Housekeeping and Logistics

The first official meeting of the Unique Book Club (UBC) was tonight and I could not have imagined a more invigorating, exciting, thoughtful and meaningful night amongst friends. Tonight’s meeting was meant to be an introduction to UBC – merely an introduction to the group of who we are, why we came, and what we are reading, but it was so much more.

What is UBC you ask? Well the Unique Book Club is your traditional book club with a twist. In lieu of everyone reading the same book and discussing we all read our own book. We bring our unique perspective, opinions and talents to the group through sharing our thoughts about the books we are reading. What was born out of a willingness to strive to be more “well” has taken on a new life. Wellness is not an endpoint, but rather a journey and we each achieve this in a unique way. Through supporting each other in being well we are in turn making ourselves a better person. In the past couple of weeks I have been thinking more about this process and I read a quote that has been a constant reminder of the need for community support and group accountability: None of us are as strong as all of us. How true. My own personal strength cannot compare to the strength of all of us and I am happy that I am on this life journey companioned by amazingly wonderful people.

Organic structure? Free flowing environments with boundaries? Sounds contrived and constructed, but I am one who thrives on structure within reason. With that being said this first meeting began with three questions: 1. Tell us a little about yourself 2. What brought you here? 3. What are you reading and why? Who would have thought that these three questions would have sparked so much conversation, but it did and four bottles of wine and a veggie platter later I feel as though I have struck gold. I feel excited. I feel loved. I feel valued. This is exactly what I needed – so much more than a book club. This is the beginning. UBC.

Here are the selected readings:

Frank McAlpin (Lady Francis) – The Chosen by Chaim Potok

Arthur James LaPan – Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Briana Maturi – Unlimited by Jillian Michaels

William Sisk – American Freak Show by Willie Geist

Jennifer Ellspermann – Untitled (TBD) by Jennifer Ellspermann

Mary Plumb – Unquenchable Thirst by Mary Johnson

Amy Grill –Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

Anthony Garrison-Engbrecht – The Pope Who Quit by Jon M. Sweeney

In the coming weeks I am excited for us to continue to share about our books, our struggles, our successes, and ourselves. Long live the UBC. No rules. UBC. Be real. Be authentic. - Anthony