I had something happen to me recently that really bothered me.
I'm not going to share the specifics with you,
but the reason this "Unpleasant Situation" happened is because I have "over-shared" my life on the internet since 1999.
It made me sad.
I have been sharing so many elements of my life for the past 17 years and I hate when anyone misunderstands why I do it.
I'd like to think I've been doing it for good reasons.
So while I'm feeling sorry for myself about this situation, I suddenly get a nice email out of the blue from someone I've never met before that says:
Seeing that made me happy.
It brought back some memories and reminded me of why I started doing this "Over-Sharing" thing in the first place.
I started blogging back in 1999 on the website:
I've explained in this video why I created my website:
I saw this nice email from Aaron and it reminded me of the "hay days" of my site's popularity.
Back in the early 2000's, I was adding funny pictures and videos to my site every week along with inspirational stories. jokes of the week, as well as pictures, videos, and stories about my family.
I used to get 1000 visitors a day to my site and would regularly get emails from all over the world on a wide variety of topics.
And I would get tons of nice emails. Tons and tons of nice emails.
After seeing Aaron's nice email, I decided to search back through the archives of my blogs and look at some nice emails from the past.
I found myself smiling and happy about the memories of these nice emails which inspired me to write this post. So here goes:
G'day Todd,
From a mom with a little guy who has different limbs:
I saw you on Miami Ink (great tattoo by the way!) and it made my heart sing because, I felt like you were representing my son and other children like him. I just want to thank you for that. I think you are amazing....not because you have a limb difference but, because of the man that you are.
-Amanda
just saw you get your tattoo on Miami Ink. I just wanted to write to say that you filled my heart with a lot of hope tonight. My daughter, now 14 months old, was born with the same arm anomalies you were born with ~ the radial club arm with 4 fingers and the hypo- plastic thumb on the other hand. I have never seen anyone, other than my daughter, with these anomalies and when I saw you on the tv I screamed for my husband to come and see. I've been so worried about her, what her future will be like, the surgeries she will have, her struggles, and tonight you showed me that she can have a beautiful life and do whatever she wants to do. Not that I didn't already know that, it was just nice to see someone else who survived the long and SHORT of it. So, I guess, thanks. Thanks for being you! And for sharing your story. My warmest wishes to you and your family, Linda
Hello, I saw you on Miami Ink and immediately checked out your site. You are such an inspiration and a wonderful role model! I have 7 year old twin boys; one was born perfectly normal, while the other has had serious health problems since birth, including a severe case of bi-lateral club foot. I can't wait for him to get up in the morning to see your site (I considered waking him up, but it is after 1am here). He will be so happy to see you and hear your story. He frequently asks me why God made him different. I always tell him that God had a plan when he made him the way he did, and some day he will figure out what the plan was. He will be so excited to hear you say the God just ran out of clay. It has been a long time since my son has been truly happy (he has been extremely sick lately) and I know you will bring a smile to his face. God bless you and your family and keep up the wonderful work with what you are doing!
Dana
hi short arm guy i am morgan fernandez i was watching miami ink and i saw the episode you were in i love the tattoo you got i was thinking of getting one just like that because you truly inspired me and i too am a fellow short arm citizen and we must all unite and stick together as a group. i think it was with your prayers and acknowledgements thank you very much i love you and my parents thank you too PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, it would mean so much to me and my family if you would kindly reply to this email message. yours truly,
morgan
If you found this post interesting and would like me to share more Nice Emails to a Short Arm Guy, please share this post on social media. Thanks! Todd Swank
I'm not going to share the specifics with you,
but the reason this "Unpleasant Situation" happened is because I have "over-shared" my life on the internet since 1999.
It made me sad.
I have been sharing so many elements of my life for the past 17 years and I hate when anyone misunderstands why I do it.
I'd like to think I've been doing it for good reasons.
But I guess in this day and age, some people find me too
"Controversial"!
So while I'm feeling sorry for myself about this situation, I suddenly get a nice email out of the blue from someone I've never met before that says:
You are such a help to me
I am disabled my self and I think you are very inspiring and your stand up is really funny thank you for that you have put such a smile on my face on the days when I am in such pain.
Again I thank you
Aaron
Seeing that made me happy.
It brought back some memories and reminded me of why I started doing this "Over-Sharing" thing in the first place.
I started blogging back in 1999 on the website:
I've explained in this video why I created my website:
I saw this nice email from Aaron and it reminded me of the "hay days" of my site's popularity.
Back in the early 2000's, I was adding funny pictures and videos to my site every week along with inspirational stories. jokes of the week, as well as pictures, videos, and stories about my family.
I used to get 1000 visitors a day to my site and would regularly get emails from all over the world on a wide variety of topics.
And I would get tons of nice emails. Tons and tons of nice emails.
After seeing Aaron's nice email, I decided to search back through the archives of my blogs and look at some nice emails from the past.
I found myself smiling and happy about the memories of these nice emails which inspired me to write this post. So here goes:
Nice Emails To A Shortarmguy
From May, 2007 --- http://www.shortarmguy.com/emailsmay07.htm
Hi Shortarmguy!
My name is Sian, and I'm currently studying
English Literature and Creative Writing in Bangor, Great Britain.
I would just like you to know that I have been
visiting your site every week for about three and a half years now, and every
time I do, I come away smiling. You seem to have a gift for cheering up
the entire world, and I for one, am grateful that you ignore all the stupid,
narrow-minded comments you receive about your site's content.
If you want something to throw back in
their faces, post this on your site.
I have been bullied my entire life about my
weight in every school I ever went to. Children picked on me because I had a
gap in my front teeth (Oh, how I hate Goofy), and I was mousy and bookish, and
not particularly outgoing. This carried on from the age of five well into my
late teens, and I was seriously down all the time. I didn't want to go to
school, or even interact with the outside world at all. My older brother
made my childhood a misery. He taunted me about my weight, made up lies about
me when we were younger, and was generally all around mean. Since he was a drop
out, and had put my parents through a lot of strife, I decided at a very early
age that I would do my best to be the sort of daughter they could be proud of.
I took GCSES, A-levels, and I'm now studying a degree. But somewhere along the
line, I buckled under the years of peer-abuse and pressure, and it
happened. Bulimia. Great, yeah?
I tried to toe the line for other people
my entire life, and now I'm a miserable, comfort-eating wreck.
I'm slowly getting back to some sort of
normality. I'm not very good at eating out, and some days I just lock myself in
my room and cry my eyes out because I've been conditioned by others
to hate the way that I look.
It's on those days that I usually visit
your site. Sometimes I watch the videos (I liked the little Budweiser
Clydesdale), or the funniest emails, but I think my favourites are the emails
that make me think. And somehow, I always feel better afterwards.
So, you people who oppose Shortarmguy:
Is it wrong for a man to harness the power of
laughter in any form so that he can make the entire world forget all their
troubles, even if only for a second?
Surely, God has bigger things on his mind
than a few "inappropriate" pictures on the internet?
And here's my contribution (I'm probably
going to Hell for reading Harry Potter anyway).
#1. The funniest Youtube video I've seen
in a long time.
and a picture of me, promoting the site!
Dear shortarmguy, what's up? I've been visiting your
web-site for about two years now and am finally getting ambitious enough to
write. I, also, have a disability (see pictures attached) but have never let it
slow me down. Much. I grew up with loving adoptive parents who never told me
not to participate in sports for fear of getting hurt. I started out playing
softball (Cub Scouts!!) then on to Little League baseball for a couple of
years. I gave up baseball after that because I wasn't fast enough to dodge a
fastball! lol
I moved into football later because that's
what kids do in Missouri (where I grew up), I also wrestled and played
basketball, a little. Although there's not much call for short, slow white guys
that can't jump. I also played tennis, golf, table tennis, power-lifting and
any other sport I could try. I still play golf (poorly) for fun, and table
tennis in tournaments.
That's me in the gray t-shirt. I also grew up with the
"looks" from other kids (still do) but have learned to deal with it.
At 51 years of age, it's about time!
I (like you) have a good sense of humor about
my disabilty and about life in general (after all, no ome gets out of it
alive!) and also have a very lovely and supportive wife and a large (my mom was
one of 12), close-knit family. I thouroughly enjoy your web-site and want you
to keep up the great work! Hope to hear back from you soon and Happy Father's
Day!
Sincerely, Steve Still (not the singer)
you know man. . . . you're totally inspirational. I saw you
on miami ink. good luck in getting famous!
Terra Lynne
This is Cody. His dad
tells me that he and I are like twins and he sent me several pictures of Cody
doing the Shortarmguy Pose!
Watch out, world! The
ShortArmPeople are going to rise up and take over!
Nice Emails of the Week
Hey
shortarmguy!
I wish there were more people like you were in the world! I admire the ways
you are able to take something that would be considered "disabling" to most people and make it into a source of strength and pride.
I wish there were more people like you were in the world! I admire the ways
you are able to take something that would be considered "disabling" to most people and make it into a source of strength and pride.
I check
your website every morning for updates and I am proud to say that it is the
highlight of my day! I myself, being a Minnesotan, love the way that you add
your satirical and humorous touch to the way we "Minne-snow-tans" are
viewed by others. I have a sense of pride to know that you are a fellow
Minnesotan. I have even sent links to your crazy e-mails to my all
friends to enjoy. You really are an inspiration to all!
I feel
silly admitting it, but I saw you once at a grocery store in Roseville (where I
live) and I was so star stuck that I couldn't even approach you. I whispered to
my husband as we left, "Oh my gosh, that was short arm guy!!!" I wish
I could have gotten a photo of us together or even a handshake, I'm sure you
would have been flattered, I know
I would have!!!
I would have!!!
I
remember the first time I encountered your site. It was
2new years eve's ago and I was sitting at home and was searching for a
particular photo of Ray Charles singing into a backwards microphone. Low and behold, I stumbled on your site.
2new years eve's ago and I was sitting at home and was searching for a
particular photo of Ray Charles singing into a backwards microphone. Low and behold, I stumbled on your site.
The
hilarity that ensued was priceless!
I
want to thank you for inspiring all that visit your site to remember that,
"handicapped is only a state of mind!"
Rachel
"handicapped is only a state of mind!"
Rachel
Hello
Todd
My
name is Santhush de Silva Mohotti and I live in Australia. I am glad you
liked the first email I sent you : ). Just like everyone else in the rest
of the world I have been visiting you web site for many years, but only now
decided to forward something to you : ). I will forward more stuff that
you may like in the future. I also would like to say that it is great to
see the happy and successful life you are leading and it is an inspiration to
me.
Take
care.
Bye
for now.
May 25,
2008
Hey, I
have been off line for a while. Now I am back and see you are still flawless.
Thanks for making me roll. David
I just watched the last
several weeks of Miami Ink and WOW was I inspired by you. Your experience
reminds us to be positive, and thankful, and to have fun. I love your
website and will be reading it all the time now. Thank you, so very, very
much, for spreading your story and being so extremely cool!
Cheers!!! Sheri
--
"We have so much more in common than what drives us apart." Sen. Barack Obama
--
"We have so much more in common than what drives us apart." Sen. Barack Obama
This email is from
a mom with a son who's endured quite a few challenges in life including having
hands that are similar to mine. This one really touched me:
But now to the reason I am e-mailing you. Now that Michael is
more 'aware' of things, he has also noticed that he is physically different
from other children. I think it really hit him when the kids in his class were
counting to ten, and like most kids; he uses his fingers...He was so upset and
couldn't verbally express what was going on, but he was at home and counting to
9 with his fingers and then would count to 10 with mine. I told him that God
could only make so many people who were special and not like everybody else...I
doubt that was the best thing to tell him... Last night my sister in law was
watching 'miami ink' and she called us right away to give us your website. I
showed him your pictures, he would look at your picture and then himself...He did
that several times, smiled but said nothing...today he pointed to the computer,
so I pulled up the website again, and he smiled...So I wanted to send you an
e-mail about my son and to thank you for not being afraid to share your story
with the world. It not mean much to some, but to see him smile and see somebody
who looks like him...Well it means the world to our little family. Thank You so
much for putting a smile on my son's face! I doubt I could ever thank you
enough! I guess he really needed to see that he wasn't alone and that it is
cool to be different...Now hopefully he won't be asking for a tattoo anytime
soon, this mommy isn't ready for that...ha ha!
Rachel
Rachel
Hi Shortarmguy,
I
like your site, especialy mpg. hahaha
If
you find time, please send me replay...
Greetings
from Poland
Coriin
I
love to read your story page about yourself.........You know you should write a
book.....you write very well...Your so correct about when people are trying to
make fun of you or teasing you that you have to turn it around back to them
.........
Hows it goin? I
found your site while looking for funny photos, and google landed me on your
site! Upon further browsing, I checked out your bio and your stand up act
(funny shit!), haha. Good shit, I especially loved the "silver cross"
incident in your bio!! Hahah, that would've been tops to watch - I love it when
the tables get suddenly and fatefully turned!!!!
You must get some seriously weird e-mails, hahaha.
You must get some seriously weird e-mails, hahaha.
Have a good one mate,
and thanks for the laugh!
Brook
(Sydney, Australia)
just saw you get your tattoo on Miami Ink. I just wanted to write to say that you filled my heart with a lot of hope tonight. My daughter, now 14 months old, was born with the same arm anomalies you were born with ~ the radial club arm with 4 fingers and the hypo- plastic thumb on the other hand. I have never seen anyone, other than my daughter, with these anomalies and when I saw you on the tv I screamed for my husband to come and see. I've been so worried about her, what her future will be like, the surgeries she will have, her struggles, and tonight you showed me that she can have a beautiful life and do whatever she wants to do. Not that I didn't already know that, it was just nice to see someone else who survived the long and SHORT of it. So, I guess, thanks. Thanks for being you! And for sharing your story. My warmest wishes to you and your family, Linda
Hello, I saw you on Miami Ink and immediately checked out your site. You are such an inspiration and a wonderful role model! I have 7 year old twin boys; one was born perfectly normal, while the other has had serious health problems since birth, including a severe case of bi-lateral club foot. I can't wait for him to get up in the morning to see your site (I considered waking him up, but it is after 1am here). He will be so happy to see you and hear your story. He frequently asks me why God made him different. I always tell him that God had a plan when he made him the way he did, and some day he will figure out what the plan was. He will be so excited to hear you say the God just ran out of clay. It has been a long time since my son has been truly happy (he has been extremely sick lately) and I know you will bring a smile to his face. God bless you and your family and keep up the wonderful work with what you are doing!
Dana
hi short arm guy i am morgan fernandez i was watching miami ink and i saw the episode you were in i love the tattoo you got i was thinking of getting one just like that because you truly inspired me and i too am a fellow short arm citizen and we must all unite and stick together as a group. i think it was with your prayers and acknowledgements thank you very much i love you and my parents thank you too PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, it would mean so much to me and my family if you would kindly reply to this email message. yours truly,
morgan
If you found this post interesting and would like me to share more Nice Emails to a Short Arm Guy, please share this post on social media. Thanks! Todd Swank
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