By Denise Ryles
California, United States
THE TRUE SNOW WHITE’S DIARY
As I, as well as others, have said before: We need The True Snow White!
Now to claim that it has impacted and already changed my life may seem overstated to some, but it has. Because the very next day after reading the closing words of author Harald Walter Azmann’s exciting adventure, I decided to give the seven dwarves’ teachings a try.
Fyewyn says: “Life is a dance, a song, a symphony, a choir
. . . and what will you contribute? A timid coward’s music? Or something heartfelt, passionate, and full of energy and power?”
This ingenious little dwarf made me think about what I, as an individual, was contributing to the world? No one likes to think of themselves as cowardly and timid, especially me! And so I chose to begin the next day with heartfelt and passion.
I clearly noticed the violins in my orchestra pit tuning up as I washed my hair and brushed my teeth, and couldn’t deny my feet tapping once the music took hold. Other instruments joined in while I checked the smiling reflection in my own magic mirror.
By the time I left the house, ready to face the world, my orchestra was in full swing and my day was indeed melodic. Humming while I worked, and a little more patient than usual with the more “needy” patrons, work didn’t seem quite like work that day and ever since.
On to another lesson from the seven dwarves’ magic dance: “And don’t forget to show your feelings!”
I was on a roll now and feeling wonderful, and wanted to continue to show it. During a break, I encountered a homeless man wheeling backwards in his wheelchair. Normally, I would just pass him by without speaking to him. But this time, I didn’t.
Instead, I said I really liked his cheetah-print cowboy hat, and he told me that it was his “happy hat”, and that he wears it whenever he wants to feel joyous! I thought the seven dwarves would really appreciate his “happy hat”. Who knows, maybe they all have one?
I waved good-bye to the gentleman, grateful that I had spoken to him, and for how he had made me realize that even through difficult circumstances he was contributing joy. Ever since I’m on a mission to find my own “happy hat” so he won’t be alone. I’m thinking zebra print.
What an utterly simple yet magical day that was! And now I am passing the ball to you, dear readers . . . What are you adding to our world’s daily song and dance and rhythm? What’s the kind of music you are playing?
For here in northern California’s Eureka, and thanks to The True Snow White’s wise old seven dwarves, there is one less cowardly contributor to this world’s grand symphony.
Watch and listen to Helen Sjöholm singing Gabriella’s Song in Kay Pollak’s fascinating film As It Is In Heaven (Så som i himmelen) on YouTube, and order from Amazon.com or Amazon.co.uk:
Swedish Trailer • Swedish Original • English Subtitles • TV4 Broadcast
Read Denise Ryles’ comments on
The perfect Stepmother?
The Author
Tell Me Mirror
Christmas In New York
Long Live The Queen!
The Dark Side Of The Mirror
I would only believe in a God who knows how to dance. Friedrich Nietzsche
Note: Comments appear in the order of most recent last and may be edited for suitability and clarity. You are expressly welcome to link to and quote from this article as long as you acknowledge both authorship and source. To link here, simply copy and paste:
Life Is A Dance by Denise Ryles, THE TRUE SNOW WHITE’S DIARY
http://thetruesnowwhitesdiary.wordpress.com/2008/11/29/life-is-a-dance
Dear Denise,
How I love Fyewyn’s analogy of life’s orchestra playing the music for us to dance to!
As a trained ballet dancer and theatre critic, I spend a great deal of time sitting near the orchestra in the Bristol Hippodrome at ballet and opera performances. Yet I never cease to be filled with admiration and awe at the way an orchestra works, and always see the conductor as a kind of stern “Herr Drosselmeyer” character, either divinely inspired or possessed by frenzied devils!
You have touched on the subject of homelessness, and the ubiquitous sight of men, women, and children lying on the ground in every city in the world reminds us of human beings who clearly aren’t dancing!
Yet as you say, they are part of our own dance through life, and you stopped and gave recognition and kindness to one of them.
In Bristol, England, we have had a high rate of homelessness, especially a few years ago. And recently I, too, walked by two homeless men, one of whom was clearly either drunk or under the influence of drugs. The other one appeared to have fainted.
The first called out to passers-by, “He’s had a heart attack . . . he had one last week” in a slurred and drunken voice. It was rush hour and all of us commuters were dashing home. I hesitated when I looked at them, then stopped and, realising I didn’t have a phone on me, asked other passers-by if anyone had a phone.
Numerous folk walked by me saying, “He’s drunk, that’s all . . .” and “Ignore him”. Eventually a Northern Irish man stopped and I explained that I wasn’t sure if we should call an ambulance or not. He took action without hesitation, and both of us waited until the ambulance came.
As we waited a lady returned and said, “I came back to see if anyone had done anything. I’m glad you did. You see, a homeless boy overdosed here last week and died because no one believed he needed any help!”
And where it is reasonably safe to do so, we should all remember, like The True Snow White’s good mother, that the ragged and dirty homeless are always some mother’s child, too.
Dear Theresa,
Thank you so much for your comment. Yes, I agree that we are all some mother’s child. Our stories are excellent examples of that.
Isn’t it amazing what a difference we can be in each other’s lives if we care enough to get involved? I consider these kind of situations as performing my AS2 Angel, Second Class duties. Hopefully, I am getting closer to earning a glorious pair of wings, but I’ve got a ways to go.
I believe that there are no coincidences. Everyone is sent to be “in the right place at the right time” in order to serve their fellow men. You definitely were. And if we heed the call, we can be the people we were always meant to be.
“Good will toward men” should be an everyday philosophy. Gratefully, Christmas allows us all to remember that. For at least one day we are a little closer. So here’s to being an angel in Queen Snow White’s army. May we all eventually get our wings. Merry Christmas!