I'm in academia - a college VP. That beats all the odds.  In business, sports, politics, and show biz, I was pretty much locked out, but I figured that I could make it in a realm where I was valued by what was in my head, not how far up it was.

The team that was visiting that day was a group of volunteers.  My objective was to put them to work, not cause offense, so I knew I had to be sly about shutting down the height boasting.  It worked.  It accomplished what I wanted-- silence the height discussion without being rude.  

In other situations I have been much more direct about shutting down unnecessary bullying about height.  I also carefully avoid certain people whom I know to be given to always bringing up my lack of size-- the same people who judge others by obvious things like money and height, and are blind to what matters like character, accomplishments, and morality.  Ay-iyiy.

At a big family gathering last weekend I had a wonderful time - my relatives obviously are my size, for the most part. All the men were 5'4 to 5'8. What a great day - no height issues all day long, just having fun and standing around speaking eye to eye with my cousins.  We even talked about my wife's uncle who was a WWII hero - a jet fighter shot down in the Pacific-- and he was 5"5" and slight build - perfect for fitting into a plane cockpit.  

Contrast that with my day at work yesterday when just by chance I ended up in a room under construction at our college (I'm the one in charge, mind you) with 4 workers all 6'2".  How uncomfortable for me, but they were all good friends, kind, jolly men, who would never bring up the height issue.  I am very blessed to be around such people.

Yesterday I had the classic squeeze play.  A work team was visiting at my office and I was giving a tour. One fellow, Jim Smith, introduced himself and we hit it off great, mostly because I could speak eye-to-eye with him--  he was only 5’5”.   But another member of the crowd, a loud-mouthed, full-of-herself woman in the crowd, named Sandra, was yammering about all kinds of things.  She was about 5’10”, so I had already surmised that her father and any brothers must be ‘big’ men. "Real men."  Then someone pointed out that she happened to have a brother who is also named Jim Smith.  In a flash I could see exactly where this was going to go; she did not disappoint me.  “Well, but, MY brother is six foot five (with hand demonstration) and he’s so much taller and blah, blah, blah….”  I swiftly, just shy of rudeness, switched the subject to something completely different before she could finish, and seized control of the conversation. The end of her height boasting was covered over by my talking, so it died in the air.  Whew.  The things we endure.

Indeed, Multinational.  We all have our stories.  This forum allows us, in anonymity, to open up about the uncomfortable reality of having to go through all of our adult life in a body that is inadequately sized.  It bothers each one of us in different ways, and we have different ways of coping, but what is so wonderful is that on this forum, we're all 'fellow sufferers.'  We can all let off steam, encourage each other, suggest tips and tricks, and listen with a sympathetic ear.  Hear we all see eye to eye-- for real.  It's a relief, a safe place.  It gives us the chance to chat with other men who also have to face reality every day as the bottom face on the totem pole, and make the best of it.  We need a safe place like this to talk about this issue, because NO ONE who isn't a short man knows what heck we go through every day.  I keep a journal log of my thoughts and observations about situations I live through.  Perhaps I'll post a few entries.  I bet you've all had similar experiences.  

Keep writing.  Keep working on it.  Work through it to the best of your ability.

Well, thanks, "unknown."  Indeed, I am very proud that I have accomplished a great deal in life, even ending up on TV for an unusual talent I have.  Let's encourage one another.