Be yourself! Authenticity - How to be real and cool!

Be yourself in the Neflental: a story about authenticity

It was snowing in the Neflental valley. Fine hoar frost glistened on the trees everywhere. At the Frostglanzhain, the birch trees stood still, their white trunks shining like silver pillars in the moonlight. The whole grove glowed in silver-white, ice-blue and smoky grey - simply magical.

On the amber beach, at the edge of the crystal lake, the waves gently washed ashore. With each wave came new small amber stones. Some sparkled in the pale light and some had a tiny insect inside.

Rosa Periwinkle ran to the water on this icy morning. She had a plan. The big winter festival was about to take place in Neflental. Everyone wanted to stand out there. Many friends thought about the best way to dress up. Some thought of glittering hats, others of colourful capes or crazy masks. It had to be something unique, something that looked really cool!

But Rosa Periwinkle was unsure. She overheard everyone on Amber Beach talking about the festival. Marlo, the water friend, boasted: "I want to look like a water dragon! Then everyone will think I'm cool." Another shouted: "I'll tie a thousand feathers in my hair, just like the bravest from the mountain top!"

Rosa Periwinkle listened and looked at the amber in the sand. Then Lys, her friend, came running up all excited. "Well, Rosa Periwinkle, what are you wearing? Do you want a cloak like mine? Look, it's woven from silvery frost lustre! Then you'll be really impressive, just like in a fairy tale."

Rosa Periwinkle pondered for a long time. She saw the bright colours of the amber stones. Each one looked different. Some were clear, others dark. A few had something trapped in them: a small beetle, a tiny leaf, even a single plum from the Frostglanzhain.

What does it mean to be real?

Rosa Periwinkle understood something important. The most beautiful amber stones were not all the same. They shone because each one had its own secret. Each one looked different but was still special. "It's the same with us," thought Rosa Periwinkle. "I don't have to be like others to look cool."

So she decided: "I want to go to the winter festival as I am! I'll take a small amber from the beach with me. It suits me because I found it on the amber beach and I like it."

Courage to be yourself

That evening, Rosa Periwinkle came to the festival in the Frostglanzhain. The ice sparkled everywhere, all the firefly lights were coloured blue and silver. Many people looked at her because she had no glittering cloak or colourful feathers. She only wore a single amber on a ribbon around her neck.

Some marvelled: "Why aren't you wearing anything crazy?" Others admired her beautiful amber. Rosa Periwinkle smiled and said: "I just wanted to stay myself. The amber is just a sign that I like myself as I am - and that you like you too!"

One by one, the others came to Rosa Periwinkle. They wanted to know where she had found the amber. Some said: "Actually, I just like being me too." The evening was merry. Everyone danced in the icy blue glow. Nobody had to pretend any more. They realised: Authenticity is much cooler than dressing up. Everyone is special in their own way.

What do we learn from this?

You don't have to prove anything to anyone. Being real makes you strong. You're cool when you like yourself - the way you really are. It's good to go your own way. Your courage and your smile are the best disguise at any party!

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