Check out 16 Return-To-Work Programs In India For Ambitious Women Like You!
As a short, petite woman, 'appearing tall' completely veiled 'standing tall', and my self esteem stooped to an all time low in a year's time.
Trim and slim are words of compliments, but small?
It is not.
I am all of five feet.
Not an inch more or less.
What a strange coincidence!
They say ‘petite’ fits me the best.
I scouted the dictionary to get into the sense…
Yes… got it – small and trim.
So, all my life I stand on the scaffold and people do judge me.
Sad indeed!
How can I be tall, when my mom is less than five feet in height ?
When my friends and acquaintances referred to me as ‘chhoti’, ‘natti’ – I felt like calling them names, yet had to control myself.
After all, we thrive in a society, and ‘log kya kahenge ‘ matters more than ‘hum kya kahenge’.
This ‘log kya kahenge’ remains embedded in our heart and soul to such a degree that we often vie for validation for our actions, even to secure the foundation of our emotions.
The ‘petite’ title drove me mad. My insecurity found a quaint support in high heeled sandals and shoes. More than apparel, I started spending on shoes.
Reason behind – I should look taller and not be judged so often.
I started avoiding any visits to temples and places of worship for the simple reason that I had to take off my shoes. This entailed the loss of acquired height. My chances of being referred to as ‘petite’ one more time, made me sad and whine.
‘Appearing tall’ completely veiled ‘standing tall’, and my self esteem stooped to an all time low in a year’s time.
In a gathering, I started to get the feeling that – everyone around is making fun of my height.
In reality, this was not happening. No one was bothered even.
Why should anyone bother about someone else’s height, when there are a thousand topics to be discussed and dwelt at length!
But my lesser sense always prevailed, making me timid… elbowing me out to my wit’s end.
It is so aptly said- ‘We live in our minds.’
I was making a hell of my own existence – not living even!
Days rolled by… so also months.
Life went on.
My search for a secured job ensued after I completed my studies.
I was sceptical and apprehensive both – before the interview took place. My obsession with height was the mischief monger.
The board had my vital statistics with them.
One of the interviewers jovially put this question-
“What are the advantages of being short?”
I was taken aback… kept mum for a few seconds.
I stretched my memory and imagination to find a suitable answer.
It struck me- mom had told me about so many advantages of being short and I had dismissed them with a heavy dose of angry outburst.
“Tall people have to stoop low when they enter places with low roofs, they cannot adjust in smaller beds, they have to be careful while riding ladders else they may hurt their head.
Above all, they bend in old age and have to depend on walking sticks till the end.”
“Yes…these are advantages.”
The judges were amazed by my quick, crisp and electrifying response.
The one who had asked this question , smiled at me with utter satisfaction.
“Well done gal. You are bustling with positive vibes. Keep it up.”
The simple loving words calmed my senses.I started introspecting and analyzing my behavior.
“Why am I so sorry and sarcastic about my pedigree? Is it worth it? Why can’t I be normal with my physicality ?”
“Let me flaunt myself with the high heels even sans embellishments. Let me live my life to the fullest.”
There has been no looking back since then.
I have owned myself completely with all shortcomings.
They are my advantages now.
Just a change in mindset has spelt such ecstasy and wonder!
Image source: YouTube
read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Neena was the sole caregiver of Amma and though one would think that Amma was dependent on her, Neena felt otherwise.
Neena inhaled the aroma that emanated from the pan and took a deep breath. The aroma of cumin interspersed with butter transported her back to the modest kitchen in her native village. She could picture her father standing in the kitchen wearing his white crisp kurta as he made delectable concoctions for his only daughter.
Neena grew up in a home where both her parents worked together in tandem to keep the house up and running. She had a blissful childhood in her modest two-room house. The house was small but every nook and cranny gave her memories of a lifetime. Neena’s young heart imagined that her life would follow the same cheerful course. But how wrong she was!
When she was sixteen, the catastrophic clutches of destiny snatched away her parents. They passed away in a road accident and Neena was devastated. Relatives thronged her now gloomy house and soon it was decided that she should be married off.
Being a writer, Nivedita Louis recognises the struggles of a first-time woman writer and helps many articulate their voice with development, content edits as a publisher.
“I usually write during night”, says author Nivedita Louis during our conversation. Chuckling she continues,” It’s easier then to focus solely on writing. Nivedita Louis is a writer, with varied interests and one of the founders of Her Stories, a feminist publishing house, based in Chennai.
In a candid conversation she shared her journey from small-town Tamil Nadu to becoming a history buff, an award-winning author and now a publisher.
Nivedita was born and raised in a small town in Tamil Nadu. It was for schooling that she first arrived in Chennai. Then known as Madras, she recalls being awed by the city. Her love-story with the city, its people and thus began which continues till date. She credits her perseverance and passion to make a difference to her days as a vocational student among the elite sections of Madras.
Please enter your email address