Jul 11
18
Are We All Princesses?
Well, this past week I watched “The Princess Diaries” with one of my daughters. As I watched, I noted how difficult a time the main character, Mia, had accepting that she was, indeed, a princess. While watching this, I also recalled a comment made by a mother of two daughters; she shared with me that she was trying to help keep her daughters grounded in reality by teaching them not to be expecting a prince or feeling like they needed to be in fancy dresses with updos and jewelry. As I puzzled between the dichotomy of a real princess coming to grips with her “reality” and grounding our children in the fact that royalty does not equal reality, I had some thoughts…. (And let me please first clarify that the princesses to whom I am referring are not the shallow, let-me-check-my-hair-before-my-knight-in-shining-armor-comes-to-rescue-me kind of princesses; I’m talking about the women who are empowered by who they are and who act with purpose and thought in whatever circumstances they may be placed.)
First, I uphold the statement that each person born to earth has the capacity, ability, and opportunity to live an exemplary life. I do not believe that the circumstances under which one is born dictate his or her life schedule or choices; one can choose attitude and action to live with courtesy, manners, and poise in any situation.
Second, how one views oneself can be either empowering or debilitating. Thankfully, for those of us who have a negative rating on a scale of 1-10 regarding self-esteem, I share this message: WE CAN CHANGE OUR SELF-TALK TO CHANGE OUR PERSPECTIVE!!!! I promise. It works. So, try it. Look in the mirror. Really look at yourself. Look until your realize what many of the people in your life already know–you are amazing. Don’t discount it. You really are amazing. I said so. And if you dispute, you’re calling me a liar. And I don’t take too kindly to labels like that.
Third, stand up straight. You can do it. Roll your shoulders back. Hold your head high. (Just a tidbit of info here: predators look for and target people who look down, who don’t make eye contact, who slump, etc…just fyi). So, for your health and mine, STAND TALL. (You are amazing, remember?) Look others in the eye. You can do it. 
When I had several years of voice instruction during my college education, one of the first aspects of singing my instructor taught me was to stand tall. This assignment was difficult for me as I already (yes, even slumping) stood a head over most of my female (and many of my male, for that matter) friends. Well, I worked on it. (And, I’m about six feet tall, so if I can do it, you can, too!) Guess what?!?!?!?!?!? I now love standing tall, feeling confident, and holding my head high! (…and I even wear heels now, so I can stand a little taller!!)
So–is the reality that we are all really princesses? I’ll let you answer that question for yourself….
