I am not a Yuppie

So, my interests of late would probably dump me into the "Yuppie" category, but do not be fooled. My enjoyment of certain activities might be similar to that of the twenty-something, white, urban, Lincoln Park, Coach bag toting, Ugg boots wearing, oversized sunglasses and scarf accessorizing, Sushi eating, imported beer drinking, organic shopping, sea salt grinding yuppie. But I do not do these things to fit myself to the mold of the yuppie, but because I am taking advantage of this time of life to try new things and stretch myself.

I had a professor that encouraged each of her students to become a more interesting person. I am trying to know Christ better, love Him more fully and enjoy this season of life He's allowed me.

That said, I am now a proud member of a book club. The majority of the girls in the group are believers, hurray! Three of the girls went to Wheaton. I never felt more like a Bible student until book club. When we were trying to pick our next book, I recognized about 1 in 20 of the authors they suggested. Want a good commentary to read, a book on spiritual formation or even some psychology, I can point you in the right direction. Modern literature - I got nothing.

Our first read - The Unbearable Lightness of Being, by Milan Kundera - was not a favorite of mine. I reacted pretty strongly - I need to remind myself, this is just a story, but I was so worked up over it. Not too mention that this book was way more erotic than I care to read about - all of the characters were unfaithful. There was no real communication occurring. They were miserable, stayed miserable, and it ended with no resolve. The conclusions that each of the characters came to were devestating. I was also troubled by the author's misrepresentation of God. I just don't think that's something to mess around with. If you are going to be quoting Scripture; #1, get it right - don't loosely put words in God's mouth. #2, don't mock it.

I was most saddened by the hopelessness of human existence in the book. Suffering is meaningless. Love in marriage is restrictive - but that did not stop most of them from sleeping with whomever, whenever. Fidelity is not a virtue. Questions all virtues, for that matter. While I could sympathize with one, the characters were utterly selfish.

OK, enough bashing of that book. Moving on. Our books for April are two shorter ones. We are reading Wise Blood by Flannery O'Connor and The Pleasure of My Company by Steve Martin. I just picked up Wise Blood yesterday and I hope this weekend involves getting to delve into it.

OK, what makes me a psuedo-Yuppie numero dos.

I went to yoga for the very first time on Wednesday. My gym offers some really amazing classes so I decided to take advantage of some of them. It's called Pi-Yo and incorporates elements from Yoga and Pilates (relaxing, yet intense).

I am not going to lie - work has been stressful - for the last 3 months. This is great for business - We had a phenomenal first quarter. But I am looking forward to things slowing down a bit - I hope. Yoga helps with stress, yes?

Let me start at the beginning - I walked in and immediately experienced gym anxiety. I have no idea what I am doing, my toes are still winterized and in desperate need of a pedicure. ( Why did i care so much?) I just watch what other people are doing and try to do the same (some of you know just what I am talking about - and in Brian Regan's terms, "Which way we going, Thunder?"). I pull out one of the mats, making sure I am toward the back of the class, so I am not "performing" in front of the whole studio. The other girls are stretching, so I mimic them - literally, how they bend is how I bend. All while trying to look like I have a clue what's going on. (Why I would make a horrible Yuppie!)

Apparently - given a show of hands - I was the only first timer. Once she turned on the music and we sat cross-legged and began to stretch, I felt right at home. I just let the weight of so many (unmentioned) concerns roll right off my neck, shoulders and back and was able to thoroughly enjoy the class. I am all for a repeat and so thankful my gym offers all classes at no additional cost.

Met Rachel for dinner at the Kerryman after the class. She had just gotten a super hot haircut at a swanky salon and I met her in my yoga clothes = totally fitting in with the Yuppie happy hour crowd. For all anyone knew, I could have passed as a Lincoln Park stay-at-homer who left my only child with the nanny to take Yoga and spend time with the girls - Oh wait, I did not have the 4 carat rock to back that up.

The waiter (with an accent) recommended the best drink I have had to date - Turns out the waiter took a liking to us. So, maybe I was flirting. Did I just blog that? Yes, I did. What can I say, it's true. He responded in kind and told us to come back. Aye aye, will do!

So there you have it, my newest updates in the life of a not-Yuppie.

Back in the day Yuppies