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Have Courage and Always Be Kind and 7 Other Lessons Cinderella Teaches Us

As I watched the movie with my young daughters, I felt that this Cinderella was a good role model for us all. She taught us eight lessons on how to live happily ever after.
Freelance Writer/Midlife Ponderer
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Nice glass slipper on dark blue background with free space for text
Nice glass slipper on dark blue background with free space for text

This time of year, as the weather gets colder, all I want to do is cuddle with my two daughters under a blanket and watch movies all day. We were thrilled when last week we were able to watch on TV one of our favorite movies, Cinderella, starring Lila James as Ella and Cate Blanchett as the evil step mother.

In this modern day Cinderella the message is so different from every other Cinderella remake (with my daughters help we came up with 12) that has ever been done in the past, that makes this one so refreshing and relevant.

I don't need to tell you about this happily-ever-after story that so many of our generation grew up on, thanks to Walt Disney. The animated version came out in 1950 and although I always dreamed of wearing glass slippers and having Prince Charming come and sweep me away I never could relate to how helpless and daft that animated Cinderella was!

Today's version is more of a young woman whose naiveté is far more sweet when accompanied by her steely presence.

As I watched the movie with my young daughters, I felt that this Cinderella was a good role model for us all. She taught us eight lessons on how to live happily ever after:

  1. Have courage and always be kind. These were the last words that Ella's (Cinder-Ella) mother's shared with her before she dies. Although there were times where it was difficult to do so, Ella honored her mother's wishes. She showed us when you live your life with courage and kindness, life will be good to you.

  • Don't give away your power to anyone. No matter how mean people can be, don't let them make you feel like you are not worthy or a bad person. You have the choice to let people change how you feel about yourself or not. Don't let them tell you differently who you are.

  • No matter how bad things get stay true to yourself. Sometimes life takes you to unhappy places or situations, but you do not need to have that define who you are. No matter how bad it may seem, don't let your current situation drag you down.

  • There is always something to sing about. Even when things are tough in life it does not mean that there is no hope. Keep your spirit up and yes, singing does help.

  • There is nothing wrong with believing in a bit of magic. Maybe there is no such thing as a fairy godmother turning pumpkins into carriages or mice into horses, but there are unexplainable good things that happen in life. Don't ask why or how. Just quietly give thanks and embrace them.

  • You reap what you sow. If you do good things to others, good things will happen to you. If you do mean things to others, mean things will happen to you. Enough said.

  • Practice forgiveness. Holding onto grudges, anger and wanting revenge festers in one's soul. If you never let go of these negatives thoughts and feelings you will never be able to live the rest of your life living happily ever after.

  • Happily ever after is possible. It does not, however, come from a Prince Charming. It comes from within. Living your life with grace and dignity, never compromising with what feels right, and trusting who you are, are the secrets to living a joyous life.

    • What a sweet way to spend the afternoon with my girls. And a wonderful way to remind us all how to live a full, happy life.

    Note: I originally wrote a version of this post for Boomeon

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