OK, since we're opening up about our insecurities....
I can relate to the life of growing up a 'skinny nerd' who wasn't that good looking (OK, so the word 'nerd' probably wasn't even around when I was growing up). First I was the smallest kid in school. Hell, when I graduated HS, I was 5'5" tall and 135 lbs. Too small for my HS football team, where even the kicker weighed more than that. And I remained the skinny kid until I stopped growing senior year in college.
Then, somewhere along the line after getting married, I got fat. Not obese, just a big old gut. Size 36 waist on a 5'9-1/2" guy is NOT attractive. I finally lost all of that nastiness 2 years ago and am down to a size 30 waist again for the first time since college. And I've finally gotten my body in pretty good shape - you know those proportionality calculators? Except for my calves, they show my measurements to be just right (for what they are worth anyway [img]smile.gif[/img] ).
But, other things crop up: losing my hair. Jeez, I went down to Orlando for vacation this spring and met JP's brother and had this HUGE infected cyst on the side of my neck! It was like I had my unborn deformed twin in there (
My Big Fat Greek Wedding reference for those who don't get that). His brother must have thought I was deformed or something - JP, tell him it's gone now and I don't normally look like that! Please.
My point in this long diatribe is that there is always something that makes us feel unattractive. That's why even people who are generally considered attractive still are unhappy with some part of the way they look. Sounds like you have your priorities straight Sarah...the person is ultimately much more important than the package. With everything I had going against me, I managed to land someone at a young age who is physically very attractive (my wife still turns heads), but more importantly who I get along with well. And I do get my female friends complimenting me on my chest or my arms or my rear - certainly, that feels good.
If you're getting the looks now, enjoy it though. And know that some guys like women who are not comfortable in a "department store, or around women who wear pastels and lipstick. [who]curse, spit into the wind on downhills...and wear neutrals to avoid having to match... clothes." What you are describing is one of my good friends who is very athletic and thinks she is not that attractive. She doesn't realize the looks she even gets from guys. But she does...and she gets a lot of them. Her four siblings are brothers and always 'hung around with the guys' and she says maybe that is why she is like that. Are you the only female child in your family, by any chance?
Hell, I think you are attractive sight unseen....because you ride your mtb, and do it alone and love it, and can take care of yourself and are confident and speak your mind. Those things right there are VERY attractive. Too bad I'm not single. And in Little Rock. And a lot younger. And a better mtb rider. And better looking. Aww hell, forget it!
