Once Upon a Time…
Each one of us has their Once Upon a Time. It could be a bedtime story, our first day in school, that friend who came first and never left, or that first ride on a scooter.
But why does the Upon a Time forever etch in our heads and hearts?
Firsts have ruled on our minds, communities and the world. Many of the Once Upon A Time are first-timers. Fables, fairy tales, sagas, epics, folktales, and legends record what first happened or what happened and stopped happening.
Anything that happened Once Upon a Time, stopped happening because we stopped manoeuvring that way. And then we experience a nostalgic phenomenon. We miss the earthy, good and simple things that happened in our lives or through our lives. But the imaginary Once Upon a Time is beautiful even today which majorly rules our childhood and is a regular cycle of a storyteller’s life.
Many of us lived somebody else’s Once Upon a Time and many live ours. So how can one think about our existence in isolation? No, we don’t.
Finnish tales mainly began with olipa keran (literally “once there was”), while African wild fables kissed good night with eendag lang, lang gelede (“one day long, long ago”).
The Indian literature is decorated with beautiful folklore and Dadi Maa ki kahaaniyan with ek tha raja aur ek thi rani (Meaning once there lived a prince and princess). The introduction of Once Upon a Dream & In That Time the Legends tell dates back to the 12th century English texts while Once Upon A Time wore a poetic gown with Jeffeory Chaucher’s The Canterbury Tales. The Disney machine churned out imagination to the optimum with this idiom across generations.
Oral Literature is influential. The Indian context of this type of storytelling has an abundance of Idioms like Once Upon a Time have left an impact for generations to come. But out of this imaginary world, every individual lives their Once Upon a Time in reality. Situations and circumstances that are genuine shape us as we move ahead in life. The most evergreen thread that weaves the situation related to the idiom is hope. The thread is green, alive and steady with us throughout.
Many of the tales and stories narrated to us in our childhood phase were imaginary or passed on through our ancestors shaping into rituals and traditions. Some of the tales evolve as we progress while others carry rigid characteristics even today.
Stories that carry reality and reasonability hold a different position and lesson. Yes! The purpose of imagination is hope while the purpose of reality is to be aware and continue to grow.
Hope sets our vision to manoeuvre through our journey. Without hope, nobody can resonate with the very fact of existence.
So, what lesson could we churn out from the fairytale, The Rapunzel? I am sure many girls and boys will relate to this story. Or we could take an example of Donald Duck cartoons. Speaking ducks wearing hats and aprons narrate stories of their Once Upon a Time. Can we in any manner link this to reality like do we find ducks like this telling stories to ducklings? Barely. But we still experience a delightful feeling because it gives us joy by imagining it as a reality.
Once Upon a Time sets the stage at the very onset for the unknown imagination ahead perceived as reality. It immediately grabs the attention either of the child or the adult raising curiosity about what would be told as reality but is not.
Do pick up one of the fairytale books and read. While reading, do write down your experience of reading it and the aftermath. You will simply love it. When you complete the full cycle of the practice of storytelling, your creative and imagination zones get activated. Every human being is designed to experience a joyous moment when it comes to imagination. And this comes largely with Once Upon a Time.
My next will start with,” Once Upon a Time I wrote this article”.
Author bio
Born and raised in Kuwait, she was brought up with warm and strict values by her parents. Her educational journey includes a Master’s Degree in English Literature, and she is now pursuing her passion for Global Literature with a PhD.
Attending school in Kuwait allowed her to grow up alongside children and families from diverse backgrounds, shaping her strong, magnetic personality. She excels in social and community engagements, reflecting her deep commitment to exploring and studying various subjects.
With over 14 years of experience in the global market, she has designed content strategies for both B2B and B2C brands. Currently, she serves as the Head of Content Development and also functions as a Floor In-charge within her organization. Her role involves leading a talented team of writers and proofreaders, who are the cornerstone of her department’s success. She joined Medium recently and enjoys being part of its vibrant community.
As a 44-year-old single parent, she approaches life with resilience and enthusiasm. Her teenage son continually surprises her with his remarkable personality and evolving mindset, offering valuable lessons and inspiration.
She firmly believes that “Challenges are full of life” rather than “Life is full of challenges,” a perspective that guides both her personal and professional life.
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