Are you Cinderella?

It is said that everyone loves a good Cinderella story. I feel like when I was raising my daughter many different versions of the film were released and we devoured all of them. Some are better than others, but a few remain etched in our minds and have become part of our story of growing together as mother and daughter. Today I share a new version of a Cinderella story. Most of us on this platform come to read articles that help us succeed in our working lives. Our careers or jobs consume the majority of our days and can treat us like loving fathers or entitled stepmothers.

Last year somehow the stars aligned and I landed my dream job. It was truly a dance with the prince at a beautiful ball, complete with a fairy godmother and a team of mice that became everything I needed to help my night be enchanted!!! My evening was perfect, my dress was gorgeous, my hair, and confidence made me unrecognizable. Especially to my stepmother and her daughters. You see, a few years earlier, in my own home, I was assigned demeaning tasks that somehow became who I was. I was treated as though I was a joke. Many times as I was cleaning up after someone else, I would hear from the game room, “Cinderella, if you wait until we finish this game we will come and help you”, this was followed by a hushed comment and loud laughter. The help never came, and the tasks became more lowly and more frequent. At times they would joke and say… “Oh, we left this for you because we know how much you like shoveling manure”.???

In our work lives we take on responsibilities and tasks that are beneath our worth. Many times manure needs to be shoveled and we do it because it is part of our job, it has to be done, but that is not what this story is about. When we choose to shovel manure because we want love and acceptance, or we believe it will help us climb higher, is when we forget who we really are. Hard work will only go so far without knowing who you are and what you are destined to become. If you are currently buried in manure and you have yet to attend your ball and meet your prince here is what I have learned from this fairy tale.?

Cinderella knew not only how to clean and sew, but she knew how to treat others the world deemed beneath her. She was friends with the mice and protected them from the cat. She grew the pumpkins in the field. She lived a cheerful life, where she sang, danced, and laughed… even when she was alone. She had acquired all the skills she needed to go to the ball, dance with the prince, and have him see what a beauty she was inside and out. She just needed the perfect opportunity.?

If the fairy godmother visited her on some random Tuesday night the story would be about a nice ride in a pumpkin-shaped carriage taking her to get tacos with some random guy. Timing is everything! The prince was looking for a wife, there was a ball designed just for this purpose. He planned on dancing with every girl at the ball just to be sure he did not overlook his match. Remember, he wanted a wife, a princess. He knew what he was looking for and he was not planning on settling for just anyone.??

In our quest for our match, are we willing to wait for the right moment? What are you doing while you wait? Do you sing?? Practice dancing by improving your people skills with those you are blessed to have in your life. Are you growing pumpkins?… What does that look like? Is it connections, skills, or education? How about cleaning? Is your resume dusty? Are you asking for help? Your fairy godmother is not going to come unless you ask for a miracle.?

You know you are better than the life you are living! Someone who really matters has taught you that you are worth it! This could be a dad, a teacher, a boss, or a friend or you could just be realizing it now reading this article. It doesn't matter where you receive your strength, what matters is you believe it. As with all fairy tales the magic is not real unless you believe.?

Now that you have grown some pumpkins, size, shape, color or age doesn't matter. These will be changed into a carriage anyway. Your little mice friends will be transformed into footmen and carriage drivers, they are still your friends and they will support your dreams even if things change. The outfit and the hair are just magic, so accept good things when they are handed to you. The carriage, the mice, and the outfit were changed to make you look more presentable, to show the world your beauty. But, the confidence to walk up the stairs and into a room full of people, who did not need magic to be accepted, was not magic- it was within you the whole time.?

In my personal journey to find my perfect match, I believed I was “less than”.? I am an old woman without any sort of degree or impressive resume, who shoveled manure for a living. I heard no, so I tended my pumpkins and took some courses, applied for jobs, and answered recruiters. I heard no again, this time I danced with my mice friends by reaching out to my connections. Another no, this time I cleaned the kitchen while singing a song of gratitude. Followed by no, no no, and no.?

In desperation, I closed my eyes and made a wish. I reached out to someone I did not know and asked for some help. Little did I know she was my fairy Godmother. She was someone I did not know. My wish was put into motion when I sent her a DM. She took her time to respond. When she did, to my surprise, she did not say no. She said that I would be a better fit for her co-worker, I assumed she was just being nice, so I moved on. I hated myself for “bothering” her, I regretted my bold move so many times. But, the truth was, the time was not right, the prince was not throwing a ball. More no’s happened. Then on one lovely night, her co-worker messaged me about working for him. I was going to the ball!! I danced all night with the prince and I forgot all about the no’s.?

However, like Cinderella my time at the ball was short, I had to leave even though I did not want to. The prince and his people wanted me to stay… but even magic has its limits. I am now back with my stepmother, and she has me on lockdown. This time instead of feeling “less than”, I know what I want, I know where I fit and I know that it does not involve any manure. I know finding the prince is all about timing, it is all about summoning your fairy Godmother, it is about caring for your mice friends and your pumpkin patch.?

I know I will return to the castle someday, I will lead my people with love and kindness, I will extend chances to those who shovel manure, and I will put on my royal boots to get in there with them. I may be old, without a degree and a random resume, but I know hard work. I have a cheerful attitude and I am willing to accept change. If you are sick of no’s or even worse no response. Please remember right now you need to get ready for the ball.? Going to an empty ballroom on a Tuesday in a beautiful dress might get you tacos, but you deserve a Prince! Wait for what you really want. Trust that the prince is looking for you as hard as you looking for him.?