Character isn’t measured by height

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Updated: February 15, 2012 8:01AM

Dr. Wallace: I’m responding to the letter from a 16-year-old girl who was being taunted by her girlfriends because she was taller than her boyfriend. I went through high school being self-conscious about my height. At age 13, I was already 5 feet 7 inches tall. I met and married a wonderful guy who is shorter than I am.

Sixteen years after our marriage, a semi-truck hit a car I was riding in, and I suffered a broken spine. For the past 30 years, I have been confined to a wheelchair. You can now say that I am 4 feet 5 inches tall and look up to my husband, who is a giant of a man. To me, he is the tallest and most wonderful man on this earth.

Melody, Rochester, N.Y.

Melody: Thank you for your inspiring message. It will provide comfort to all couples in similar relationships who might feel a bit self-conscious about height difference. Character isn’t measured in feet and inches.

Dr. Wallace: I’m 19, and the girl I’ve been going with for two years told me she never wanted to see me again because of one little mistake, which I admitted to. Don’t you think my girlfriend should be compassionate and forgive me?

Brandon, Charlotte, N.C.

Brandon: One little mistake? You don’t say what it is and I won’t speculate, but obviously it wasn’t so little from the point of view of your “ex” girlfriend. Everything is relative. All you can do is apologize and ask forgiveness. If she chooses not to forgive you, your best bet is to learn from the mistake and get on with your life. And if you are fortunate to be in the company of another young lady, make sure your “one little mistake” doesn’t happen again.

Write to Dr. Wallace
at rwallace@galesburg.net