#625 Really, really short people

Neil Pasricha

They’re short and there’s nothing they can do about it except learn to live with their crazy shortness. For this reason, we respect them and think they’re cool.

If you’re really, really short, you feel it, because this is your life:

• Forget seeing anything at concerts. Sure, everybody loves being behind you, but at what price? The standing area is a bad scene and mosh pits are strictly off limits. No, you’re stuck sitting at the bar or watching from the balcony.

• You can’t reach anything. Kitchen cupboards and closest shelves are bad enough, but the worst is when you find yourself somewhere alone and stoolless. People, if you’ve ever found yourself climbing the hotel bar fridge to reach the coffee filters or stepping on the metal grocery store shelf to reach the hot sauce then you know what I’m talking about.

• Hard to date people. Well, not hard, but complicated. I mean, would you date someone really, really short? If not, you see the problem here. And don’t even get me started the short-guys-dancing-with-tall-girls things. Fellas, I been there, too. It’s not easy.

• You can forget about that pro-volleyball career. You might still make it as a referee, but that’s about it.

• You’re constantly adjusting driver’s seats and mirrors. On top of that, really, really tall people complain when they get in the car after you and have to adjust everything because they can’t fit.

• Some roller coasters are off limits. Minimum height requirements are clearly relics from a discriminatory society that inhabited this land before us.

It really is a tough life.

So next time you see a really, really short person, break out the empathy. Remember: they’re short and there’s nothing they can do except learn to live with their crazy shortness. Sure, they buy cheaper children’s clothes, find the best spots in Hide and Seek, sleep easier on couches, easily avoid walking into tree branches, are more comfortable at movies, and curl nicely into cramped spooning arrangements, but they also have to live life with a lot of limits. In this upside-down and inside-out world, that’s worth something.

So go on and throw them a smile and a nod, a cracking high five, and some quiet and humble respect.

AWESOME!

Photos from: here, here, and here

183 thoughts to “#625 Really, really short people”

  1. I have quite a few friends that are short and everytime they complain about it, I just tell them if they stay under 5′ by the time they hit 16, they’re a legal midget; but it’s a handicap so they’ll get good parking. That’s a plus to me for all the hardships…….front row mall/movie/etc parking spots. :)

  2. Short people hate being short, tall people hate being tall. There are just as many disadvantages to being tall are there are to being short. Life isn’t easy for any of us, get over it.

  3. I like this site, but this one…is disappointing. I’m 6’1, so not personally offended, but a lot of people, especially guys, are very self-conscious about their height and a lot of people are unhappy or even suicidal about being “really, really short” so I don’t understand the thinking behind this one.

    Not awesome!

  5. being 4’2″ short or tall, however you see it, we’ve built an entire career taking advantage of our disadvantage. there are dwarf talent that would whine, moan & groan but we are taking what we were dealt with and laughing all the way to the bank! bring on the munchkins, elves, oompa loompas and leprechauns!

  6. I love this blog. It almost always makes my day better. But this made me feel like shit. Plain and simple. Thanks a lot.

  7. I am 4’11” and 30 years old. It’s taken me a long time to be at peace with my height. But I’m there now. Short people are funtastic! :)

  8. I feel like your trying to sympathize with people, and the “awesome” thing is that many shorter people can be confident and not take sh*t from people. You don’t deserve the crap people are giving you here.

  9. Well..its better to be a short angel rather than being a big size stacked shit…ur inner virtues matter alot..I am 5’6 and im proud of wat i am..infact if God asks me to be anyone in this world i would chose none but myself..just maintain ur physique and the tall guys would wish they were you…be charming …if you dont like urself in the first instance then dont complain others for not liking you..be urself and love urself….i believe wherever one stands its because he/she best fits there…people like you for wat you are ..who knows if you were someone you wish to be then people might start disliking you..you are perfect if you start believing it once and for all :-)

  10. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD! Empathy for diversity here.
    Life is not so black and white.
    A friend recently walked me throught the coolest visual of a moonlit night, snow in the meadow, her old dog, a stallion, star-lit sky, the mountains, barns and farm fences in the scene…it was magical…it was an awakening to realize this, there are even shades of grey in grey.

  12. I can see it for what it is… taking a frustrating part of life and reminding us to lighten up about it.
    5′ (150cm) tall, it’s never stopped me from achieving anything (fortunately I never wanted to be a basketball player) and as my mum said, I had the pick of the boys because they’re all taller than me!!
    Two more AWESOME things –
    1. Finding shoes that fit! AWESOME!!
    2. Moving to a new place where people ate a traditional diet (ie free from artificial hormones fed to chickens) – so the average height is shorter – so I don’t feel so short!! Absolutely AWESOME!!!

  14. I’m 24 and 4’7″ and have been this height since I was about 10, 11. Yes, I get jokes about my height and I’ve been used as an arm rest on more than one occasion but my height is my height and there’s nothing I can do about it at this point so why stress?

    I also happen to be a kindergarten teacher and it can be quite embarrassing to be mistaken as a student in the older grades (like 5th, 6th graders) but I’ve learned to dress more “business formal” and that helps elevate, haha, my status in the school so that at least the students don’t mistake me for a classmate!

  15. Being short isnt a funny thing i have an older sister and she is shorter than me.What is worse is the names she had to endure at school.The worse were by other girls it wasnt nice.She is now 22 and i think she is about 4’10 she is not 5’0. I am 18 and 5’4 i am always taken has the older one and it frustrates her alot.

  17. Man. You know nothing. I’m 20 years old I’m 5’5 and I have the best yet hardest job . I’m infantry . Most of the people laughed at me only to relise I’m a lot stronger nd better them at everything . I weigh 60 kg and pack march every week 20 klm with 50 kgl stepping out . Staff evenaughed at the start .by the end of it 80% dropped out big strong tall blokes. They where shocked. Think bout that. People know height has nothing to do with it.

  18. Am really crying here after reading this post I am 17 years but looking like a 8 years old baby am badly short and with a big leg I think am just going to kill me self or have sex with a dog till I die I can live like this I am in lagos nigeria +2348081858156 is my number

  19. My girlfriend is quite short and she is one of the most amazing, interesting, brilliant people and also one of the toughest I’ve ever met. Also, she never has problems with finding people who fancy her- in fact, I always have to be a little jealous when we go out because there are so many people hitting on her ;) so yes, short people are awesome!

  20. I’m short and I personally think it’s pretty damn awesome most of the time. But I am a woman, so it may be a bit different for men, idk. Then again, I have dated some pretty awesome short guys in my life. Only thing that sucks is they couldn’t carry me to bed when I fell asleep on the couch haha

  24. One of my best friends is 16 and just under five feet tall. I always tell her how much I love her shortness and how it’s like her superpower. Although, I’m pretty sure she has to sit on a pillow to drive…. The struggle is real people!!

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