To all those tall and average sized folks that put down short people (hard to put us down because we technically already are down), it really is a great life for a multitude of reasons that you wouldn't think about. That being said, I'm going to share why the life of a shortie is just too great.
1. Always have the option to order off the kids menu
When I left for college, I thought being asked if I wanted a kids menu would stop, but it didn't. This made me upset at first, but then I learned to embrace it because cheaper food is never a turn off! I just ignore the fact that the 16 year old host thinks that I look 12. This theory generalizes to all short people, I promise you. One of the best examples of this is when Christopher and I were mistaken as twins and both asked if we wanted a kids menu when in fact I was 19 and he was 22. The picture above is my last day of teaching my class of 6th graders for the DP program my senior year. Looks like I fit right in! This is why I still get asked if I want the kids menu.
2. Leg Room
This is one thing that I will never understand. All of my tall friends tell me about how big of a problem it is, but I can't wrap my head around it. My lack of legs may serve as a problem in some settings, but I would rather not be able to reach something than constantly have my knees jammed into my chest. I was definitely thankful for my shortness on my overseas plane ride! Being short gives me more options when car shopping because I don't have to worry about leg room. I could get a decked out convertible smart car if I really wanted to and be the coolest shortie cruising around St. Peter.
3. Defined Calves
Years of standing on my tip toes to reach something up high, or attempting to see over a crowd really adds up! While I usually can't reach what I am trying to get, or looking over a crowd will never work, at least my calves look nice.
4. Can climb in small places
This one often gets overlooked, but it is important! Ever wondered how items that are stuck in small places magically reappear where they're supposed to? When your dog hides behind the couch, who gets them out? Who climbs under the stall to unlock it when a little kid thinks it is funny to lock stall and climb out under. Or my personal favorite, when there are too many people in the carpool and are downgraded from the middle seat to the trunk.
5. Can also climb many things
What do we do when we can't reach something, but no one is around to help? We climb that mountain blocking our way. By mountain, I mean counter tops, grocery store shelves, in the grocery store freezers, fences, and the list goes on and on. Creativity is key when it comes to situations like these. Sure, if we can't reach it we could just give up and go home, but that new Halo Top flavor that I had been wanting to try for months wasn't going to come rolling after me like that Chef Boyardee can in the legendary commercial. We take rock climbing to a whole new level.
6. Less expensive
Being small means that I never grow out of my clothes (in a vertical sense). It's very handy when I go home from college for a few days because I don't really have to bring home anything to wear. All my jeans and tops from middle school are still there, and fit me perfectly. It's quite convenient, and keeps my wallet in tact! Of course I can never refuse saying no to some new Lululemon. In addition to never growing out of clothes, if I do need something new, the kid's section is always cheaper and makes virtually the same things as the adult section! My wardrobe is insanely huge just because I have no reason to get rid of it, except for the clothes from Justice and those lovely graphic tees from Aeropostale that were all the rage.
7. Less effort
I'm definitely not saying we are more lazy, but we can get away with making others do favors for us, or don't have to go the extra mile. Example A: When a challenging or dreading task is at hand that requires some height, short people don't even get considered for the job. Another example is changing a ceiling lamp lightbulb. Even when I stand on the counter, I still can't reach it. Shorties also don't have to duck as much as tall people to avoid obstacles. One of my favorite things to do at practice was walk under the low bar because I cleared it with about a half an inch to spare, while the rest of my teammates had to duck while we moved mats. This concept also applies to tree branches, doorways, airplanes, and gave me a leg up during Limbo. Lastly, tall people make for great barriers to shield the sun from my eyes.
8. Many fish in the sea
Just like I have never had to think about a lack of leg room, I have never had to deal with finding someone who is taller than me. Society's standards tell girls that it is "more normal" to find a guy that is taller than you. I don't know exactly why that is a standard at all because Daniel Radcliffe is 5'5" and I'm pretty sure any girl would jump at the chance to date Harry Potter. On the other hand, being with someone who is a whole foot taller than me is quite interesting in itself, but still, I have never encountered a guy on campus that has been shorter than me, and I probably never will. To the vertically challenged guys reading this, I know this doesn't really apply to you at all. But on the bright side, Harry Potter hasn't used his wizard skills to change his height and look how successful he is!
9. Easier sleeping arrangements
I need a XL Twin bed in college just like I need a hole in my head. If anything I could use a XS Twin bed. Being short means that we can sleep in many places. Some honorable mentions that I've seen and experienced myself are a bean bag, park bench, staircase, corner of a room, and the laundry basket. I can't even fathom what it would be like sleeping with my feet hanging off the end of the bed, especially with the imaginary monster that grabs any limb hanging off the edge during the night. Don't deny that you have that irrational thought too.
10. No blocking
One of the things I don't like about being short is when a tall person blocks my view at a movie, sporting event, or concert. In return, I never block anyone's view, and as psychology explains, makes people like me more in comparison to if they were behind a tall person. Does this mean that everyone likes short people better?
11. The Puppy Effect
Just like when people see a small puppy and want to go pick it up and pet it, that happens to short people as well. The number of times I have been talked to in a baby voice, picked up, had my cheeks pinched, hugged, pet like a dog, or told I am cute just because I am short is endless. It happens almost everyday. Another common behavior is the "let me squat down to your level" phenomenon. While this gets annoying at times now, I know that I probably won't mind being told I'm cute when I'm 90.
12. Gymnastics
After my six years of playing basketball, I had to choose between that and gymnastics. Thank goodness I went the gymnast route because my height was way better for that. If I did end up to be tall, I would constantly be hitting my feet on the low bar during giants, wouldn't be as quick and powerful, and probably would've had a harder time fitting into a leotard. It was weird seeing my teammates that were four years younger than me pass me up though that's for sure. Studies have shown that gymnastics stunts growth from the constant pounding on the bones, so it's a good thing that I like being short!
13. Health Benefits
An article by The Telegraph explains the suggested health benefits of being short such as less blood clots, reduced risk of cancer, longer life span due to the longevity gene, less stress, and a lower chance of heat stroke. While most of these are backed up by science, the one that I'd take with a grain of salt is that shorties are less stressed because their explanation is that they don't have to worry about getting their pants lengthened.
14. Front and center
Short people are unforgettable. This is because we are ALWAYS placed in the front row in pictures. There is also the unofficial short person goes in the middle rule. I'm a pro at the sorority squat because of this. I always know my place when taking a group picture, and everyone else knows my place too. Being front and center doesn't just include the sorority squat, but also the "take a knee", laying across the front, criss cross apple sauce, and every other non standing situation. Being front and center also meant being on the front riser during my elementary school choir concerts which I wasn't too keen on.
15. Underestimated
When you are short, you're often seen as less intimidating, underestimated, or even less capable of some things. Because of this, it makes the outcome and reaction that much better when you prove everyone wrong. I don't know why some people associate being short with being less talented because great things can come in small packages!
I could make a much longer list of why I like being short, but these are just the main ones. I find it funny how my tall friends think that my view of the world is so much different than theirs because they often forget that they were my height at one point in their life. The common phrase "I'm not short, I'm fun size" isn't totally wrong. Being short leads me to some fun and creative adventures!
Have a great rest of the week, hopefully outside!
~Lauren