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Business & Tech

New Business Offers Locals a Chance to Gather, Learn, Relax

Glen Ellyn resident Julianna Greer debuts an affordable and eclectic mix of educational and social events.

A new business named Nouveau kicked off its inaugural season of life-enrichment programs Saturday with a workshop in Wheaton entitled "Welcome to the New Normal: The Age of the Portfolio Career." Over fresh coffee and crunchy snacks, an intimate gathering of 16 people listened to presenters, took quizzes and had spirited discussions about the ins and outs of pursuing multiple careers.

"It was really interesting," said Naperville resident Cindy McLaughlin, who plans to attend more Nouveau events in the future. "I'm going to go to the [seminar] on dreams because I have wild, crazy dreams that I can't make sense of. That's the one I'm really looking forward to."

It's an unexpected leap, to go from portfolio careers to dream interpretation. But it does reflect the eclectic spirit of Nouveau, a new recession-friendly business started by Glen Ellyn resident Julianna Greer. Nouveau offers an affordable and diverse mix of classes, workshops, seminars and special events designed to rouse the mind, tickle the senses and spark conversation. Think: stimulus package for personal growth and life satisfaction during recessionary times.

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"Even in a down economy, where you do have serious personal concerns that you have to pay attention to, you do still need to balance that by deliberately planning enjoyable personal-growth opportunities for yourself," Greer said. "It's not about escapism. It's about balance."

It's also about getting the most bang for your buck in terms of boosting your happiness quotient. Studies have shown that spending money on experiences creates more happiness than spending money on things, Greer said. "It's the feelings, it's the relationships, it's the mental stimulation, it's the positive emotions that are tied to happiness and life satisfaction. Not possessions."

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About a dozen programs are on the schedule this fall, including "Raising a Thinking Child," "Memory Joggers," "Hypnotherapy for Relaxation and Stress Reduction," "Car Owner's Survival Guide," "Fabulous Parties for Frugal Times," "Dating Express (for Baby Boomers)" and "Chocolate is a Wonderful Thing." Prices range from $15 for a single-session event to $80 for a multi-session series, but most fall somewhere between $25 and $40. And refreshments will always be served, Greer said, because refreshments are an important component of the education-meets-hospitality concept behind Nouveau.

Greer will host the events at various venues in Wheaton, Warrenville, Oak Brook and other locations throughout DuPage County. The goal, Greer said, is to create a relaxed, club-like ambience not found in conventional classroom settings.

Before starting Nouveau, Greer worked in a diverse range of fields including event planning, museum operations and, for many years, geriatric health care, during which time she also lectured and taught. Those years of working with older adults reinforced in her the importance of throwing oneself into life with passion, Greer said.

"There's no question that at the end of our lives, the things that we tend to have regrets about are the missed opportunities and the things that we didn't do," Greer said. Her advice? "Experience life. Get in there. Try out a bunch of things."

For more information about Nouveau's upcoming events, visit www.nouveau-dupage.com.

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