Happiness and the Glass Slippers

As a young girl I dreamed of the grown-up life I would live. My frame of reference was mainly from the strong imagery of fairy tales: princesses, being twirled around in beautiful gowns at lavish parties by the handsome prince (who, by the way, always took care of everything, all the time).

Meet the average woman in the year 2006, and she will tell you how well her family is doing; she will boast about children’s accomplishments at school and her son’s new job; she will tell you about her husband’s career and his new promotion. She will go on about all that she is doing in her community, her work, and how well the organizations are thriving; she will tell you about the family vacation, her parents, and even the dog.

What she doesn’t tell you is she is secretly ready to explode, with the feeling of being overwhelmed, unhappy and out of sync, she can’t catch up. She will tell you she is tired, and stressed, she has no time, and that things are crazy… and crazy has become the norm. What happened to the life she was promised in the fairy tales?

Women today are doing more than ever: we are expected to know it all, carry it all on our shoulders, and shine and look beautiful through every waking moment. Be strong, be healthy, be educated, be the right size and shape; (the right size and shape as determined by Hollywood). Never let them see you sweat, (let alone with a chipped nail or without your lipstick on), carry the right purse, drive the right vehicle, think two steps ahead of everyone at all times. Be creative enough to pull off a dinner party at the last moment with Martha Stewart-like décor and put on a Julia Child-like culinary feast.

Break the glass ceiling, lead, and mentor; own your own business, balance soccer practice, dental appointments, the vet, and the household bills. Deal with multiple sets of aging parents, lack of job security, and work all the time either to prove your worth or for mere financial survival.

Worry about terrorism, floods, failing grades, college funds, the mortgage, retirement, mold, various cancers, gingivitis, and incontinence.

Women are treading on dangerous ground in their Cinderella glass slippers. We are being successful, but at what price? We must learn to take care of ourselves in all aspects of our lives; Mentally, Physically, Socially, Spiritually, and Financially. This has to happen as a part of everyday lives; we must learn to first understand what kind of real life we want to lead, learn to balance what we have, and set reasonable goals for achieving a sense of accomplishment—not perfection. In business and in life we achieve what we focus on. If we are overwhelmed, unhappy, tired, and or stressed-out, we are not focusing enough on our core selves.

Here’s an exercise for you: Think forward to the woman you will be in 2040. Picture her; is she happy and smiling? Imagine that she is describing her life to you; what will it take for her to say “I did what I set out to do; I danced at the ball and it was lovely!”