The Adventures of the Little Indian Girl

Back in 2002, I was volunteering at some exhibition held at the venue on Ala Moana Beach park (Hawai'i). I forget now what it was for, but there were a diverse group of exhibits all relating to health issues. I guess I was at environmental health booth. Next to us was a chiropractor or something related to the spine. I really forget now. But he was giving free spinal alignment checkup. He got a lot of people to get it done and was spending the day giving advice and trying to sign up some clients for future consulting. At the end of my shift I thought I would get it done. He was surprised to see how well aligned my spine was.

I give all the credit to mom. She spent almost ten years of our childhood drilling the importance of good posture into us. Even when we were in public, at events she would remind us to sit up straight. She would do this by making a fist, and rising the index finger mimicking the spine. The time this was done mostly was during our music classes. Our "band" of "musicians" consisted of the teacher who played the tabla and if the aunty (in the photo below) is not available the harmonium, mother with the shaking thing in the photo - corner top left (have no idea about the name), three of us on sitar (that's me on bottom left corner), and about ten kids (all girls for whatever reason) singing. She was known among my friends as "posture lady". Mom would raise her index finger and everyone would raise up! :)



I have to say though in the last few years, my posture has gotten worse. I slouch so much more and more often. I still picture in my head, my mother looking at me and her index finger rising to remind me.