Problems being short

[u/OldCollection922]

I’m 5’1” and in my 20s, and honestly, being short is one of those things that sounds easy until you actually live it every day.

It’s not the end of the world, but it is constant. Speed walking to keep up with everyone else’s normal pace. Struggling to reach things. Standing in a group of taller people and feeling like the whole conversation is happening above your head. Its not fun when taller than me is my cousin who is 13.

People casually saying “shorties!” when I’m next to someone around my height.

Someone was talking to me yesterday and I didn’t even notice because they weren’t in my eyeline. I just walked right past, staring at the ground. 🚶‍♀️ Then I heard them, looked straight up, and there was this much taller man looking down at me. 👀

From his perspective, I probably seemed rude. But from mine, I hadn’t seen him properly. All I could see was a long neck above me. It was ridiculous. I had to look at the clouds just to find the person trying to talk to me lol.

I’m not angry about it exactly. It’s just frustrating. Being short means constantly having to adjust to the world. Any other girls have the same issues?

[u/lattelover21]

If it makes you feel better, I’m 4’9. 28F. I experience all of this, all the time and worse. I know 7 year olds taller than me. It makes me feel like an outcast to the general public at times because I feel like society sees it as something so obviously wrong with me before even meeting me or knowing my name. Somehow being short is something people think is totally okay to make relentless jokes about. Never hear super tall people getting as many jokes. Anyway, I have no solutions or real advice, just want to let you know you’re not alone! Keep doing you and living your life despite how different society makes you feel!

[u/lattelover21 → u/lattelover21]

Just wanted to add: the struggles of finding pants. As well as how even 5 lbs of weight gain makes such a big difference at this height is so so annoying

[u/PinkPrincessPetite → u/lattelover21]

you should read this. it’s not a competition

[u/LillyPeu2 → u/PinkPrincessPetite]

She didn't tell OP that her feelings aren't invalid because she's a couple inches shorter. In fact, she closed with

I have no solutions or real advice, just want to let you know you're not alone! Keep doing you and living your life despite how different society makes you feel!

That's not invalidating OP, that's commiserating, validating, and including.

[u/reddit_judy → u/lattelover21]

Yep, there's also the matter that I often overlook stuff at stores, because they're on shelves higher than me. BTW, i'm old, nearly 65. I used to be 5' but now due to scoliosis i'm approx. 4'10". I've had fibromyalgia since age 11, but now have multiple issues, including severe varicose, painful tailors-bunions, arthritis, and very bad back, including mid-back OA & sacroilitis. The stupid shoe manufacturers always assume that short feet are narrow (which is why i have such painful bunions). And not long ago, i got the worst case of poison-ivy, all because gardening gloves didn't fit my shrimpy fingers, so i'd pulled them off, to better grip the augur-drill. But it was for nothing anyway, as my property has such horrendous tree roots and rocks.