Things You Know to be True if You're Short

Missing those extra couple inches.

Originally published on February 28, 2017

I often consider myself to be on the shorter side of life. I suppose I’m less than average, at 5’2” (and 3/8!) but nowhere near as short as other people. There are perks to being shorter, and there are some not-so-perky things as well. Here’s a list of things I’ve experienced, good and bad, ever since I stopped growing several years ago.

1. When your younger brothers are taller than you
2. And when they start addressing you as their little sister
3. Having to stand in the front of pictures
4. Not always being seen in said pictures if you did get shoved to the back
5. Seriously, it’s easy to just disappear. Not in a bad way. You just do.
6. You miss those extra few inches when it comes to closets or cabinets
7. And when your brothers want to hide snacks from you they put them on the highest shelf in the pantry
8. You have to ask your mom to get stuff out of your closet because she is four inches taller than you
9. There are those days, however, when you feel like a daredevil and stand on your spinny desk chair to pull something down
10. You might have nearly died, but at least you got that sweater
11. Putting on heels is fun because you magically grow a few inches
12. It is easy to duck under people like a ninja if they’re moving too slow
13. Rolled jeans. That is all.
14. Climbing on countertops is second nature
15. Ditto for the dryer. Uncoordinated you may be, but never in the pursuit of snacks
16. At least you won’t ever bang your head on a doorframe
17. You could probably still get away with playing on playground equipment
18. You are just the right height for you and you wouldn’t know how to function at any other height

After enough years to get used to it, and despite all the complaining I do, I really do like my height.