Growing up, there were two things I excelled at: reading and writing. I don't know what other kids my age used to do with their free time or their pocket money, but I spent most of my money on books and most of my time reading and writing. I was fascinated by fairytales and they made me daydream.
Time passed and I grew up. My dreams became more earthy and so did I. I studied journalism because I was good at writing but I didn't like to venture into a career in the same field. I didn't want to report on news and disasters, let alone chasing shallow politicians and hunting them down for an interview. I despised politics and I still do. I preferred series to news. I was influenced by a TV series called "Sex & the City" that I replayed over and over again. I used to identify myself with one of the characters: Carrie Bradshaw, a famous columnist who also wrote a book. Just like Bradshaw, I aspired to be a writer. But that was just a fatuous dream; who still reads book nowadays? who needs books when we’re busy with countless enlightening apps such as Facebook, Instagram, whatsup and Snapchat? And more importantly, what am I going to write about. I led a very normal life that can be almost described as mundane. Of course it was! Because apparently, I was comparing it to all the fairytales that I've read during my childhood!
As I recounted my childhood fairytales, I couldn’t but notice how deceiving these stories were when compared to real life. No one prepared me for deception, cruelty, and all the burdens of life. And so I made up my mind and I’ve decided to write a children book... Or more specifically, a counter fairytale. A story that gives kids a blunt dose of real life. A story that teaches them the following lessons about life:
1- Life is not a fairytale and is very far from being one. Life is hard. It involves great responsibilities that go beyond dressing up and dancing at balls.
2- Happily ever after does not exist. Happiness is ephemeral. The choices you make in your 20s are very different from the ones you will make in your 40s.
3- You aren't a princess unless you were born in a royal family even if your father persuaded you that you were one. Growing up thinking you're a princess will only lead to disappointments. No one will treat you like one. Some other ladies have been working on sabotaging your dream through advocating for women emancipation and equal rights. So expect that in real life, you will need to find a job, wake up early, go to work, pay your bills, raise your children because no one will do it for you, not even your father.
4- If you want to change your life, you have to get up and do it yourself. Forget about magic wands and fairies.
5- The world is full of dwarves but most aren't as nice as they seem. Very few people will support you and a lot of people will deceive you. Trust no one.
6- Divorce and second marriages are common things. Stepmothers and stepsisters aren't necessarily evil. If you parents aren't getting along well, they have all the right to be happy apart. (See happily ever after)
7- You don’t need a mirror to tell you that you are beautiful. Never seek anyone's validation. Validation comes from within. If you want to be beautiful, be beautiful for your own self.
8- People don’t change, a beast will always be a beast, a frog will always be a frog.
9- Having the right shoe size doesn't necessarily mean that you've found the right man. If the shoe fits, chances are that they're not comfortable to walk with. Some shoes aren't made for walking.
10- Don't pretend to be someone else. Be real. The car you drive does not define you. Sometimes a pumpkin carriage will take you farther than a Maserati.
11- You will have sleepless nights. But when you finally fall asleep, I am sure you wouldn’t want to be woken up not even with a kiss from a random prince.
12- Apples do not put you in a coma. Heroin probably does.
13- Not everyone is jealous of you... Chill.
14- It's ok to kiss someone and not end up marrying him.
15- If you were treated unfairly and cruelly, defend yourself. Nice doesn’t breed nice. People are wolves not sheep.
16- Happy endings only exist in movies and books... And alternatively in cheap massage shops.
