Body Image

I have a walking buddy that I met last year. She lives in Connecticut and only comes up here on weekends during the more desirable months of the year. I always enjoy finding someone who is willing to walk the number of miles I like to walk AND can keep up with me. She also likes to talk!

She belongs to a woman's discussion group. One of the questions she would like to pose to this group is- Name a part of your body that you like with no qualifications.

Hmmmmmm... that is a tough question. My whole life I have focused on what is wrong with my body- as I believe most women do. I have no chin, my teeth are too big, I am built like the long distance biker that I was with very athletic legs and the list goes on and on.

But I have made peace with many parts of my body too. So many people define me by my outsize smile that I have just accepted it as part of me. I have gained a few pounds over the years, but I am still a respectable size 8 or 10, which isn't bad for my height. My hair is SO thick and wild that I have found the only acceptable thing to do is cut it off as short as possible, which most people say looks quite chic.

So what do I like about myself? My height. I am 5'9" and when I wear heels, which is most days, I am about 6 feet.

It is a part that wasn't always my friend and something I was a little ashamed of. As a younger woman I envied all the petite French Canadian girls, who are the dominant culture in New England. They were all so cute. I felt like a horse. I am sure I suffered from the tall girl slouch.

I think after marrying it became a non-issue for me. My husband was 6'8" so I was petite in his eyes, but I don't think that's why it went from being a liability to an asset. I think it had to do with the fact that being married meant that I was attractive. I am an odd cup of tea, but at least I am someone's cup of tea.

The older I get the less important it is for me to make men feel comfortable in my presence. Thus, I never hesitate to wear high heels. If they want to feel uncomfortable, it is their problem. And they can make up all the lies they want about their height:

"I am six feet tall."

Yeah, in your stilettos. Besides, I am looking down on your bald spot.

Finding clothes can be a little bit of a hassle. I need tall pants which aren't too hard to find anymore, but shirts are a pain. The 3/4 sleeves comes up to my elbows and fitted blouses tend to have a waistline that hits me half way up my rib cage. But my height gives me automatic authority and power that I enjoy. I am also pretty easy to find in a room. I wouldn't give it up for the world.