There are a lot of things that people take for granted in this world; there are a lot of things that people have, things that people don't have, and things that people wish they could so desperately change. There has always been a lot of talk about body positivity and learning to love yourself, but many of the ads or commercials that you see are focused on weight or skin color. Well, I have another issue that I would like to address--height.

As someone who is well over six feet--6'6" to be exact--it never ceases to amaze me when it comes to the discussion of height. Many people don't understand how there could possibly be anything wrong with being tall; how could there be a downside to being able to reach the top shelf and never have to use a step stool? Well, I beg to differ. Although there are some positives of being tall (it does have its perks), I would say that while growing up, I have had my fair share of negative experiences.

One of the biggest things that bothers me is the staring. I have been tall ever since I was little and whether it was in the grocery store, at the movies, or even at school, you could always feel people's eyes watching you as you walked by. It was like nobody had ever seen a tall person before--it made me feel like I was some type of walking museum exhibit. Like I said before, I am tall (6'6"), but I'm not extremely tall; there are plenty of people taller than me in this world, but, in those moments when everyone's eyes are on you, you feel like you're the only one.

Another thing that bothers me is people who feel the need to comment. Yes, I am well aware that I am tall. No, I don't need you to point it out to me. Meeting people for the first time is the worst because before I can even say hello, all I hear is, "wow! you're so tall!" All you can really do is smile and give a little chuckle, but after a while, it gets old. With people asking, "How's the weather up there? Are we going to get rain down here anytime soon?" to "What size shoe do you wear?" and "Do you play basketball?" and even "It's like standing in front of a big wall!"--it gets frustrating to even go out in public. At home, I place bets with my parents on how many people will comment when we go to the local grocery store. My parents and my friends don't pay attention to it because they are used to being around me, but it is something that I still struggle with.

I know that people are not commenting or trying to be rude, but they have to understand that some people--myself included--are self-conscious about their height. I alway sit in the back of movie theaters or auditoriums or I slouch down low in my seat because I don't want to be the person who blocks someone else's view, I'm the person who has to constantly stand up on airplanes because my legs don't fit in the seat (and my head scrapes against the ceiling of the aisle, so even standing up presents a challenge), and I always feel like I'm being a hassle in the car because I'm constantly moving the seat, but when I hear someone comment about my height, I want to say, "well, if you think it's so great I will gladly give it to you," but I know that they don't see the negatives because they have never experienced it before. Just like commenting on someone's weight, or skin color, commenting on someone's height can be a sore subject and I think that the ongoing discussion of body positivity and body acceptance should talk more about the issues surrounding height.