do you look up at your surroundings or down at your feet?

A few years ago I was in a car accident that gave me whiplash and was lucky enough to have insurance pay for six sessions of massage therapy. As part of his assessment before treatment, he watched me sit, stand and walk around his office. And then he asked me a very odd question: “Why do you look at the ground when you walk?”

I was quite taken aback, as I had never noticed this habit in myself at all. He commented that not only was it unseemly and made me appear shy and embarrassed with zero confidence, but it was also terrible for my posture because it was apparently making my entire body hunch over which would eventually wreck my spine. I listened and took it all in, but didn’t completely believe him that I was always looking at my feet, afraid to look the world in its face.

But I was! As I walked out in public, I immediately noticed that I was always the one to hide my face. I found that the only times I looked up was to make sure that I wasn’t in anyone’s way or that I was still going the right direction or counting the steps until I’d be at my destination. Funny thing though, when the realization that he was SO right about me really sank in, I got even more embarrassed! lol

But since he was the professional and all, I tried to take his advice and look up. For the sank of a straight back without pain, I would do anything. It was hard. Shoulders back, chin up, face steady on the road ahead. It was a physical state of being that I found greatly affected my emotional well-being. The more I tried it, the less embarrassing and awkward it felt. And I could almost hear my body saying to my heart, “You are a person equal to any other. Look up and show the world who you are.”

I still have to work at it. I still have to remind myself. I was just wondering. When you walk, do you look up or down?

Share this post!