My posture was last week’s challenge in my “How to Train a Wild Elephant.” I was aware of how my posture is a mood changer. It affects my mood. And my mood affects it. When I’m at my most alert, I’m sitting up straight and ready to listen. Sometimes I lean in, my interest is physically illustrated. If I’m annoyed or I’m preparing myself for irritating news, I like to slouch in my chair. Squishing down gives my head makeshift support with the back of the chair. This is important. When I reach a certain level of exasperation, I like to fling my head back and look up. It’s a gesture of pleading to the heavens for resolution.
My walking around stance, especially in winter, is a chronic cringe. I brace myself for cold, wind and gloom by curling my shoulders in. It’s like the winter has beaten me down and I’ve given up. In the last few months of battling the elements, I often feel like a peasant bundled in rags stumbling from shelter to shelter.
In the discovery section of the book, they talk about the interdependence of mind-body. Upright usually refers to posture. It also implies living with integrity, virtue and steadfastness. I’ll add to that description with upright also means that you aren’t belly up or treading water or upside-down in life. You are firmly grounded. The mental and physical connection is reciprocal. If I want to live an open and honest life, I need to practice sitting, walking, being in an open posture. I feel most aligned in my life at the end of a yoga session. I’m sitting upright. Palms up on knees. Thumb and forefinger touching. Head erected in dignified servitude. It’s in this moment I feel I’m ready to receive life’s offerings.
FINAL WORDS: Body and mind are not two- they are deeply connected and interdependent. When the mind or mood slumps. try adjusting the body’s posture.
Next week’s challenge seems easy. Each day, I’ll list 5 things I’m grateful for. At the end of the week I’ll share the list. In an episode of “Enlightened”, the show starts and ends with montages of different characters’ lives. At the beginning, Dern’s character is envying what she believes others have and she doesn’t. At the end, she has a realization that many people don’t have what she takes for granted. I’ll be grateful.
This picture reminds to be grateful that I grew into my teeth.