Thoughts on Being "Petite"

I'm a skinny girl.  I'm not saying that to be prideful, but just to state a fact.  Throughout the day, my weight fluctuates often, but on average, I'm about 111 pounds.  I don't think that's good or bad.  It's a number, just like my age, my birthdate, my social security number, or my phone numbers.  It's just another part of me, but it isn't actually me.
Several times a week this is made quite clear to me.  "You're so skinny!"  "How are you so thin?!"  They're not insults.  Just slightly annoying observations that (usually) don't have any harm intended.  But there are some things that I (and likely, other skinny girls) wish I could tell you that I usually don't because you're usually a stranger or you're a good friend and I don't want there to be tension between us.

1. I have health problems too.  They're just not weight-related.  In early January last year, I began to see a chiropractor, where I was told that I have a minor form of scoliosis.  It wasn't painful like more severe degrees of scoliosis are, but it actually helped to treat my mental health.  I have depression and anxiety, for which I have tried several different methods.  Thanks to chiropractic care and counseling, they're better, but they will never disappear completely, and that's just something I get to live with.  I don't have as many health problems as other people do, but I don't feel super duper all the time either.
2. I'm no less a woman because of my weight.  I've never really understood this one.  You've probably heard it before - "Men like meat; bones are for the dogs," or "Real women have curves."  Here's the thing - I'm a woman because I was born that way.  I could, you know, explain how anatomy works, but I think you may have a good grasp on that already.  I could also go on about how having kids won't make me (or anyone else) a woman, enjoying trips to the shooting range doesn't make me a woman (though I do enjoy them), or anything else on what womanhood is defined as besides basic anatomy, but I think I'll save that for another day.
3. I don't like every single aspect of myself.  Sadly, I don't think really anyone does.  But there have been several times where if someone told me they wished they looked like me, I'd have to hold back a snort and say, "Please, you do not want to look like me.  Really."  And when those people have said that to me, there has always been something of theirs that I would have loved to have.  Maybe they had really beautiful faces.  Or a wonderful singing voice.  Intelligence.  Charisma.  Wit.  Patience.  Something I lack.  While this is no way an excuse, contentment with oneself is a hard thing to find.

So there you have it.  Being skinny doesn't mean being happy.  So go drink a frap or something.  Treat yo self.