Exactly a decade ago, Disney gifted us its Cinderella remake (2015)—a film with a stunning cast, beautifully crafted scenes, iconic glass slippers, and the unforgettable message that continues to echo through time: “Have courage and be kind.”
Ten years later, I revisit this story of love, transformation, and destiny, and I can’t help but wonder—how much do fairytales truly resemble real life?
The fairytale we all grew up with
We all grew up with Cinderella—the girl who, despite the cruelty of the world around her, remained gentle, noble, and full of hope. And of course, there was the moment we were taught to believe in from childhood—the prince would come, recognize her true worth, and change her life forever.
But what happens when the clock strikes midnight in reality?
The glass slipper vs real life
The glass slipper in Cinderella is perfect—delicate, fragile, and made only for her. But in reality? Finding shoes that fit perfectly on the first try is rare. Most of the time, we try them on, they pinch, they blister, or simply aren’t made for us.
The same goes for love.
The idea of “the one”—someone who will recognize us instantly without words—is beautiful, but often far from reality. True relationships take time, effort, compromise, and sometimes the courage to walk away when something doesn’t fit, no matter how attractive it looks from the outside.
No fairy godmother in real life
Cinderella had a fairy godmother who transformed her life in an instant. One “bibbidi-bobbidi-boo”, and she was no longer a servant but a princess.
In real life, there’s no magic wand. No one arrives overnight to make us successful, happy, and fulfilled.
But that doesn’t mean there’s no magic. On the contrary—the magic is within us.
It’s in the sleepless nights spent working on our dreams, in the small steps forward, in the risks we dare to take. We are our own fairy godmothers, shaping our destiny one choice at a time.
Kindness, boundaries, and lessons
In fairytales, characters are either good or evil. But in real life, people are complex. Cinderella was kind even to those who wronged her. Yet life teaches us something else too—that sometimes the wisest choice is to walk away from people who don’t wish us well.
Kindness is a virtue, but it doesn’t mean tolerating those who abuse it. Life teaches us to set boundaries. To forgive, but not to allow the same story to repeat itself.
Love beyond the ballroom
In the movie, Cinderella and the prince share one dance, lock eyes, and—happily ever after. But in life, love is not just one magical moment. It’s a collection of countless choices.
It’s not about whether someone chooses us, but whether both choose each other—day after day.
Happiness is not the “end” of a story. It lives in the small moments in between—in spontaneous laughter, in a glass of wine after a long day, in the choices we make for ourselves without waiting for someone else to save us.
The real magic
A decade later, Cinderella still symbolizes magic and hope. But the true fairytale? It isn’t about princes, balls, or glass slippers.
The real magic is knowing that you don’t need someone else to “fix” your story—you are the author of the most beautiful fairytale in your own life.
And if someone along the way recognizes your worth and chooses to walk beside you? Well, that’s simply a bonus.
Sincerely yours,
Lori