Regan MacPherson is a single mother of a terrific daughter, a pug and a cat, and is a full-time corporate attorney for a storage innovation company in Silicon Valley.
The other morning I was dressing for work, feeding the pet dog, doing laundry and making my child’s lunch. I leaned down to place on a set of heels and felt a sharp pains in my back. The recommendations of my granny, who, while I was growing up, would frequently turn up behind me, smack me between the shoulder blades and issue the stern command “stand up straight!” reverberated loudly in my head.
I cleaned, put my shoulders back and took a deep breath. I decided that day for a set of flats. By taking notice of my posture that day, by the next, I was back in the proverbial saddle.
As working moms, we carry lots of loads, both literally and figuratively. We lug around our children, our young children, and in some cases even our school-aged kids. We carry groceries and load after load of laundry; we mop floorings and scrub toilets; and cook gourmet meals. We take care of our kids when they are sick or heartsick, bored or happy. We look after the household animals and frequently for a partner or elderly moms and dad. We keep household relations undamaged with our own siblings and parents, and sometimes our in-laws.
As staff members, we carry a various load. We carry our laptops and other job-related items backward and forward in between meetings. We handle relationships with our bosses, employees and co-workers. We bring the emotional weight of financially supporting a household. At the end of the day, after helping the kids with homework, supper, teeth brushing, stories, kisses, reasons and lastly sleep, we visit once again, to inspect e-mail and catch up on work
As working mothers, we handle several programs and problems, from volunteering at school and driving on school outing to running conferences and managing multi-million dollar jobs. If we are fortunate, we have a few hours a week to exercise, read a great book or check out with precious sweethearts. There is generally a sacrifice at work or at house that should be made to eke out those hours from our schedule.
If we are not cautious, the physical and mental burdens that we carry every day, despite the fact that they bring us delight and complete satisfaction, accumulate, and we discover ourselves diminishing, slouching, injuring, ducking our heads and not making eye contact with other human beings.
Working mamas, I am practically smacking you in between the shoulder blades! Stand Up Straight! Good posture is an essential step in stabilizing the problems of life!
Excellent posture makes us look and feel healthy, empowered and in control. Standing high makes us feel high, and if we feel tall, we are tall! Tidying and tossing back our shoulders brings about a practically rapid attitude adjustment and makes others perceive us as larger than life.
Excellent posture reduces strain on our muscles and spine, assists maximize energy and vigor, and assists avoid health issues as we age. And last, however certainly not least, another true benefit to good posture is that it makes our clothes look much better and makes it more comfy to wear killer shoes!
I discover that if I take a moment, tidy, toss my shoulders back and take a deep breath, the problems feel lighter, my body feels and looks better, and my mindset is changed. Thanks Granny.
As excerpted from “42 Rules for Working Moms” Super Star Press, 2008.
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source http://creativedogtrainingonline.com/toy-dog-breed-category/rule-3-stand-up-straight/
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