What Cinderella taught me!

There’s just something about Cinderella that makes her my favorite princess. Before I start my article, let me summarize the story for you:

Cinderella is a folk fairytale that has seen many transformations--from being a story to an animated film to movies as well. Cinderella, the protagonist, is a gentle and soft-hearted princess who is ill-treated by her stepmother and two stepsisters. Despite being a princess, her position in the house is akin to a maid’s.

Once, she learns about a ball in the King’s palace to which everyone is invited. Her stepmother does not let her to go. Cinderella starts weeping. Just then, a fairy godmother appears and transforms Cinderella--with a beautiful dress and glass slippers.

She attends the ball, dances with the prince and they fall in love. However, she must be home by midnight; so she rushes off, and in the hurry, her glass slipper is left behind on the stairs of the palace.

Madly in love with Cinderella, the prince starts to search for the girl whose foot would perfectly fit into the slipper. He successfully finds Cinderella and they get married and, as in every other fairy tale, live happily ever after.

If you ask anyone the moral of the story, the answer will perhaps be: ‘Good things happen to good people.’ But, ask yourself if that’s true. Indeed Cinderella was good, but good things didn’t just happen to her.   

Despite being a fictional character, Cinderella teaches significant lessons of life. I grab the liberty of sharing eight things that I learned from Cinderella: 

#1 - Lying is not always wrong:

 When Cinderella’s stepmother asks her “if she was the mysterious girl who was there at the ball”, she denies. Honesty is surely the best policy, but sometimes, it is alright to be dishonest. Don't fret about it ‘...because the person who says he has never told a lie has just told one’.

# 2 - 'What to wear' is an age-old problem:

 People always talk about the ‘inner beauty’ of a person more than ‘good looks’. To be frank, all of us get attracted to someone who is physically appealing. We like people who are well-dressed, don’t we?

Turning the wardrobe inside out or shopping for hours to get that perfect outfit for a wedding is not what girls do nowadays.

Even Cinderella was cautious about her attire. When fairy god mother tells her “Don’t cry, Cinderella! I will send you to the ball!”, the first thing Cinderella thinks about is 'what to wear'. She says, '“I don’t have a gown to wear for the ball!”

The fairy godmother waves her magic wand and changes Cinderella’s old clothes into a beautiful new gown!

Imagine if she had gone to the ball with her old rugged clothes, would the prince have fallen in love with her at first sight? Looking good and wearing expensive clothes is no crime. After all, ‘you never get a second chance to make the first impression’. 

#3 - Stand up for yourself:  

After a long day of hard work, Cinderella still finds the courage to say, "I may be treated like a housemaid, but I deserve to go to the royal ball, too!" 

We girls are always taught that, one day, our knight-in-shining-armour will come to our rescue. Cinderella is her own knight and standing up for herself was the finest armour she had. Although she was a princess by birth, she had to stand up for herself to get what she deserved.

So what are you waiting for? Stand up for what you want. Nothing in life comes served hot on a platter--not even for princesses! 

#4 - Get over the ‘Prince Charming’ obsession:

We don't always need to worry about our future or the person whom we are going to spend our life with. Cinderella never wanted a ‘prince charming’ when she went to the ball. She just wanted to skip her daily chores and enjoy an evening.

Don’t stress about finding your prince charming; he will come at the ‘right time’. Follow your heart and focus on your happiness

Lady Gaga once said, “Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams. If you’re wondering which way to go, remember that your career will never wake up and tell you that it doesn’t love you anymore.” 

 #5 - Being nice to others is not always warranted:

 Cinderella always obeyed her stepmother and sisters, no matter how badly they treated her. But one day, she realised that being nice to herself is more important than being nice to others.

 If people are not nice to you, at least be nice to yourself.

 #6 - Love at first sight exists:

 A night out and dancing with a stranger isn’t as bad as they show in Crime Patrol or Savdhan India. Not all men are drunk dancers or morons. Love at first sight exists.

When Cinderella danced with the prince, she didn’t think he would come searching or that they would get married. She was just enjoying the moment.

 # 7 - Never Stop Dreaming:

There's a reason why Disney's motto for Cinderella is "Dare to Dream" and why the animated movie is anchored on the song A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes. She trusts her circumstances can change, and thus doesn't give up on her dreams.

No matter how small or big your dream is, work towards it. Remember, Cinderella was treated like a maid once, but she became the royal princess.

“Dream is not the thing you see in sleep but is that thing that doesn't let you sleep,” said former president APJ Abdul Kalam 

#8 - Most importantly, Cinderella teaches one never to look back:

 If something’s gone, let it go. If it’s meant to be, it will definitely come back to you.

Had Cinderella turned around and picked up her sandal, she would have never gotten prince charming!

Note: Neither the author nor SHEROES claims copyright to any lines from the Cinderella story. Also image not our own