What Happens When You Go Out.

My day began as a witness to a “love at first sight” encounter.  

I had just rolled into Placerville the evening before for a holiday excursion, and after a marvelous breakfast at The Argonaut, I proceeded with my morning doing the one activity I enjoy most: shopping.  

So there I was, already collecting a handful of items, and in the store with me were two infatuated singles who were getting to know each other, complete with number exchanging and obvious flirtation.  

The handsome Brad Pitt left after giving his number to her and when he was gone, the gal at the front desk melted.  

We proceeded to gab, two single ladies in very different places in our lives (her being a 46 yr old single mother, and me being a 22 yr old struggling young adult) over the fact that this cutie came in. 

From there, I scored not one, not two, but ten items ranging from a ‘40’s dress to cute summer tops, all a wicked price.  

Bags in the car, and comments behind me connecting the dots between my Tall 1 plates and the driver of my car, I continued my shopping spree. 

All by myself on this picture perfect 85 degree Californian day, I then found a priceless vintage Japanese souvenir jacket for a record low price at the old movie theatre now converted antique store.  

I went down the street to Maddywag’s, had a meaningful conversation with the owner about relationships with mothers (whom I wished more than anyone to be here shopping with me), then walked out with two very relevant pieces of inspiring stationary.  

Sun on my skin and arms laden with shopping bags, I ended the excursion on Main Street with an orange cardamom latte from Totem Coffee.  

This all happened within the course of a few hours and I could not believe, still can’t believe, how delightful my day had gone. 

Everything just went my way and it’s been awhile since that’s happened. 

Don’t get me wrong, there have been good days, but this was a GREAT day and it has been long overdue.  

See, on my days off (I should say “day” off), I often find myself isolated at home, in my room, under the comfort of my covers. And I sit there and mull over why I’m unhappy, why I have few friends, why I’m conflicted about my image, or hungry all the time.   

It’s because I don’t go out and experience the world around me. I seclude myself with my thoughts, which often make me feel bad about myself and it’s this vicious cycle that I feel I can’t change.

Except I can change it.  

Like I did so today.  

And look what happened because of it! I met some neat people, was an outside participant in a possible new relationship, got some new treasures (retail thereapy is the best), and learned that the possibilities for happiness  are endless when I decide to get out of my head and go out into the world, as safe as it feels to stay home in my bed sometimes.

I end up feeling better, I never know who I might meet, and I never know what I’ll find. Maybe that’s a vintage gown for $20, or maybe it’s something more: a feeling, one of those good feelings that make you understand just how valuable it is to go out.

Wonder-ful Woman.

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't hear a comment about my height. 

Are you standing on something back there?

Wow, you're TALL!

How tall are you?

Do you play basketball?

Do you model?

It must be so hard to find a man tall enough for you. 

There have also been many a day in which I hear questions about my heritage. 

Are you Pacific Islander? Native Alaskan? Native American? French? Persian? Egyptian? Spanish?

And though I embrace both qualities about myself (height and nationality), I nonetheless get tired of the consistency in which those comments persist.

Because lately, it's been the only thing people notice about me. 

Maybe it's moving to a new city and a new state, which brings about a new neighborhood of people, but ever since I moved to Northern California, I have gotten bombarded with these comments and it's becoming a wee bit tiresome. 

Mostly because it has to do with my image. Don't get me wrong, I love the way I look and how that look falls upon a statuesque figure, but there comes a point where the comments become stagnant.

I've got witty responses to both, classics that only those annoying enough to make yet another comment about my height and heritage get to hear, but they don't stop the next person I see from eyeing me up and down like some zoo animal, like some rare display of a human being. 

Looking for courage, for strength, and for confidence in the fact that I need not let these hooligans affect how I see myself, I channeled my favorite inspirational character: Wonder Woman.

Wonder Woman represents a myriad of things to different people. Depending on the writer and depending on the interpreter, Wonder Woman could mean a fierce warrior who fights for freedom and liberation, helping those who can't help themselves, or she could represent a scantily clad, white, large breasted pin-up girl who sets an unideal standard to women. 

She's clothed in controversy. 

Sounds a little like moi. 

I try and practice kindness, sweetness, courage, and empathy, yet people notice me as exotic, tall, and intimidating. 

I may walk around like a tall, badass, confident, and striking creature who knows how to dress her body, but that doesn't mean that I'm not also shy, kind, and friendly to those who pass my way. 

Like Wonder Woman, I'm used to people judging me by my cover and I'm trying to break the chains of image based stereotypes and telling the world that there's more to me that meets the eye. 

There's more to everyone that meets the eye. Instead of commenting about an apparent physical feature, I'm trying to notice traits about people not visible to the eye, looking beyond what they look like.

And if they're tall like me and are used to the barrage of comments about their height that they've guaranteed to have heard before, I try a different approach.

Wonder Woman is more than a gorgeous Amazonian warrior who happens to look killer in her battle outfit. She's a fighter, a lover, and she's more memorable by her courage and bravery than what she looks like. 

She's admirable, super, and most of all: she's a wonder-ful woman, inside and out.