Cinderella, Not!
Draped in silk and lace stitch with pearls, moving down the aisle in practiced steps, the whole kingdom was watching her - her! Cinderella. They watched in shock and awe.
It was not the kind of attention to which she was accustomed. She was uncomfortable. The dress was heavy, the fabric itchy and the damn glass slippers! What was her fairy god mother thinking!
The pinching of her toes and the tightness of her breath under the tension of the corset brought back to the aisle, the practiced steps and the heavy stares of a kingdom.
She began to sweat. She could feel the beads dripping under her arms. “What if they see, what if I stain the silk? What if…?”
Really!? A voice in her head called out - THIS is what you signing up for? This is the rest of your life? A dream come true? To be told what to do? To be so high on pedestal you can’t pick your own clothes? When did your life become about someone else?
Step, step. He is handsome. But this wasn't love, this was duty. In that same moment she felt the corset tighten, she felt unstable in the slippers…
What happens to me? This ending is not mine, it’s his. I need to find me. She tried to calm her nerves with a list of her favorite things, and then couldn’t think of them. She became aware of the young girls watching her, putting her on that pedestal. She knew her duty was not to him, it was them, to her. To the little girl who still wants to know who she is. She stopped marching, kicked off the slippers, handed her cascading bouquet to a young boy with this message, “Tell the prince I am more than slippers and tiaras. He will need to work a little harder if he wants to marry me. “
With that, She turned and walked down the aisle to the beat of her own drum.
Once home, she took a deep breath, no longer suppressed by the tension of corset or the stares of the kingdom. A knock at the door, she knew it was him. Now, it was her decision. She decided to take her time.
She decided she wanted know who she is before she gives herself away.
The Beginning
I wrote this in response to a prompt about rewriting an ending. I couldn’t resist a modern f/u to the classic female defining fairy tale.
I am not saying you should leave your fiancee at the alter - that's not what this is about.
This is about commitment. Your first commitment should always be to you! If it’s not, you give little pieces of yourself away until you’ve forgotten who you are and have nothing left to give.
When you commit to yourself first, you will show up strong, lovable and with healthy boundaries. This is when you become more available to those you love in a way that’s healthy and genuine.
When you commit to yourself first, you learn to set boundaries that lay the foundation for positive relationships, opening the door to wholehearted joy.
When you commit to yourself first, you become a role model of self acceptance for the kids and young adults in your life.
This is not about rejecting others. It's about accepting yourself!
Your journey is different than anyone else’s! Book a call and and discover the next step to finding you!