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THE VIEW FROM UP HERE
The ups & downs of being a large person
“The bigger they are the harder they fall.” I can’t remember how old I was when I heard someone say that, but it sounded off to me. As a kid, I understood the physics part of it, but I didn’t understand how anyone could think that being bigger was a disadvantage. I started getting tall when I was 14 and didn’t stop growing until I was in my early 20s. I’ve been tall for a long time and I’m happy to share what some of my experiences have been as a larger person.
According to Google, the average height for American men is 5 feet, 9 inches. Until I reached my mid-40s, my doctor’s office measured me at 6 feet, 5 inches. I’m now 60, and a little under 6 feet 4 inches tall. I have a naturally slender build, and at 20, I was 6’, 4” and 175 pounds. That’s tall, but it wasn’t until I topped 200 pounds that I noticed a difference in how people reacted to me. I’d be a short NBA player, but I’m larger than everyone, nearly every time I go out in public.
Occasionally, being bigger is problematic. A lot of women are spooked by me. I’ve been described as having kind of a scary look anyway, so I’ve grown accustomed to seeing mothers scramble to snatch up their children in a panic when they see me strolling their way in the grocery aisle. It’s awkward, but some women are fine with my looks so I get over it. Also, low overhead doors and basement ceilings are guaranteed to leave…
