
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:
- 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.
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