In recent months, someone observed that I constantly sit on the edge of my seat, literally, and possibly metaphorically too. There is a bit of truth to this observation.
“…Selina, sit back and relax.” — I sat intently on the edge of the sofa, conversing like normal.
[Oh, I need to relax. Right.]
The partial truth in the matter is that sofas are deceivingly uncomfortable. Most sofas are designed with style in mind rather than ergonomics. In a time where many of us sit all day at work, having a plush, squishy sofa to plop down upon at the end of a day may seem like a blessing. The sofas that I’ve experienced (even my own) are usually too long for my legs and don’t provide any proper back support. Again, form over function took priority, as one would expect in a living room.
Okay, so my critique of everyday sofa design is not my real reason for constantly being on the edge of my seat, though it does have some merit. Whether I am in a meeting room, dinner table, restaurant, or classroom, I tend to avoid having my back against a chair because I feel more engaged and alert when I sit closer to the speaker and/or activity. It also forces me to maintain good posture, which is important not only for your physical health, but also creating your presence. I know that sounds silly, but really, slouching is not the most appealing body language.
Perhaps if my vertically challenged self would be better suited for sitting on various chairs, then I would be able to sit back and relax a little. But I’m okay with that. On that note, I just caught myself sitting on the edge of my kitchen table chair as I type this entry.