The Stories I Believed As A Child — LOH#300.

While growing up, it was the tale of Cinderella for me. I didn't just hear of the tale; I read it and also watched the cartoon back then. I can't really pinpoint what made it stand out for me, because there are a lot of tales I heard and read back then. Maybe it was because of how a person could be treated so badly and still choose to be kind despite all.

I can't help but imagine it all, the glass slippers, the fairy godmother, the ball, Cinderella herself, and all of that. I'd think if I were kind enough and chose not to be bitter no matter what life threw at me, then one day life would definitely reward me in a magical way.

With time, I began to realize that life isn't that way, no magic is coming to change anything overnight, and that there's no fairy godmother anywhere. But then, I do not regret watching, reading, and hearing that story of Cinderella. It actually taught me to always remain hopeful even when life and everything don't look like it, to keep my hopes alive, and to never judge people either by their appearance or their situation.

I don't believe in magic anymore. I believed it back then, though. But one thing I still believe in is the message the tale passed. Kindness is good; kindness can open doors you didn't even knock on, kindness is powerful, kindness gives peace of mind, and that for me is enough of a happy ending any fairytale could give.

And about this second topic too, a lot of things actually come to mind. But then, one seems to stand out, maybe because it now looks funny now that I think about it.

Well, it is that you shouldn't ever swallow chewing gum; if you do, it will make sure to live inside your stomach for seven good years. Some even say it will glue your intestines together too. Well, I never questioned it back then; I'd just try to not swallow gum. If a friend mistakenly swallowed it, I would just pity them as they ran home; to me, they've made a very terrible mistake.

It was later I found out it was just a story told to kids to stop them from swallowing gum. Although chewing gum is not meant to be swallowed, when you swallow it by mistake, it won't stay in the stomach for years, just like everything else that goes in there and our body cannot digest; the same way it also goes through the digestive system.

It's a little funny, because I still can't help but smile as I write this. Kids most times believe and accept whatever is being told to them by adults without asking any questions. And just like me, when they become she, they learn and find out that not everything we were told while growing up is true. Even though adults would always say it confidently.

Now, I've grown into a very curious adult. I ask a lot of questions, I read a lot, and I try to fact-check a thing before believing it. In life, we will always learn, unlearn, and relearn. That is just life, so I see those beliefs I once held dear as a part of my journey. And I very well understand the reason behind those things we were told when we were still young. It is most times for our own good; thinking about it now, there are still a few I will tell my kids too....

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Images are AI generated.

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