Dear Casey the Fifth Grade Sloucher,

Just like they say and in just the way they say it: stand up straight. You grew quickly tall and exceptionally lanky for a young girl. You started to curve your spine to stand level with the other girls in gym, to stand shorter than the boys at recess. There were daisies abound, so you hung your head like a late summer sunflower. A sad sight: a flower’s failure in reaching towards the light, a girl trying to blend in.

Your confidence level determined your posture. You shouldn’t have let it do that, because one day your posture will affect your confidence level. Once, when you’re fresh out of college, a well-meaning drunk kid will tell you that if it weren’t for your posture, he’d think you were super hot. You’ll take the back hand from that compliment. It’ll hurt your feelings. You shouldn’t have let it do that. I bet Future Casey will scoff at us for even keeping it in our mind for this long. For still letting boys at play make us feel like shit. Making us question our backbone. But, you and I, the two of us slouchers, want to look pretty, for ourselves and, naturally, for everyone else. Ugly, huh?

But enough about your opposite sex; eventually most of them will catch up in height and who cares anyway? Your spine, however, will not recover without determination and practice, which you still have yet to commit to. Life starts to buzz and it’s hard to remember to fix your day-to-day body for the benefit of your future body. So, if not for avoiding the terribly superficial existence of a disappointing mirror, straighten up for health’s sake. Leave the strain to your stubborn heart. The lingering ache will strengthen you. Leave the loss of shock absorption to your oversaturated, desensitized mind. The growing inability to shrug off horrifying injustice will strengthen you. The curving of your spine will do nothing but damage your body. Stand up straight and for yourself, Beanie Doreenie.

Love,

Casey the Mega Worrier