This is a work of fiction on the topic of inner child healing incorporating Disney fairy tales.
We’ve all heard the story of “Beauty and the Beast,” where Belle is forced into believing she is not beautiful because of societal norms. Then, in a chance encounter, she meets a beast who is tall with luscious hair and has an inconspicuous masked persona.
The Beast built his love for Belle on the beauty in her heart. Everyone perceived her character as a problem and she couldn’t fit in with others. Disney movies typically promote the knight in shining armor, but in “Beauty and the Beast,” it is Belle who saves the Beast from himself. His tortured soul unbearably shook Belle’s innocent love.
As children, we watch movies with preposterous storylines far away from the truth that promote a false narrative. We all know the truth behind human behavior. When I learned about the psychology of movies (industrial psychology), I figured maybe there is some science or research behind Disney movies.
I researched government resources on the power of chance encounters and found two different perspectives and theories about how human interaction can change someone’s day. The Central Intelligence Agency has an article published as a science resource and the American Psychology Association discusses how chance encounters play a prominent role in shaping human lives.
As human beings, and especially as women, we have this foolish idea from Disney that chaos can be beautiful. The Beast hid his beauty, believing Belle wouldn’t love him because of his appearance and the work he’s done. I could also say men are enticed by Disney movies to live through a scripted inheritance of projected hate.
I thought when a chance encounter happened to me, this could be like Belle and the Beast. Belle loved with her heart and never judged the Beast by his anger and curse.
On one of my worst days, unexpectedly, a real man showed up for me and checked on my well-being. He stood next to me as a tall, muscular man inconspicuous with luscious hair. He is the only real man who has stood by my side. My love for his presence will be infinite.
When I first met him, everyone was scared of his presence. His coworkers looked at me like a deer seeing headlights because I sassed him repeatedly. He stood as a beautiful statuesque man inconspicuous with his masked “persona.”
I saw him and said, “Hello, how are you?” He said nothing! I said, “Well that’s rude, you don’t have to be a jerk. It doesn’t matter if you’re working. You need wellness days from your overpowering job.” This stoic man walked over to convene with a coworker to complete his task.
I said to the coworker shaking his hand, “Thank you for treating us like we are human beings and having patience with us, unlike everyone else. I appreciate you. Always take care of your mental health because that helps with healing.”
Then the statuesque man asked my name, through his coworker. I laughed and said, “Oh, now you speak? Why not ask my name yourself?” I said, “The hello wasn’t making a pass at you. Don’t be full of yourself. Saying hello to a stranger can speak love in different ways, especially if they are having a crappy day. Check your mental health.”
I walked away without saying another word to him. I saw his friend and said your friend needs mental health days. His friend burst out laughing. I figured the laugh might have been an inside joke. All I thought about was what Belle could perceive when she had to forget all the women who do not respect themselves in a village, the women glorifying Gaston, and the pleasure men perceive as greatness-created ego. Maybe the inconspicuous man felt like the Beast when he met Belle.
That would be the end of this chance encounter. But Belle thought the same thing about the Beast. Stuck in my head during an eventful morning, the inconspicuous man with luscious hair stood by me in my moment of need.
I wasn’t sure if this was the same person. Something about his movement, how he respectfully checked on my body and stood by my side, he became still.
I turned again to speak and he left and never introduced himself to me. Maybe he gave me back what I gave him at that moment when I said “hello” and checked on his mental health. I had never felt stillness from a real man and human being before. He was a steeple representing my prayer to heal.
Caution fell over me as I said out loud, “This is not a Disney movie or fairy tale, and chance encounters are not real.” I never expressed the importance of his stillness in my heart. When he stood beside me, he healed my experiences. I thought, “Your Godlike presence brought safety to my breath and my growing appreciation for you is a blessing.”
Are we all hesitant to find beauty in chaos? I’m hesitant to feel Belle’s perspective. As young women grow into adulthood, we may feel the inconspicuous man with luscious hair is a lesson to endure beyond the normal societal chaos. The only thing I care about and hope for is the muscular, inconspicuous, and statuesque man with luscious hair. I hope he is more powerful than those individuals who have created chaos.
Can a fairy tale be real with a chance encounter or just in a cartoon scripted?
