One of the things I notice people are always asking on Formspring is whether I feel insecure or unhappy with my height.
Which is a very good question which is why I decided to turn it into a blog post. (god Formspring is so useful)
To start off, I think you can guess that I’m totally not ashamed of my height due to the fact that I named my blog after it wtf. Note to haters: please think of something else to diss me about because calling me a midget doesn’t work.
I’ve been short all my life. My earliest memory of primary school is having to stand at the front of the class line at assembly. Whenever we had to line up, it was always according to height and I was always at the front wtf. Maybe not first in front but second or third. As a kid, this didn’t bother me because I got to be first for everything LOL.
First to brush my teeth when the dentist and nurses came with their annual school dental checkup.
First to collect Milo when the Milo van rolled around.
As I grew up a little, when other girls around me were hitting puberty and shooting up, I waited patiently for my growth spurt.
Sure, boobs came a little slower (better late than never, better small than none) but they came in the end (By the end I mean at 19 fml). But the growth spurt never did.
It still somehow didn’t bother me.
But then again, I looked like this from age 12-15 and that didn’t faze me! In fact, I now realize that I was the most thickskinned teenager in the world.
I delusionally thought I was still quite pretty WTF. And like I was telling Tze the other day and she laughed until nearly fell off her chair, I thought a lot of boys liked me WTF and if getting down from the bus, a boy accidentally put his hand on mine on the bus pole, I would believe that he likes me HAHAHAHAHAHAH.
Of course no boy liked me wtf. But I guess my misplaced confidence helped me cos I think I did have a lot of friends, even if all of us were nerds wtf.
Anyway, digression.
The only time I ever felt upset about being short was when I was seventeen and I overheard a boy I liked telling his friends that he would never like me because I was too short (and flat). I hated my height for a while. Then my misplaced confidence and optimism helped me forget about it wtf.
Since then, I don’t think I’ve ever felt anything negative for my height. Maybe because I have the least depressive personality of anyone I know. I’m also unnaturally optimistic.
To all the short girls out there who are insecure about your height: WHY!?!
1. First of all, you’re a girl and girls are not expected to be tall anyway. It could be worse; you could have been a guy. Do you know how hard short guys have it! (see, this is how you be optimistic)
(To short guys: sorry I don’t know how you feel. But if you feel bad, look at it this way. At least you’re a guy! You don’t have glass ceilings at work places and gender discrimination! You will also never be susceptible to vaginal mutilation. And less likely to contract HIV I think)
2. Second of all, being short is an ice-breaker. Seriously. I suspect people have greater propensity to feel kindly towards shorter girls. Say, if I make a joke about my height, it always gets a laugh, and people may add on to it and people bond over that (making jokes, not over my height) And if they get closer to me, I realize that people tease me for being short affectionately, not in a bullying way. I don’t see how is that a bad thing.
3. Shorter girls tend to be cute.
4. Everyone (male and female alike) feels protective over small girls. They’ll let you squeeze to the front of a crowd without glaring at you too much cos you won’t block their view. They’ll help you open your canned drinks wtf.
5. You will always look young. Cannot think of a better reason than this.
6. People remember you. Would you rather be remembered for being short (and cute) or forgotten? Once a bouncer at a club in Miami didn’t believe I was over 21 although I had ID. He told me I had to jump up and touch the sign before he’d let me in WTF so I did. The key is to not take yourself so seriously and you’ll be fine. The bouncer loved it! He laughed and let me in, and looked out for me afterwards to say bye. 🙂
Its not all awesome all the time though. A few years ago, my height was an obstacle to me. Not my height per se, but the whole fact that I look very young.
I’d been working for one or two years at that time so I wasn’t an inexperienced noob. I knew my stuff at work and my bosses knew it. But to my clients, they couldn’t accept recommendations or advice from a tiny girl with blond/brown hair. They were all in their 30s (some married, some with kids) and I think they couldn’t get it in their heads that someone who looked like this would have anything important to add.
That was something I really struggled with. Maybe it didn’t help that I’d waltz in to meeting rooms with my pink Hello Kitty thermos and fluffy pens HAHAHA. But yea, it was so bad that my bosses had to sit me down and tell me they knew I was capable but nobody else could see that. I had to do something about it, or else no clients would have any confidence in me and I’d never progress in my career.
I was quite crushed actually cos that was the first time I realized my height was a disadvantage to me. Every time I made a recommendation in a meeting, they’d nod and all but then they’d go and DO OPPOSITE OF WHAT I SAID. Frustrating or not leh! Then when my boss came in and said the same exact thing, they absorbed it and followed his advice to a T.
What did I do in the end?
Height cannot change what. But everything else can. I started putting my hair into ponytails instead of curls. (doubly effective cos I stopped playing with my hair at meetings too). Whenever got meeting, I’d make sure I wear heels. And I spoke louder at meetings and acted like everyone was an imbecile. HAHAHAHAH.
No la not really! But I kept reminding myself that in the whole room I have the most experience and knowledge about what I specialize in already and I could talk rubbish and still people would believe me because I’m the expert.
It worked leh. The people who used to feedback that they thought I was childish (and hence irresponsible) said I totally changed their minds 😀 Got one fella even said I look taller now LOLOL.
Lessons learned:
I can’t help being short. But there’s no reason why it should bother me unless I let it. I love being this height! I would never change it (not like I can anyway)
P/S: one more reason why it’s good to be short! Closer to the ground, fall also not so painful wtf.
Comments (54)
haha i totally agree 101%!!! i love being short too 😀 my friends would be naturally protective of me and yes i get to stand in front all d time too 😀 and in group photos i’ll always get to be front and centre hehehehe. btw im the girl who came up to u and said hello at Tastypot steamboat sunway a few weeks back 😉
i love being this height! i call it fun-sized hehe 😉
I make jokes about my height too! Like how I can live longer as my heart won’t need to pump blood as far as other taller people do, how short people have lower centre of gravity and are more stable in buses etc.
Love this post especially the last part about being closer to ground!
Cheers 😀
Haha! I can relate to this very well..I’m 4’11”, with lots of misplaced confidence and optimism as well. The only reason why I’d love to be taller is for better proportions and to be able to wear some of the fashion that only tall people can wear.
I don’t know if this is related to my height but even though I’m a few years past 21, I still feel like a kid inside and don’t really see myself as an adult, hahaha.
Totally agree with u! I am 4’10’ and my friends always making laugh at my height but I love my height cz it bring lots of adv like people always thought I am 18 in fact I am 23 wakaka!
ya i can never get angry or annoyed at you when you do stupid things (yanking barrier thingies out of their holes)
I used to bemoan my height (at 5’3″) but then I noticed that people were commenting about how cute and tiny and delicate I was. Got a lot of protection from people around me hahaha
I totally agree that beeing short is an ice-breaker! I’m like 5ft1 and everytime e meet someone new and then some friend in common come and randomly talk to me about the person is mostly comments like “aww, she’s so cute e tinny… looks like a doll!” and that’s very pleasant, you know. And it gives us more personality, I think. And I don’t know why too but this part of people tending to feel kindly towards shorter girls is very real! But when people associate our “younger” look to our experience level I feel really upset, but instead of only beeing sad about it I always tend to prove their wrong showing that I’m very capable and all and that’s what anyone whould do, regardless of its height so it’s not a big deal anyway. I don’t see bad about being shorter :]
the work thing – it’s definitely a disadvantage of looking young. esp if your work place is filled with big loud men
i’ve tried your method too – “talk loud and act like everyone’s an imbecile”. works most of the time :p
In the Down Under land of the Large, I think being tiny really makes me stand out. On top of that, people think I’m 10 years younger than I am. Then again, clothes shopping is always a nightmare.
For the work related issue, try checking out extrapetite.com. She’s got some great fashion tips for looking more mature at work.
What a post!I can relate this post to me quite well too.. as I also belong to the petite category (153 cm hmmm)and I am also an Aquarius.. so I guess that is where your confidence comes from hmmmm… But yea just be yourself and I believe the day is always better!! Thanks for writing this cute post!! 😀
I am exactly the same height as you. In my younger years, other people especially ladies, used to make sarcastic comments and horrible jokes about my height especially school mates. Fast forward 2 decades later, guess who’s having the last laugh? I now look 10 years younger than them *ahem*! HAHAHA
yah agree that shorter people look cuter and younger. the petite size always make people think they aged less than they are! 🙂 stay positive!
Agree!
Agree with you. I am facing the same problem at work. No one is taking me seriously and got bully at work most of the times because of my height and baby-face look. They think I am still a kid although I am going to reach 30yrs old. Other than that, being short is definitely has its advantages, just like what you have said.
I MISS MILO! I swear you can’t get that stuff by where I live anymore, and you had Milo TRUCKS when you were a kid? And I’m to lazy to order it myself =.= maybe to just tell my friends parents store to order it saying it’ll be good for profits or something O.O
Nice post! And glad to see you are totally confident and happy with your height, cos that’s all that matters!
as a short guy i approve of this blog post.
I’m 152cm but the last time I checked I shrunked by 0.5cm! I’ve always been teased all my life for being short, on bad days it feels bad, but other than that, I have learned to embrace it! 🙂 Another great thing about being small is that you could fit into kids clothes! I bought a t-shirt in kid size and it only cost me RM8. hehe.
why my comment never come out one T_____T
I am a short ass and i love it!
i cut hair at student rates cos stylists thought i was student!
i get called xiao mei or mei mei when i order fishball noodles!
i still get ID checks when i try enter the casion at Genting!
but one very bad downside is sometimes when i look at sexy magazines or sex books in bookstores hor, people will look at me weirdly and i swear i could hear them thinking, poor girl. so young. grow up only to become whore wtf
hahahaha got to love your optimism! ^^
I’m 4feet11 and I agree, especially point 3,4,5,6! Although some times I feel oh how nice to be tall like models etc, usually I LOVE my height. I always misuse the lack of height so people would help me do things I’m lazy to do!! Bad I know! People always treat me nicely and was always shocked that I have a baby. I’m 27 this year auntie, not 12 -______- It’s okay for me to have a baby lol!
And I also agree on the childish thus irresponsible point. Sad to say, the mentality of some people. But I strive to carry myself ‘tall’ to the point of being snobbish at times. but it’s ok, who can stay mad at this cute itty bitty teeny weeny adult! XD
wahahaa! LEO uniform! i still hv my vest with me!
You are a good writer and you have a great sense of humour! 😉
Btw I have pictorial updates at http://www.fiona-wang.blogspot.com 🙂 It is not as interesting as your blog though.
Fiona
this post and comments are like a pep talk to offer moral support for shorties! shorty pride. LOL
“i’m SHORT but I look young and cute. I LOVE BEING SHORT!!!”
if a girl is short + cute, it’s likely to be her face attributing to the cuteness. not the height.
I am 150 (minus 2) cm, and this post made me feel so much better! haha. There are days when I am happy with my height, but there are days where I wished I was taller. Maybe it’s because I am not the thin type, and short (plus chubby) has its disadvantages. But everything in this post is spot on – we do get away with a lot of things hehehe. 😀
hahahaHAAHAHHAH your picture damn funny!!! funny until very cute!! JAHAHAHAAHAH
omg i am the exact same height as you and i kindof feel better after reading your post..
but i still feel abit sad about being short cos smtimes when i go to the supermarket (im sgpean) the things i want to buy always seem to be on the top shelf so i cant reach it. and most of the time theres either no one to help me or i wld be embarrassed to ask. so forget it lorh..
and when i was younger.. i rem on particular incident. i was alr in secondary school and i was with a few “friends” at a water cooler wanting to get a drink. there was one higher one and a lower one. and i wanted to drink from the higher one. (not cos of anything.. but i just wanted to drink. didnt purposely choose or smth) but my friend had to go and say. you drink from the shorter one lah you cannot reach the higher one. aft that, all of them laughed. i thought it was damn mean. and i actually ran away feeling very hurt. but it didnt even bother any of them that i did. (sigh. annoying tall people. haha.)
and i remember being in the athletics team in primary school and was made to tryout for hurdles and people ard me were just like she so short. cannot one lah. and in the end i chose to sit out. why are people so mean!! ok lah. at other times if they make certain jokes i just laugh along or act pissed lorh. but these two incidents i will nv forget. sobs.
and i havent gone out to society to work yet. so i wont know the impact of being short but i do hope that i wld have the optimism that you have!! thanks for sharing your story!!
my growth spurt was like when i was thirteen and it was less than a 10cm growth. so sad lahh. hahaha… seriously admire your maturity and optimism abt it!!
hahaha i like the P/S
Love this post! maybe coz i’m short too T.T but hell yeah all so damn true one haha
I am 153cm haha. That makes me short too. I used to hope that I can grow taller when I was younger until I reached about 16 and started noticing people calling me cute and helping me with all sorts of stuffs because I am petite haha. I do not have any problems with my height as well, love looking young (people always thought I am 19 although I am already 23 haha). I also do not have any problems professionally, so yea, I would not want to change my height
I am the girl who actually talked to you during lunch suddenly when I saw you! Didn’t expect that we are working in the same building!!! OMG hope I didnt scare you
Totally agree!!! cos i’m hav the same height with you…i very understand it…
To all the short girls out there who are insecure about your height: WHY!?!
Think about people with no legs 🙂
I like the last reason!
“P/S: one more reason why it’s good to be short! Closer to the ground, fall also not so painful wtf.”
i used to complain about my height,coz there’s one time,i dreamt to be air stewardess & really wish to be taller! but when time goes by, i began to love my height, love being short~~ lol
yea, coz you tend to get more attention and ppl will protect you 1st~ =p
but duno why, ppl just doesnt believe that im only 155cm.. until they stand beside and compare, then they will have the OMG! i cant believe you are only 155cm! its just so fun & funny!^_^
honest confession and I like this post. Go go Audrey…whatever it is you are adorable no matter at what age because u are shortie!
HAHAHA your p/s made me laugh alot! I’m short too and love it. I told my friends I wanted to be a model but they said sure cannot bcz I’m short, then I said I want to become primary school uniform’s model only AHAHAHA plus can look young all the time bcz wearing school uniform eventho I’m 26 already 🙂
seriously and that we can look cute w/out heels but sexy with heels !! tall girls can only look normal w/out heels and BIG w/ heels *no offence im sure they r all very nice ^^
Love this post, I am short as well. 🙂
sounds like the story of my life! 5’3″ and I’m like really the smallest person around wherever I go (especially with younger people, why do they suddenly grow that much?!) and I always look the youngest and cutest etc.
BUT where I live people seem to think looking young is something bad and they (GIRLS&WOMAN) often tell me i should wear high heels daily and take off lenses and wear darker makeup, like, WHY?! i wanna look cute! But men in general like me and help me a lot and i don’t get any nasty comments about my height from them, only girls. funny, right?
I am actually the opposite. I feel that I am too tall and get rather self conscious of my height. 🙁 By western standards, I am probably average, but locally, practically half the guys and 90% of girls are shorter than me! How to wear heels?? D:
And ‘short’ girls out there, do take comfort in the fact that most guys (even really tall ones) prefer short girls. Several have bluntly told me they prefer short girls -.- (Cuter and apparently pheromones emit from our head hahaha)
Well I guess the only thing beneficial for a tall girl is you get a slight advantage in the workplace? Though towering over your male boss isn’t exactly a great scenario either LOL.
So there are actually tall girls out there who are envious of you shorter ones. Grass’ always greener on the other side. 🙂
lisa: got such thing as pheromones emitting from our heads ah i thought it was armpits hahaha. yea i think whatever you are there will be pros and cons wan lo! the pros of being tall is being able to wear anything you want and having a chance to model, be air stewardess wtf 🙂
I totally agree about looking way too young if a person is short! I’m 21 this year but when I ask ppl I’ve just met to guess my age sometimes I get answers like 16-17 wtf max.
Woohoo….short girls rock!! xD
Ehhhh…. I just realized that we’re of the same height! I used to feel insecure about my height especially when I was in secondary school. Now,not so much lah. Actually, there are times that I do feel insecure about it but lucky for me, I have a wonderful, TALLER, bestfriend who told me this, “look at the bright side. At least most of the guys are taller than you are. Look at me. I am as tall as a guy, and sometimes taller than a guy. For me to find a husband in Malaysia is definitely hard.” So from there onwards, I don’t feel that insecure of my height. But I love it that you post something about heights. Because us girls tend to stereotype beauty up to a certain height and weight but in fact, we are beautiful in our own way. Oh, and I hope it’s not too late to congratulate you for your wedding in July. 🙂
Love this post…:)
I love u Audrey! I’ve always hated my height I’m afraid. Ppl use to talk about weight issues but I talk about height issues. But this post of yours! made me feel good about myself! and deleted 99% of that hatred I feel towards being short..cannot be too perfect and say 100% wtf. Anyways,Thank u so much audrey! love this post max & u’re the best blogger ever!
I LOVE BEING 5FT. It’s actually pretty cute, and people do tend to tease me and get protective. lol I also find girls who are shorter tend to be naturally thin. o.o’ Plus like tall girls, short flat chested girls seem to look good with all types of clothes. HUGE ADVANTAGE 😀
I have always hated being short(152cm)… And i didn’t even realize that i was so short and small until 5 years ago when i stood beside my best friend and looked into the mirror. I’ve been damn sad ever since!
Like people always say to me ‘omg you’re so short so cute!’ i’ll be v offended like they treat me like some soft toy or baby fml lol
Also doesn’t help that everyone in my clique is tall(like >165cm) and this girl is v pretty too… Makes me feel damn inferior standing next to her 🙁
And i also hate wearing heels! Like it’s super uncomfortable so I always wear flats sigh so I’m forever152cm fml.
But after coming across your blog post it kind of brighten up my thoughts about being short and maybe i’ll try to embrace being short more… Thank you so much Aud!
I love your confidence!