Every once in a while, some of my students tell me: “Mr. P, we’re almost the same height!”

What a nerve! They’re in 5th-6th grade. Age: 11-12ish. They’re midgets.

I can’t say I’m tall. But I’m not short either. So you can’t blame me if I always give them the defensive look and say: “Dream on!”

But when I’m alone and I think about it, they’re probably right. I might have appeared shorter than I actually am. I also noticed that, for some reasons, I tend to slouch which makes me look shorter. I realize now that the reasons are not really “physical” related:

I am shorter when I feel tired.
I am shorter when I’m frustrated.
I am shorter when I lose confidence.
I am shorter when I feel shy.

This isn’t the way I want others to see me. I want people to look at me as a man oozing with confidence, not a weakling who needs to be asked if he’s okay every single hour. That’s why I sometimes dislike it when someone asks me: “Are you okay? You look a little tired today.”

When that happens, I immediately stand tall casting away negative emotions and thoughts. I try and make it a habit to stand in full attention because the next time people ask me: “How tall are you?” I want to see them ask with impressed looks on their faces.

In case you’re wondering, I’m nowhere near 6 feet, honestly. But that’s how tall I feel right now.

How about you? How tall are you?

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