Think of it as Yoga for the brain, we are going to stretch a bit.
Become a Bon Vivant
— a good liver
— in just 7 days?
A bon vivant is a connoisseur of living, not just existing — a human who has the good sense to savor the journey while the rest of us are still quarreling about the map. --YNOT
When I went to school, it was so long ago they actually taught us Latin, Greek, and French.
Back then, we were expected to wrestle with ancient tongues the way modern kids wrestle with Wi-Fi passwords. And out of all the phrases that marched across those dusty old chalkboards, two stuck with me like burrs on a wool jacket: Carpe Diem — seize the day — and Bon Vivant — the good liver, the one who lives well.
Now, between you and me, that second one always felt like the true prize.
Anyone can seize a day.
But it takes a certain kind of soul — a stubborn optimist with a twinkle in the eye — to live well, especially when the world seems determined to fall apart in brand-new ways every year.
And these hard times are hard.
The news cycles are turbulent, the economy is twitchy, the skies feel a shade darker, and half the world seems to have forgotten the simple decency of being human. Things may get worse before they get better. But even then — maybe especially then — we’d do well to remember that the goal of life is not merely to survive it, but to enjoy it.
So let us wander, you and I, down a gentler road for a moment.
Let us dust off that old French phrase and ask a deceptively simple question:
So how does one become a Bon Vivant — a good liver — in just 7 days?
Not the kind that floats on yachts while sipping champagne out of crystal goblets (though if that’s available, do send my regards). No, I mean the kind who turns ordinary life into a feast, who squeezes moments for their juice and refuses to let the world’s troubles turn them bitter. And it is never about money, it is about attitude to life.
A Bon Vivant is not rich by necessity, but by attention.
By savor.
By the courageous decision to let delight in.
So here, in the spirit of Twain — who understood that life is equal parts thunderstorm and lemonade — is your simple field guide:
🌿 Day 1 — Savor One Small Pleasure
Take a moment and stretch it like taffy.
Sip the coffee slowly.
Watch the steam rise as if it had something important to say.
🌱 Day 2 — Try One New Thing
Curiosity is the passport of the Bon Vivant.
A new dish, a new song, a new way of walking down the same old street.
Surprise yourself.
🔥 Day 3 — Share Your Joy
A laugh shared is twice as bright.
A meal offered becomes a celebration.
A small pleasure becomes a larger one when multiplied.
🌤️ Day 4 — Beautify One Corner of Your Life
Tidy a table.
Light a candle.
Add something lovely to your environment.
The soul perks up when it sees beauty nearby.
🎧 Day 5 — Slow Down One Sensory Moment
Listen to rain.
Feel warm water on your hands.
Notice the quiet hum of the world and your place in it.
🌕 Day 6 — Remember Three Good Things
In the evening, call them back like old friends:
“What brought me pleasure today?”
Memory is the second savoring.
✨ Day 7 — Plan a Small Luxury for Next Week
Not a yacht.
Not a diamond.
Just something that says:
“Yes. My life is worth dressing up for.”
And There You Have It: A Week to Live Well.
Becoming a Bon Vivant is not about escaping life — it’s about embracing it, even when it misbehaves.
It is a rebellion against gloom.
A subtle protest that whispers,
“Despite it all, I choose joy.”
In hard times, being a Bon Vivant isn’t indulgence.
It’s survival.
It’s sanity.
It’s soul-maintenance.
And perhaps, if we practice it long enough, it becomes the quiet art of living a life that feels good from the inside out — no matter what the world is doing on the outside.
10 Things a Bon Vivant Enjoys
1. A Beautiful Breakfast
Not rushed — but slow, intentional, and delicious.
A croissant, berries, a good coffee, sunlight on the table.
2. Good Conversation
The kind that wanders, surprises, laughs, debates, and warms the spirit.
A Bon Vivant values the company as much as the words.
3. Exploring New Foods
Trying a dish they’ve never tasted.
Sampling cuisines from unfamiliar cultures.
Savoring each bite like a miniature adventure.
4. Traveling Slowly
Not rushing from tourist spot to tourist spot —
but strolling, observing, absorbing, letting a place reveal itself gradually.
5. Music That Changes the Mood
Jazz in the evening.
Classical in the morning.
Soul or blues when reflecting.
Music becomes a companion, not background noise.
6. Art in Everyday Life
Not just museums —
but a well-designed chair, a beautiful cup, an elegant lamp, a painting on a café wall.
A Bon Vivant notices beauty everywhere.
7. Nature in Small Moments
A breeze, a sunset, the smell of rain, the silence before dawn.
They treat nature like a friend they visit often.
8. A Well-Prepared Drink
Whether wine, espresso, tea, or whiskey —
it’s the ritual that matters: the pour, the aroma, the first sip, the pause.
9. Hosting
Inviting friends for a meal, conversation, or a simple night of music and laughter.
A Bon Vivant delights in creating experiences for others.
10. Doing Nothing — Beautifully
A hammock.
A breeze.
A quiet afternoon.
A moment where the world is allowed to stop.
This is the true luxury of the Bon Vivant: unhurried presence.
