Respect

“I really don’t like it when someone assumes I’m not capable of doing certain things because of my age”

She’s 72, and as a woman of a certain age, she sometimes feels as if people underestimate her, talk down to her, dismiss her, don’t consider her strong, or judge her based on preconceived - and often wrong - notions of what a woman of that age or generation must be capable of. 

The feature might be new for Tinder, but it's already part of other dating apps, like Hinge and Bumble, which have long offered for paying users. Tinder has recently added a height filter feature that allows a prospective suitor to by-pass men who are shorter, as they are often - underestimated, talked down to her, dismissed, aren’t considered strong, or are judged based on preconceived - and often wrong - notions of what a man of a certain height must be capable of. 

People living with disabilities, especially physical ones that people can easily see or observe, are also often underestimated, talked down to, dismissed, aren’t considered strong, or judged based on preconceived - and often wrong - notions of what people living with disabilities must be capable of. 

We could go on and on about any number of people and their circumstances, who often feel as if they aren’t taken seriously or considered good enough within our cultures.

Essentially, they are not often well–respected based on age or physical attributes that are outside what has traditionally been considered the “norm”.  

But, let’s take a closer, deeper look:

At 72, she’s, in part, an avid fly fisher, a doting grandmother, a master gardener, a trainer and instructor at a nature preserve, a speaker, and a Civil War buff. She contributes to the well-being of young minds and of persons who are older. She is active and vibrant and can be a fierce ally when her values are threatened. She is the matriarch of a diverse and eclectic family, who respects and treasures her very much. And she’s not adverse to taking a shot of bourbon to have some fun and to celebrate with friends. 

Well-respected and successful famous men who were shorter than an ideal - six feet - that many people regardless of gender considered best, were:

World leaders - French general and statesman Napoleon Bonaparte, 5'6", Statesman and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Winston Churchill, 5'6", Military Commander and former King of Macedonia Alexander the Great, 5'6", U. S. President and framer of it’s Constitution James Madison, 5'4", and Indian lawyer and political ethicist Mahatma Gandhi, 5'4";

Actors and entertainers - Tom Cruise, 5’7”, Tom Holland, 5’7, Al Pacino, 5’6”, Michael J. Fox 5’4, and Kevin Hart, 5’2; 

Athletes - racing’s Jeff Gordon, 5’8”, martial arts’ Bruce Lee, 5’8”, baseball’s Yogi Berra, 5’7”, tennis’ tennis Rod Laver 5’8”, and soccer’s Lionel Messi 5’7”.

Acclaimed actors Marlee Matlin, Ali Stroker, and Marissa Bode all created   ground-breaking status with their phenomenal artistry.

Marlee Matlin, also an activist and author, who is deaf since she was 18 months old, won an Academy Award for Best Actress in a motion picture and a Golden Globe Award, in addition to nominations for a British Academy Film Award for her movie debut in Children of a Lesser God, at age 20. She’s also won four Primetime Emmy Awards, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Ali Stroker is the first actor who uses a wheelchair to appear on a Broadway stage, and also the first to be nominated for and win a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a musical. She lost her ability to walk in a car accident at age two. She won her Tony for her role as flirtatious and fun-loving Ado Annie, in the revival of the classic Oklahoma, in 2019, who’s most famous song is I Cain’t Say No. She stole the show with every performance!                                                                                                    Marissa Bode, made her screen debut in 2024’s Wicked, the highest grossing movie musical of all time, bringing in $756,535,681. She also is in 2025’s sequel, Wicked: For Good. She made history for being the first wheelchair user to play the character. She is proud to represent both a person with a disability and a person of color in that role. She was nominated for several awards for her portrayal.

Each of these persons - who live or lived with circumstances that were considered to be less than desirable or good - all prove or have proven that despite their undesirable characteristics, they are deserving of respect. Despite how many in our cultures looked down at them, overlooked them, underestimated them, did not even consider them, or thought less of them, they proved that they have worth, incredible gifts, and value as human beings, just as they are. 

Someone To Tell It To sees people as persons of sacred worth, promise, and dignity because they are human beings created to bring something special and needed to this world. We are all here to be part of the fabric of what makes this world a place of wonder, beauty, and love.

Can we all strive to respect everyone we meet as someone who has something sacred and special to offer, no matter their age or their physical characteristics? Or because of any of the other multitudes of “differences” that we can so often and too often use to keep others down?

We believe that when you know a person’s story, their dreams, their hopes, their desires, it is much easier to love them and to see the potential in them - that leads to great leaders, athletes, artists, teachers, and so much more. 

Seeing the potential starts with us and the respect we give to one another, simply because they are human beings just like us. With the same needs, the same potential for good as we possess, too.