When your health needs a fairy godmother, learn from Cinderella’s terrible choices.
Cinderella, In brief….
Imprisoned and indoctrinated by a wicked stepmother and two jealous stepsisters Cinderella is enslaved to a life of rags, serving only the wishes of her estranged family.
In her moment of need a fairy godmother appears and magically transforms Cinderella’s reality into a dream come true. Under the godmothers spell she charms Charming at a magnificent ball …..but the dream must end. At midnight the dream becomes a memory and reality presents the wrath of her enraged stepmother and sisters. According to the synopsis the themes of the story are good versus evil and luck changing your life.
Luck will not change your life nor will a fairy godmother. Whether it’s ‘I’ want or ‘I’ need both requests contain I and Cinderella never knew who she was…..hence using her wish to raise questionable sexual politics.
The tale of Cinderella is recounted by the Greek geographer Strabo around 7 BC and known in different versions around the world. Regardless of date or country the theme remains the same; the lead character is under unjust oppression and triumphs over persecution by meeting her Prince. Oppression defined as the feeling of being heavily burdened, mentally or physically, by troubles, adverse conditions, anxiety.
An old story but the symptoms of oppression sound very modern. This is an ancient allegory for a modern times. The world changes and will presents moments of reflection which may illicit a needed change but unlike the fairy tale the transformation is not the point, it’s the time of reflection. To see who you really are and the real and tremendous value you have.
In each chapter of the story Cinderella’s value is given to her by the other characters. By her step mother and sisters then by that fucking Fairy godmother and Prince Charming. Honestly we should have known it - never trust the person calling themselves ‘Prince Charming’ it could well have been; ‘change your life in 6 weeks with this pill (finance options available)’. She trades one prison for another never knowing that the power of knowing oneself will liberate her from her conditioned confinement.
Most people fail to change because they don’t have the self-worth to set there own goals. How hard it is to needlessly fight someone else’s battle. I’ve written a short play staring you to demonstrate.
Title: Cinderella II
Cinderella is looking to change the fortunes of her health and wellbeing.
Cast and Crew
Cinderella ~ You
Conditioned out of life’s potential
Prince Charming ~ Short-term goals for others
Loose weight for him/new car/that dress/that promotion/that income
Fairy Godmother ~ Instant rewards
Sexual partners/money/alcohol/food/social media
Stepmother ~ Cultural conditioning
“I’m only an acceptable member of society if I……………
My role in life is……because I’m……”
StepSisters ~ Individual Conditioning
“I’m only worthy of love when…. serving parents, bosses, partners, children,
I’m not good at….I’m only ever going to be who I was in school……I accept circumstance”
Synopsis
Day 1.
Mondays 5am alarm; the rally cry to training. It’s time to vacate the low lit-warmth comfort of her cosy bedroom and enter into February’s wet and windy cold weather. How bad do you want that date with Prince Charming now?
Cinderella ~ “Well, the sisters aren't too bad and he’s not that good looking”.
Day 2.
But wait a minute! The Fairy God Mother has delivered new running gear and a gym membership.
Cinderella ~ “I’ll do 5 minutes on the runner”.
Day 3.
“It’s just as my Step Mother and Sisters said ‘I’m never going to be fit, I’ll just go to work and find something new to buy”
In summary……
As you contemplate a life change, whatever it is, define what success looks like and why you want it.
I read recently that people rise to the level that their self-esteem can absorb. I agree and my point is that Cinderella never knew her self-worth. It was circumstance which told her who she was and gave her value. If she realised and respected that before she wouldn’t be in a terrible marriage serving prince charming now.
So before judging your post-January endeavours think about Cinderella. She used her wish to go from one prison to another because she never saw her own value. Your wishes and choices are yours and only yours so don’t surrender your health and well-being to others. Be brave, be bold and stand up for yourself.
Unlike Cinderella look into your reflection long enough to know who you are and that’s where we start on your well-deserved journey to a fulfilled life and health; no fairy tale.
Change circumstance to serve a new perspective. A moment of freedom shouldn’t be exchanged for another sentence.