There are quite a few upsides to being on the shorter side that might surprise you. For one, being tall isn’t all it’s cracked up to be unless you’re aiming to be a professional athlete in sports where height is a clear advantage, like basketball or volleyball.
Personally, I’m about 5’10”, which is pretty average in the U.S., though in the NBA, I might magically become 6′. Growing up in Kuala Lumpur, I was often told I was tall, which felt good, but that stopped once I stopped growing around eighth grade.
I remember my dad, who was 6’3″ at his tallest, being quite disappointed that I wasn’t taller. He even once thought my not eating enough was to blame. Now as a dad myself, I find the obsession with height quite strange. Our son’s height is largely determined by genetics, something my wife and I passed on to him. The reality is, we have minimal control over how tall we grow, and that’s perfectly okay.
I once overheard a conversation about parents paying $300,000 for their kids to receive hormone treatments to grow taller. This seemed extreme to me, especially considering my own son is projected to be a perfectly average height. It’s important to remember that in the grand scheme of things, a few extra inches of height won’t drastically change who we are or our abilities.
Obsessing over height can be unhealthy. This point hit home during a chat at the dentist’s office where someone mistakenly thought I was taking growth hormones. It turns out, this person was considering giving HGH to his already tall child, which seemed unnecessary and potentially harmful.
Height and income studies suggest that taller people may earn more over their lifetimes, but this shouldn’t overshadow qualities like self-confidence, which are far more impactful. Since launching Financial Samurai, I’ve advocated for a mindset that values skill and self-development over physical attributes.
There are numerous benefits to being shorter that are often overlooked:
1. Airplane and car seats can be more comfortable.
2. You’re less likely to bump your head or strain your back.
3. Clothes and food can cost less.
4. You might have a lower risk of some health issues like certain cancers or blood clots.
At the end of the day, height is just one of many physical attributes. It doesn’t determine our worth or our ability to succeed. It’s far more important to focus on nurturing our skills and treating others with respect. Whether you’re tall or short, embracing who you are and recognizing your unique advantages is key.
