Posture

I have had terrible posture since I was an adolescent. I can remember walking around the house when I was very young with a book on my head, and getting lots of attention from grown ups because I could do that. I was often praised for my beautiful posture.

And then I wasn’t. Photos from age eight or nine and beyond show a gradually slumping child. I could spill a lot of ink pondering the reasons why - poor self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, etc. - perhaps another time. Suffice to say that I’m 57 years old and I can’t stand to look at pictures of myself anymore.

I’ve been meaning to do something about my posture for years. I look at my rounded shoulders in the mirror and bark at myself, "Stand up straight!" I have a very low opinion of that woman who is staring back at me in the mirror. I hate her. It has recently occurred to me that this may have something to do with my poor follow-through on the posture project. Also, if I’m not looking in a mirror I just forget to stand up straight. After all, "slouch" has been my default position for 50 years.

So I’m trying a new approach. I have pasted post-its on the mirrors and walls throughout the house that say things like, "Proud" and "Tall" and even "Beautiful middle-aged woman." It’s only been a day now, but I think I’m starting to believe my own propaganda. And I’m sitting very straight in my chair as I type this.