational advocacy.

Connect with me:
www.blessedwithextraordinary.com
blessedwithextraordinary@gmail.com
LinkedIn: Linda Bonner
Instagram: more_extraordinary_days

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lindabonnerstudios.com/
• Instagram: @lindabonnerstudios
• Linkedin: Linda Bonner