Great Advice from my Mother

Welcome to my Monday Morning Message

My mother Joan had a few signature phrases, and one of them was definitely: “Stand up straight.”

I am sure she said it to me or my 8 brothers and sisters at least two or three times a day. I can still hear her voice in my head.

I’m sure I needed the reminder. I was 5’9”, taller than most of the kids in my High School class. I probably did what many tall girls do. I folded myself down a little. I slouched without even realizing it.

At the time, I’m sure I rolled my eyes at her.....A lot!

But now, all these years later, I have to admit it.

Joan was right.

Standing up straight is not just about posture. It’s about presence.

It changes the way we walk into a room. It changes how we breathe.

It changes the way we feel in our own body.

And these days, we all need the reminder. Young people, older people, all of us.

We are looking down at phones, leaning into computers, rounding our shoulders, and moving through our world a little more folded over than we realize.

So maybe this Monday, we can borrow a little wisdom from Joan.

Lift your head.

Let your shoulders drop back.

Take a real breath.

Stand up straight.

Not in that rigid, military kind of way.

In a "Hello! I am here, I am awake, I am allowed to take up space” kind of way.

Sometimes the smallest shift in our bodies creates the biggest shift in how we feel.

And somewhere, I like to think Joan is smiling at all of us.

With Warmth,

Colette