Sometimes it really surprises even me just how common the desire to become taller is, even among the best, most talented, most accomplished, and most beautiful humans on earth. I had written about the fact that the immensely popular, international Korean singer Boa had expressed constantly her regret in not drinking enough milk when she was younger and desiring to be taller in the post “Korean Singer Boa Is Dissatisfied Over Her Height”. I was reading the news on CNN and the story of this olympic medalist japanese figure skater named Daisuke Takahashi appeared which got me interested. It seems that for this Japanese young male, he really cares about how he looks and seems to have some type of insecurity over how he looks compared to other people, even after all he has accomplished.

I will be only taking a small section of the full article to show where he talks about his desire to become taller.

CNN Article: Daisuke Takahashi: Japan’s golden boy on the importance of being ‘gorgeous’

Despite his success — he also won silver at last year’s worlds — the 27-year-old admits he still looks up to his rivals.

“I never thought I have anything special. I’ve always thought about what I don’t have compared to other skaters,” he says.

“I tend to think like other skaters get more applause than I do. I constantly think about ways I can level up, and I’m often jealous of other skaters,” he adds, laughing. “When I see someone’s cool performance, it makes me want to be like them, and that’s what motivates me.”

A big part of figure skating is the outfits — often elaborate lycra creations that might otherwise seem more at home in a musical stage show.

“I don’t have long legs and arms, and I am … short,” quips Takahashi. “So I want something that makes me look taller and with longer legs and arms.

“I want something will make me a bit bigger, and so something with flaps that give my arms a little flow.”

I guess the thing to really understand is that maybe this desire to become taller is something that people wish for because they are constantly comparing themselves to other people and go through cycles of feeling inadequate, unattractive, jealousy, and competitiveness.

This innate desire to always be comparing ourselves to other humans to see who is better off, in terms of all the measurable (and non measurable) qualities that make life better may be something that can not be turned off. Insecurity runs in almost everyone expect the most secure people with the highest levels of self esteem. Maybe the reason why we all seem to want to be taller is because we can’t fully accept ourselves with who we are and when we look at our naked bodies in the mirror, we feel only disappoint.

However, would being taller solve all of our self esteem issues? If we did find an alternative solution to become taller than through limb lengthening surgery, and we had the procedure done to us to make us into the height we desired, would that stop our madness to want to improve ourselves and keep growing (figuratively)?

I don’t know what Daisuke Takahashi is thinking in his head, and can only guess at the possible reasons on why he wishes for his limbs to be longer. He says that with having longer limbs he would be better looking. All I wanted to say is that this young man who is loved by his nation and admired throughout the world still wishes to become better looking by being taller.

I guess height is something that will always be valued and strived for.