The Weight of Uncomfortable Seating (That Doesn't Fit My Body)

I walk into a coffee shop, and the aroma of freshly brewed java hits me. My eyes look around the room, seeking refuge in a comfortable chair. Wooden, metal, cushioned, or spartan - each a potential ally or adversary. I always approach them cautiously, assessing their sturdiness, armrests, and width. It's like a bad guessing game. Is this one going to hold me up? Can I squish my fat into it?

Finding a comfortable chair is like a bad treasure hunt. Most chairs are designed for the "standard" sized. But what about those of us who defy the norm? We're left teetering on the edge, praying that the chair won't break beneath us. And specialty seating? Well, that's the Willy Wonka golden ticket - the VIP pass to comfort. But it comes at a hefty price.

The price of comfortable seating

The first thing I searched for were the specialty chairs. They have reinforced frames, generous proportions, and armrests that can be raised. They're like the velvet ropes at an exclusive club that whispers, "You belong here." But here's the catch: they're not readily available in most public spaces. You won't find them stacked in cafés or lining waiting rooms. They simply do not exist in the vast majority of places I have been.

Specialty seating costs a pretty penny. Comfort comes with a price tag: a tax on our bodies. Want a chair that won't creak when you sit? Pay up. Do you need armrests that accommodate your curves? Open your wallet wider. And if you dare to dream of a world where all chairs embrace diversity, well, dream on.

I've squeezed into chairs my whole life

I settle into a restaurant booth, my mortal enemy since I have to squeeze in as much as possible. The waiter hovers, eyes darting from me to the booth. "Is this okay?" he asks, his tone apologetic. I would have tried to fit into the booth in the past because I was embarrassed by my weight and the space I took up in the world. It took many uncomfortable meals, gasping for air with every minute breath, before I started giving the waitstaff the side-eye and asking for a table.

All of my life, I have squeezed into chairs meant for half my size. I've perched on the edge, praying not to topple. I have sunk into couches with no way of getting out. I have fake sat, too. What is fake sitting? It is sitting without putting your full weight on the chair. It is physically and mentally exhausting. There have been so many inappropriate seats over the course of my lifetime. All the while, I've yearned for a seat that is simply comfortable.

Accommodations are being made

I would be remiss if I didn't say things have improved over the decades. Now, seats often have no arms and are a bit wider. In places like medical facilities, one might see wider benches seated side-by-side with the traditional width seating. As the average American has grown in body size, more accommodations are being made in public and private spaces.

It seems that staff have also been trained to be more polite when finding seating for larger clientele. I have been discreetly led to tables rather than a booth. I have been given a different chair that is more sturdy. Am I 100 percent comfortable plopping down anywhere? No! And I try not to plop anyway. Plopping is one sure way to wind up on the floor with a broken chair. Ask me how I know.

You, too?

I'm sure others can relate

As I finish this article, I imagine you nodding in understanding. I doubt I am the only person who has experienced this. How many times have you gone out somewhere only to find the chairs are too narrow or not sturdy enough? Do you recoil at those very pretty but very dangerous contemporary chairs with thin wire legs? I know I have taken my chances with those. One of which ended my chances with acrylic seating. Even in my own home, I have chairs that are just not for me, but I do not have the luxury of just getting new ones. We are all seekers of comfort and a seat at life's grand table - a seat that is comfy and safe.