Celebrating Life
Daily Life
Encouragement
Social Responsibility

Healing Hug Guestbook

To send me your own Healing Hug story, email me by clicking on the mailbox graphic.

Webmaster's Bio
Meet Traute Klein, biogardener.

Stores on Being Special

Being Good Is Not Good Enough
I was special to my first inspector. He inspired me to excel as a teacher even though I was terrified of him.

I love Being Fat
Fat or skinny, you can be happy. Learn to love and please yourself. Never mind the rest of the world

More on Women Being Special

Love the Body You Were Born With: A Ten-Step Workbook for Women by Monica Dixon, M.S., R.D. Now greatly reduced in price at Barnes & Noble.

One Size Fits All and Other Fables: Audio Cassette by inspiring writer, speaker, humorist

Books for Women by Liz Curtis Higgs: If you have not met her yet, you will love her writing.

Historical Novels by Liz Curtis Higgs: Set in bonnie Scotland or in New England.

Humor Books by Liz Curtis Higgs: Even men will love this humor based on everyday living.

Liz Curtis Higgs has been writing since she was a little girl. She is in demand as inspirational speaker, workshop facilitator, humorist, and writer. Once you pick up a book of hers, you will not be able to put it down again.

I Love Being Short

by Traute Klein, biogardener

There are definite advantages to being short. Learn to be proud of who and what you are. In this article, I am giving myself permission to play Ann Landers.

Ann Landers Advice

Here is some real Ann Landers advice as published in the Winnipeg Free Press in January 2002.

Dear Ann Landers: I am 4 feet 10 inches tall and weigh 100 pounds. Of course, I look young for my age. Not a day passes without somebody commenting on how "tiny" I am. Worse yet are people who say, "How old are you? You look about 12."

For years, I have dismissed these remarks with a meek smile and silence. Now, I would love to have a snappy comeback for these rude morons. Could you supply one? — A Runt in Vermont

Dear Vermont (I refuse to call you "Runt." You've had enough of that.): Comments noting that a person is shorter, taller, heavier, or thinner than average are rude and almost always hurtful — even though they are accepted with silence or a lame smile. The best response is NO response — just a look that conveys the message, "You are an idiot," followed by a change of subject.

The Runt of the Litter

My sister had found the frightened kitten on the first day of slushy wet snow of the season. She felt sorry for the little pike, but since cats don't like her, she gave the kitten to my two-year-old as a present. That was a match made in heaven, because Miezi became Arno's constant companion. He named her by the only word he knew for cat, because Mieze is the German word for pussycat.

She purred her way into everyone's heart. Not even my father could resist her charms after having professed all his life that he did not care for cats. Her fur was always fluffed out because she was a Russian Blue, but even then she was still mistaken for a kitten at the ripe old age of 20. She was the tiniest cat who ever owned us. Even fully grown, she only weighed 6½ pounds. We figured that she must have been the runt of the litter.

Miezi never let her miniature size discourage her from protecting our property from visiting dogs. Even the much feared neighborhood Great Dane departed with a bloody nose never to return.

The Prussian Shortie

I was another runt of the litter. I did not know how short I was until I started school and, for phys ed, we lined up in order of size. Guess who was at the end of the line? That, however, did not keep me from being number one when it came to report card time. Size is not what matters in school. Being smart is.

When the Russian army invaded my homeland, other girls my age were raped. I was spared, because I looked so much younger than my actual age. My parents thanked God for having made me a shortie among Prussian giants and impressed on me how special I was.

As an adult, my women friends envied me, because I was able to fit into the pretty little sample dresses which I bought for a song at the end of each shopping season. As a teacher, I never let my size keep me from walking into the middle of a fight, separating boys twice my weight. No student ever hurt me. Male teachers would stand at a distance, convinced that the only reason I never got hurt was because I was too small for a target.

I love being short!

Feeling Loved and Respected

My husband looks down from his lofty heights and asks me, "How is the weather down there?" When I get a bit too brave for my size, he asks, "Do you know how little you are?" He affectionately calls me "Peanut, Shorty, and My Little One."

No one would ever think of making fun of my size. My purposeful manner of walking and one fist on my hip gain me all the respect I need.

My Response

Now let me impersonate Ann Landers. Here is my response to the letter from "Runt in Vermont:"

Dear Runt: Aren't you the lucky one. I bet a lot of people envy you. They have certainly been envying the runt who is answering your letter. Not everyone is as special as you and I are.

I have a standard answer for the people who ask me my age. I look them straight in the eye and tell them, "I was 99 and a half on my last birthday." You should see the look of incredulity which I receive in return. You see, a person who is not smart enough to know that you don't ask a lady her age is also not smart enough to know that I am having fun with my answer.

Look in the mirror and realize what a gift God gave you when he created you to be different. Then stand up tall, as tall as you dare to be, and tell yourself, "I am proud to be a runt, because it makes me special." — A Runt in Manitoba