A story on a left palm: 4 things a fairy tale can teach you

This is my story about a fairy tale that I absolutely love and I kept reading it not only through my childhood but in my adult years as well.

Why write a story about it? Because as I grew up my perception of fairy tales was changing and I was discovering more and more unseen layers to them…

(c) Svetlana Kolosova

Nice to meet you, my dear fairy tale.

As most fairy tales start - once upon a time there was a girl (me in this case). She lived in a kingdom with her parents and a nice younger brother.. They do not start like that, yes? Ok, when I was a kid I thought my tale can start like that so after a lot of years one more dream came true..

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Ok, back to the subject. While a was a girl I was a book worm - I could not find something more interesting than reading a book.

(c) Tami Dalton Image Source

And one of my favourites was Hans Christian Andersen’s Collection. After all of these years, I still remember this particular book with a brown cover page and vintage letters on it saying “ Коллекция произведений Андерсена.” That time no one thought about me knowing English and of course all I read was in Russian.

So I read it all from first page several times and it went on and on… as when you are a kid everything entertains you even if you have already done it.

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And I was crying in the end this particular fairy tale as it seems to me impossible: why would she die?

BETTER ending or THE version I liked more

And how I was happy to see the other version of the same fairy tale. Thank you, Walt Disney for making my dream come true - your version of “A little mermaid” with Ariel made my child’s mind think that you know better.

(c) Walt Disney Image Source

Ariel become my favourite character for a long time. In my kingdom I had all the dolls with fish tails and even pictured myself as a boss of a company named Ariel.

And then.. They launched this washing machine powder with the same name - and the name brought me despair, while at the same time leaving my growing up heart feeling hope that there is always a BETTER ending which meant that the girl will find a prince, will get through all troubles and marry him.

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THE BEST ending

I always believe that all that happens in my life is always for a reason. So after several years I was brought back to the same story again.

I FAILED A HAPPY ENDING in my own life. In this story I was The Princess and the one I love was the Prince of course and I did sacrificed a lot to be where I wanted to be - close to him. BUT the reality showed it simply did not work.

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And in this moment the whole story flashed in my mind again. I found it online and by the time I finished reading it something has changed in me completely. What I learned can be describes just in few point but they become a game changer for me in my future life and led me to the experience much more value than what I had ever hoped for.

LESSON 1 - Relations - even if not successful - definitely will bring you a gift

Have you read the original text? The little mermaid did not marry the Prince but what she got was much more - she got a chance to become an immortal soul - an upgrade she would never be able to get if there was not her love to the Prince.

(c) Svetlana Kolosova

I guess most of us can’t call a broken heart a gift. At the same time it may lead you to far more precious experiences than you may have gotten if the relation went the way you planned.

LESSON 2 - NEVER sacrifice something for being with someone

I tended to sacrifice a lot when I just entered relations and especially be numb (in situations I did not like or not really approved) and I lost parts of myself which were the most precious. So, the lesson was learned with quite a big price but gave me a chance to not do it again%) I even learned to use my voice and tell my partner the most difficult things and it was not easy at all but worth it 100%

(c) Image: Svetlana Kolosova (c)Words Mandy Hale

LESSON 3 - Always listen to your heart

The little mermaid did so many choices on her own - she risked a lot for what she wanted, it may not be turned the way she hoped but she always chose to do what was right for her. I lacked it and still do but slowly make my own choice each day of my life.

(c) Svetlana Kolosova

LESSON 4 - There are always more ways to achieve something that you know
Everyone told the little mermaid that the only one way to get an immortal soul is
unless a man were to love you so much that you were more to him than his father or mother; and if all his thoughts and all his love were fixed upon you, and the priest placed his right hand in yours, and he promised to be true to you here and hereafter, then his soul would glide into your body and you would obtain a share in the future happiness of mankind. He would give a soul to you and retain his own as well
(c) Hans Christian Andersen

(c) Image: Svetlana Kolosova (c) Words Thomas Alva Edison

But she found her own way to it - we would never know if she did, but she got a chance, right? That is part of the success. At the same time she got it through doing what she thought is right, so I would use all 3 points before and see what might happen.

What did I want to say with this story? A very simple truth - you can pass by knowledge easily or you can take them with you. It all depends on you and the way you choose to live your life.

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I really hope this story will help you understand something about you as I truly believe nothing ever happen without a reason and if you read it, that means you are supposed to get something of it.

With love,
Sasha Genji

My special credits for helping me to tell this story to the very talented Russian artist Svetlana Kolosova and her unique stories on a left palm. I just think without her Art this story would not look the way I wanted.

(c) Image: Svetlana Kolosova All Images Source

If you like good stories with good pictures just check a few of my other posts

Give me a HAND and I shall make it a Masterpiece
The Psychology of your mind #3: How many horses do you see?