So our 13 year old nephew is staying with us for a month. He’s a good kid; just needs my Hub to whip him into shape. But I’m amazed at how different it is to have two rather than one in the child department.

Max adores him, so that helps. He’s a good “big brother” type. I can leave them alone playing video games and know that they’re fine.

But it’s strange to have a teen in the house! I bought him deodorant! It’s a good lesson on what’s to come with Max.

And the best part? He does chores.and doesn’t complain (yet!)!

How many of us ladies can relate to the title of this post? I blame it on the school system’s physical education program. Who in their right minds would teach kids to play games like dodgeball? Let’s throw balls at the insecure kids. That’ll teach them the value of physical activity! And competitive sports in general. Yes, they have their place in the world, but not in my world at age 6/10/13 as a shy and insecure little lady.

The thing is, I still identify with not being athletic. Until the Hub pointed out that that no longer applied to me. I lovelovelove yoga. I adore karate. I like walks. I will work out at the Y. Tennis is cool. I want to learn golf. Where is there room to not be athletic?

I think it’s a travesty how females and sports are often not a positive relationship. Yes, sure, if you start taking dance or soccer at an early age, you’ll probably be more into it later. But what about the rest of us who were mediocre at best in PE class? We still identify as being anti-sport. That’s not something I want for kids, let alone little girls.

That’s my rant. I’m off to karate!

I went to my first yoga retreat last weekend in Julian, CA. It was amazing. Yes, we did yoga, but we also held workshops, went hiking, bonded and ate amazing food. If you’re in San Diego, A Gentle Way Yoga is simply awesome. Please support them.

If you’d told me some of the things I ended up doing prior, I wouldn’t have believed you. Yes, it’s the kind of shit you’d expect at a yoga retreat. Dancing. Imagination. Trust exercises. I was so out of my element, but it was a good thing in the end. And I feel closer to the women I shared it with.

Many of the women (most older) had sad stories of marriages gone wrong, jobs they hated, bad family situations. I felt like odd (wo)man out because I am relatively happy at this point in my life. You few loyal readers know I’ve been through my stuff, but I was happy that I’ve gotten here by my own strong will. And I was proud of the fact that I’m starting now to work on my happiness, rather than when I’m 65.

It’s a strange experience, bonding with complete strangers. Telling them intimate things you might not have even realized yourself. Sharing small victories with them. Climbing under barbed wire fences with them to see horses. Sharing in the Friday night Shabbat. Laying on their stomachs. I might not even see these women again, but I feel an undeniable connection to them just the same.

Something that did come out of my weekend is that I have decided that I (think I) want to get my yoga teacher training. It’s not even that I want to teach yoga (although everyone says you never know) but it’s like a degree in yoga. You study anatomy as it relates to yoga, yoga philosophy and of course, yoga itself. I like the idea of going deeper.

The effects of the relaxing weekend have lasted several days so far. We’ll see how much longer I can be all zen!

PS I stupidly got water on my lovely camera and fried it. Good lesson in the impermanence of things!