I am not like 97% of the population. 97% of people do not know what it is like to be me. That’s because I am a rather tall individual, six feet nine inches tall, to be exact. And I know you may be thinking: what’s it like to be that tall? Well, my friend, you’re about to find out. So hop on and get ready to experience the world at a whole new perspective.
Many times it is unfortunate to be this height because the world is simply not ready for tall folk. For instance, my day starts with waking up on a bed in which my feet dangle off of from the end of it every night. Next, after having to duck in my shower, I get dressed in front of a full half-length mirror. I choose my outfit for the day, including a long-sleeve shirt that isn’t quite long enough, jeans that I had to buy online because the store never has my length, and my sneakers (or for those who prefer the term "tennis shoes") that I had to buy online because, surprise, the store doesn’t have my size (14 if you were wondering).
But those are the least of my worries because there are a lot more daily struggles that us tall people go through. Every doorway is an opportunity for a real headache and plain embarrassment, so we have learned through past experiences to duck our way under them. If you sit across from us at the lunch table, I just want to apologize now for bumping knees and stepping on your foot; just know I didn’t mean it. In addition, hugging is one of the most awkward and unnatural things us tall folk do. Bending over is uncomfortable, getting on one knee makes us look condescending, but we can’t just stand there and wrap our arms around your head, so what do we do?
But perhaps the most annoying struggle about being tall is knowing how every conversation with someone will end up going. Whether we introduce ourselves to somebody for the first time, or some random person likes to point out the obvious to us, we all know how the conversation will go…
Stranger: “Wow you’re really tall.”
Me: “Thank you, I know.”
Stranger: “How tall are you?”
Me: “Six foot nine”
Stranger: “Wow! Do you play basketball?”
Me: “No, I play baseball”
Stranger: “Baseball? Huh, I would have never thought of that.”
Me: “Haha, clearly.”
Lastly, being the butt of tall jokes becomes boring and routine. A simple hello passing a friend has inevitably become having to answer how the weather up there is.
However, being tall has its awesome advantages too. Being a tall person brings about a strong social presence. Us tall folk simply cannot try to blend in with the crowd; since we already stand out, it teaches us to develop our unique sense of charisma and personality. As such, we regularly become the type of people that others look up to (pun intended). One of my favorite perks of my height is I can’t help but get noticed by everyone. At first when I was growing up, I would tend to shy away from it, but now I love it. Who wouldn’t want to be noticed? When I walk in the door to a party, everyone knows I’ve arrived. When I pass by some attractive ladies on campus, I’m certain they’ve noticed this handsome guy. I know my height will make me more attractive in job interviews when the time comes. In my opinion, the advantages far outweigh the difficulties of being tall. This is who I am, and I wouldn’t change it for anything.
So there you have it. I hope you’ve enjoyed your taste of what life is like for us tall individuals. I hope you appreciate the struggles that we go through each day. The next time you see us, ask how our day is going rather than how the weather is up here. Maybe offer us the front seat of the car the next time around. If you do, we will be happy to grab the dishes on the top shelf for you. Just know that we love being tall because it truly is awesome.
