PRINCESSES and SUPERHEROES

Halloween recently confirmed that the trend in favorite costumes remains largely unchanged. On the day children are given full freedom to step out of their own identity and into that of another, they consistently favor costumes of two categories - princesses and superheroes.

I find this remarkable.

Princess and superheroes. Royalty and power. Value and strength. Leaders and world-changers.

There is a lesson to be learned here.

Most children do not know to play small, to pretend and dream within limits. Unchecked by the harsh lessons of life, they have yet to learn that while we are all encouraged to strive for greatness, we are simultaneously conditioned to lower our expectations. 

Go ahead and dream, just don’t make it too big. 

Free from these learned limits, children’s pretend and play embodies freedom. In their imaginary world they are princesses, subjects of affection and adoration, crowned in majesty and grace, embodied with royalty and power. In their play they take on the identity of superheroes, their abilities beyond limitation. With their powers aimed at evil they rescue and battle and claim victory. They are undeniable forces against that which seeks to destroy.

It’s pretend and it’s identity.

Their dress-up speaks truths held within that need not be defined by words. Their performance breathes greatness and purpose in shameless fashion. They play ‘big’ because deep down they know they are meant to live ‘big.’ No one is pretending at mediocrity. 

Princesses and superheroes.

Remarkable, powerful, truly special.

Meant to change the world. 

I wonder when we lose this.

There is a greatness that sits below the surface of every human being, a unique design that belongs to no one else. Beneath the mire of life’s lessons the words etched on our heart remain true, the outline of our identity permanently marked in the dirt of time, regardless of what has come to cover it. 

Remarkable. Powerful. Truly special. 

Precious. Free. Of incredible value and worth. 

We are princesses and superheroes and countless other embodiments of value. We have strength and ability and are worthy of adoration and praise. We are victors, over-comers, undeniable forces against that which seeks to destroy. We are meant to change the world. Yes, even when none of it feels this way.

Truth does not require our feelings come in alignment in order for it to be true. Life is hard and we’re old enough to know that we will not discover an ability to fly or learn that we descended from royalty. But we can chose to remember what it was to play without limits, to lean into identity without needing to have words. We can choose to cling to truth.

Remarkable. Powerful. Special.

We can choose to remember just how valuable we truly are.