“Stand Straight!” The story of how being a 6’4″ woman set me up for a creative life

Lets first of all define “a tall woman”. I am 6’4”. OK, now that we have that defined, let me tell you how that helped me throughout my creative life.

I come from a very tall family. I am the youngest, and tallest, of three girls. My dad was 6’7” with a big laugh and my mother was 6’1” and was very strong in some ways, but very self conscious and aware of being different due to her height.

Me with my momma and sisters

Me and daddy

My mother wanted all of us girls to play music growing up. We all started with the piano in 3rd grade, but then we got to pick a stringed instrument we wanted to play in the beginning of our 4th grade year. I picked the cello. I loved playing the cello. And I became quite good at it as well.

Around 7th grade (when I was 11 or 12), I reached the height of 6’1” (and I was still growing a bit). So here I was….so different than all the other kids and ALSO had a big ol’ cello I was carrying around with me. That is the perfect fodder for kids in Junior High School. I just wanted to sink into the ground. There wasn’t a day that I didn’t pray to be 5’2” and blond. (I don’t know why I decided that being a brunette was an issue as well. )

Back when I was 12 or 13

Somewhere around 14-15 years old, I had had enough of that “self pity party”! I was very good at the cello by this time (I was playing in the University of Texas in Arlington symphony) and I decided that if people were going to look at me….I would GIVE them something to look at.

That is when the creative juices started flowing. Everything from the clothes and jewelry I wore to my hair and all the way to my personality. I decided to have fun with what I had and if people didn’t like it, then oh well.

That was one of the “water shed” moments in my life. I still look back at that time in my life as when I found that creative edge. I quit apologizing and trying to fit in. I became me. And from understanding and celebrating ME, I found ways to take that and celebrate my art and creativity. Never apologize for who you are. You are the best you and the ONLY you around.

Never try and be like everybody else.

You have something to offer that nobody else can.

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Posted on November 9, 2019 by talljules