Poor old Cinderella was put through the mill wasn't she, with her Mum dying, and then her Dad. Leaving her as a young woman to live with her stepmother and step sisters. None of which were particularly nice people.
However, despite this, she comes out on top.
Whilst she was suffering and grieving, she was always kind to the people in her life. She did the chores without arguing back, she washed the clothes, she swept the chimneys. She took the abuse and tolerated the unkind words from the people she lived with. Not once did she kick off, argue, or run away.
To many, Cinderella seems such a weakling. She should have just got up and gone, right?
Probably; it might have helped her to grow and develop and find herself. It would certainly have changed her path and her future. Had she left, she may not have been the person that Prince Charming met, and fell in love with. She may not have become a princess.
However, in my opinion, Cinderella isn't weak at all. She is strong and courageous. She faces adversity head on and without complaint. How often do we moan about things? Cinderella never moaned. How easy is it to be horrible to someone who is nasty to you? How often do we get in arguments? Did my dear Cinders?
No. She did not.
In life, we will come across people who upset us, sometimes accidentally, and sometimes deliberately. People you trust, might turn against you. Those who you love can easily become enemies. People will lie to you in life. People will say nasty things, will laugh at you, and will hurt you. Unfortunately, that is part of human nature and the ability to choose.
There are, of course, people in the world who are kind. People who do care. People who love and support you. These people come in all shapes and sizes, and might not be who you expect. They might exist (as many of mine seem to do) in different time zones, they might be older or younger, they might be family, they might be colleagues, but they are there.
You will easily learn to tell the difference between those who do and those who do not, and as a youth worker, perhaps I need to learn to take my own advice on that one.
The way that you behave towards other people, builds up your personal brand and the way that others view you. If you upset someone, and they tell their friends about it, will you look good? Probably not. If you upset someone, and then apologise, then that shows strength in character.
Of course it is not as straight forward here about what other people think of you, but more the impression that you leave in people.
What is your personal legacy?
I'm not talking about who you choose to leave money to in your Will, but how you leave a person feeling. Feelings are very real, and powerful. We all have those interactions that leave us with good feelings, where we smile ear to ear and have butterflies in our tummies. We also have those feelings where someone has made you so upset that you feel sick, your tummy does flips and you can't help but cry. Which ones do you want to leave a person with?
It doesn't take much to smile at a stranger, have a chat with the shop assistant, say thank you to someone, or give a homeless person a hot chocolate. Our little actions can leave big impressions. These little actions can transform a persons day, or change their view of a whole group of people in society. It can restore faith in humanity.
Cinderella would be that person. She has her own "stuff" that she has been dealing with, but she is always kind.
So as you go about your daily lives, try to be more Cinderella than wicked step-mother. If someone is horrid to you, then smile. Turn the other cheek, and offer them a cup of tea.
Be the change you want to see in the world - Ghandi
