Uh oh I’m not standing up straight. My Mom just came to Palm Springs to visit and reminded me of this. “Gail, I was noticing at dinner that you weren’t standing up straight. You really should, you look so much prettier when you do.” “Yes I was,” I insisted as I glared at her. Apparently she either likes to nag me or it’s really true because I’ve been hearing about it for over 50 years. Growing up it used to drive me crazy, “stand up straight” over and over and over. “Ok, ok, I hear you,” I’d snip back and then slouch. I never understood why it was such a big deal. And how “straight” is straight enough? This question haunted me. She had eyes like an Eagle. Although she didn’t let me shave my legs and to me that was far more noticeable than my posture. “But Mom, I sobbed, everyone shaves their legs….please.” I was twelve with hairy legs wearing white anklet socks and party shoes….a really bad look and no one ever asked me to dance. Nope, my lack of dancing didn’t matter, it was all about standing up straight.
I’ve spent years of my life ignoring her words and focusing on shaving my legs, which btw is tiring and really boring after one leg. Truthfully however, I think about posture more and more these days as a doctor friend of mine told me the way to stay youthful looking is to stand up straight. His words struck me, unlike Mom’s. Was he onto something? Is that the key? I thought it was a face lift but posture is cheaper. I’m in desperate need of “youthful” and started lifting weights to strengthen my droopy shoulders. I’m trying the least expensive route first but have started a plastic surgery fund with the money I’m saving by not taking the tollway.
Mom’s words were discouraging as I was convinced I had resolved my posture issues. I still wasn’t standing up straight enough for her and hung my head in despair. It was then like a dream come true she changed the subject, “Gail when was the last time you had your roots done?”
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Yes I have thick legs with thick ankles, my Dad's! Tights the same color as the dress or bone shoes with bare legs. Not a straight skirt and never patterned stockings or leggings!
Two issues (I hope). I must must take umbrage with the phrase "be ashamed until....." BE ASHAMED??? of what, when, where?? Never. It is impossible to be a child of God -- whole and perfect and be ashamed. When has shame ever 
Gail Maria – Speaking of posture, I have noticed something else recently (and maybe your mom has too) when I am in the grocery store I see a lot of women bent over, with their arms crossed at the forearms and leaning both of them on the handle of the shopping cart, shuffling along…..what, you can’t just put both hands on the handle and push, how tired are they anyway???? Every time I see them I straighten myself up a little taller (and I’m only 5’2″)….
I’m very conscious of women slouching these days, even youngin’s and you can see how it will affect them later. Standing up straight really does make one look better….. I confess
Interestingly, I wrote about this very subject a couple of weeks ago: http://www.funnytheworld.com/2010/Feb/24.htm
I’ll have to check it out! What a fun coincidence.
roflmao
Alas your mom is right. When I remember to make the effort to stand up straight and tall (well at least as tall as my 5 3 frame will allow) I feel as if I own the room and control my destiny.
I love when my husband comments on how my posture positions my presence.
THankfully he kinda lets the whole root issue slide. Which reminds me…time to go call the salon…..but I”ll stand up straight as I sride to the phone!
I love to wear high heels and stand up straight – then I really feel like I control my destiny.
I could relate to this BUT ever since My Nother died….much too young (1991) I can’t begin to tell you, how many times I have wished she was standing right next to me…EVEN if she was complaining about how FAT I’m getting!
Oh, I know that’s my future…I’m sorry for your loss.
I had to go to physical therapy a couple years ago for muscles in my shoulders that were compressing nerves to my face. It was because I was using my shoulders to hold up my back. So they had me doing an exercise to strengthen the muscles between my shoulders, and then you don’t need to “think” about standing tall, and the muscles do all the work
and it is not even strenuous exercise.
You lay on your back on the floor, with you elbows pressed to the floor to the sides of your shoulders. hands straight up to the ceiling and stretch a band towards the walls on each side of you. You can feel the muscles cinching up between your shoulder blades! do it in reps of 10 and relax, then 10 more about 5 times. It amazed me. And at 55, I feel like if they see me getting stooped over at work, they are going to start thinking of me as “old” – and I am NOT! - and it makes us feel proud of ourselves.
I use 3 lbs weights and hold one in each hand and with arms outstretched to the side bring them together in front of me and then back to my sides. I found them on the internet and I seem to have stronger back muscles. I also two others for my forearms and upper arms. I’ll try ours however..sounds good. thanks!
At 6 feet tall at 12 ( now 6″2 at 56) my 5″2″ grandmother always loving put her hands UP on my shoulders and said, “Promise me one thing dear, that you won’t slouch.” Tall women or men for that matter, or anyone who slouched seems to draw more attention to themselves in my eyes, and for all the wrong reasons. People with great posture, not matter how tall, always look confident (and hopefully, that is reflecting how they feel on the inside.) I saw on Oprah once a show on this very topic. Good posture did not consist of throwing your shoulders back, but rather lifting the breastbone up. What a difference that makes!
Also my chiropractor told me there is a long mucsle on the inside of the spine and as we age that shrinks because we slough and bend over so good posture will likely aid in offsetting that dreaded dowager’s hump – along with exercise and adequate calcium in our diet and all that other good stuff we are supposed to be doing!
I lifted up my back as I read your comment! I agree good posture does exude a confidence. I try and catch myself especially when I’m sitting. That is when I slouch more and need to remind myself to sit up straight.
Oh Gail,
You’ve done it again! Memories of my mother having me walk around with a book on my head to emphasize good posture and not letting me shave my legs but letting me wear nylons for the first time….OOOHHHH What a bad combination. Even then she wouldn’t relent until auntys and grandma intervened.
Oh no nylons and unshaved legs! You poor thing; I can picture it. I think that happened to me also when I graduated from anklets. I never had the book experience however… I hope it wasn’t the dictionary – too heavy and could ironically make you slouch!
Hilarious post, Gail! By the way, have you seen coachbecky’s exercise tips for good posture?
Coach Becky’s 4 favorite exercises for better posture
You could impress your mom with your improved posture on her next visit to Palm Springs…