CINDERELLA THE SURVIVOR
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Cinderella's
father didn’t remain single long. He remarried a cold, cruel woman who had two
daughters of her own. Then Cinderella’s father died.
Did
his new wife murder him? When I read this fairytale as a child, this thought
crossed my mind. With Cinderella’s father in a grave, Cinderella’s stepmother
gained control of the estate. Cinderella became vulnerable to the jealousy and
greed of her stepmother and two stepsisters.
Cinderella
grew to fear them as she experienced emotional and physical abuse by the evil
trio. Together, they bullied her. She was violently assaulted by her
stepsisters while her stepmother encouraged and laughed as they ripped the
pretty dress made by her mouse and sparrow friends into shreds – while she was
wearing it.
Cinderella was denied her heritage, humiliated,
and forced to become a servant in her own house. In the Disney version of the
tale, Cinderella had no power and no choice but to obey.
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Cinderella is often
depicted to be a frail and passive girl who waited to be rescued by a prince.
She didn’t stand up to her abusers by physically fighting back. Cinderella was
seen to cry and crumple into a defeated mess on a garden bench as she fought to
maintain her sanity in her heartbreaking situation.
Cinderella was a victim.
We tend to blame victims for their misfortunes. Why do we express unfair
prejudice against them? We need to believe that those who follow the rules are
protected from disaster and that justice is served to wrongdoers.
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While it is true that
some victims may be responsible for their hardships with unhealthy life
choices, innocent victims threaten our false sense of security. The idea that
bad luck can be random, striking anyone at any time, is a frightening thought,
so we panic and push the victim away so their troubles don’t become ours.
When her world seemed
hopeless, Cinderella’s day dreaming and dissociation became a powerful healing
journey into joy. She learned how to survive because she realized trivial
things have no real value next to the true friendships she shared with her
animal companions.
Cinderella grew an inner
strength from her creative mind, faced adversity head on, and masterminded a
plan on how to rescue herself. She chose kindness and optimism even though it
made her appear weak. She was brave enough to allow her true beauty to shine
when she chose to forgive the unforgivable: her stepmother and sisters.
She did these things
without the prince being involved.
Life can be heartbreaking
and dangerous. Circumstances can push us into a black abyss of despair and
hopelessness where we feel empty and broken.
Brokenness can be a gift
if we allow it to make us stronger and more capable of dealing with life and
change so we can grow as a person. Wounds in our soul let in the light and show
us where we need to transform into something truly beautiful. Brokenness allows
us to empathize with others who are experiencing some of the pain we have
walked through.
A few of us seem to slip
through life with a fairy godmother at their side at every turn of their lives
and believe, “nothing bad could ever happen to me.” Most of us have obstacles
to tackle. Some are devastatingly unfair while others are tedious and
wearisome. We have our version of evil witches and villains with which we must
contend.
I experienced the murder
of my disabled son and I was accused of the crime. My civil rights were denied
when my daughter was taken from me. I wanted to end the pain by ending my life.
I was empty inside. As I curled into a fetal ball I reached outside of myself
and realized my surviving child needed me to stay alive. She became my purpose
and I learned to stand up and fight to expose the abuse, the truth and the lies
- and seek justice for my children.
My passion is getting the
message out that no matter how awful, heinous, shocking, and monstrous,
something good can come out of an event or series of events that are wretched
and horrible.
Cinderella didn’t strive
to be the prettiest girl in the ballroom. She was happy with a handmade gown,
but she ended up wearing an enchanted one – plus magically delicate glass
slippers. She never became bitter, developed a sense of entitlement for all the
wrong she had survived, or sought to get even with her wicked relatives. We
identify with her because she never allowed the abuse she suffered to wreck her
joyful outlook on life.
Disney fairy-tale movies
typically have blissful endings, but that's not always realistic. Not every
person experiences a happily ever after. Not every orphan becomes a princess
and rides off into never, never land on the back of a white horse with a prince
and his crown.
After I share the
complexities and tribulations of my life, or after people finish reading my
book, From Miracle to Murder: Justice for Adam, some are disappointed in
how I wrapped things up. Somehow, they expected an ending out of a princess
Disney movie. They forget how Cinderella forged her own future with her courage
and attitude. Nightmares and PTSD will always haunt me, most members of my
misogynistic Message cult family continue to regard me as a heretic, I didn’t
become a princess, and my prince didn’t ride up on a charging white
horse.
He rode up on an
obnoxiously loud custom Heritage Harley. I bought my own 1200 cc Screaming
Eagle Sportster and joined him. Cinderella had her sparkly dress and tiara but
black boots, a red bustier and tight jeans became my statement of
feminine independence and power.
For more stories on how to stop child abuse:
https://www.aslongasibreathe.com/2019/10/stop-child-abuse-why-choose-to-not-abuse.html
For more stories on how to stop child abuse:
https://www.aslongasibreathe.com/2019/10/stop-child-abuse-why-choose-to-not-abuse.html
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As Long As I Breathe is
dedicated to:
survivors of emotional, physical, spiritual, or sexual abuse,
those who have had to bury a murdered child,
former members of a religious cult with a culture of misogyny,
children born with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome,
and anyone who was falsely accused of a crime.
********
Joyce A Lefler is a true crime survivor and the author of
From Miracle to Murder: Justice For
Adam.
She is a facilitator for Parents of Murdered Children,
a bereavement counselor, registered nurse,
and an advocate against abuse.
Connect with her:
Website:
Facebook:
Advocacy
project:
Amazon:
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I would love to hear from you. If you have lost a child, if you have been falsely accused, If you are presently in or have recently escaped a controlling misogynistic relationship or religious cult, if you are being abused, you are not alone. I would love to hear from you. Please leave your e-mail address and share your story. Courteous, constructive comments are welcome. All will be monitored before publishing.