Authenticity: How to stay real and cool in everyday life!

A Story from the Neflental: Authenticity in Everyday Life

In the Neflental, the day always begins in a special way. Today the sky beams a gentle sky-blue, and sunlight dances golden on dew-kissed fern leaves. Everything is blooming in May green and ivory. The residents of the valley feel that this will be a day full of possibilities, because authenticity counts here.

A particular problem in Nightingale Way

Rosa Immergrün cheerfully walks along Nightingale Path between blooming hawthorn bushes, and everywhere she hears the chirping of nightingales. Many friends are out and about. Before class, the Immergrüns and Buchs whisper about new hats. Suddenly someone calls out: „Everyone is wearing a glittering Southwind hat today! Except for Rosa Immergrün...“

A few friends are watching Rosa Immergrün. Some are whispering. Others laugh nervously. Rosa Immergrün is wearing her old wreath of hats as always. It's not modern, but she loves it because she found it on an adventure in the valley.

Flocki Flossianer calls out, „Come on, Rosa Immergrün! If you're not wearing a Southwind Hat, you're not cool.“ Flocki might not mean it cruelly, but Rosa Immergrün feels the sting of those words. She briefly wonders if she should just get a new hat to fit in. But is that really what she wants?

Rosa Immergrün stays true to herself

At the edge of Nightingale Way, Rosa Immergrün pauses. She looks at the golden dew on her hat's brim and thinks how important it is to be true to oneself. Suddenly, a little periwinkle friend hops towards her and says, „You're really cool, Rosa Immergrün, because you do your own thing!“ This gives Rosa Immergrün courage, and she smiles.

With her head held high and a cheerful song, she trudges to the Fir Ember Peak. From there, she watches the evening light make the fir trees glow red. The colour palette of ivory, May green, sky blue, and gold shimmers everywhere in the valley, strengthening Rosa Immergrün. He who remains honest with himself is always the strongest.

This is how you stay authentic in everyday life

Many children and young people wonder how they can stay authentic and still make friends. Rosa Immergrün shows that it sometimes takes courage not to go along with everything. But if you're honest, others notice that too and might even admire you for it!

Furthermore, it's nice to show your own peculiarities. Your favourite scarf, your laugh – something makes you unmistakably unique. Sometimes that's precisely what makes you particularly likeable and „cool“.

In the Neflental, residents celebrate all differences. In the evening, they sit together at the Tannenglutkuppe. The light of the red fir trees sparkles, and the song of the nightingales rings through the air. Everyone is allowed to show who they are. That's why everyone feels comfortable and brave enough to show their true selves.

What do we learn from this?

If you're honest and don't pretend, you'll stay strong – like the common periwinkle. Be brave, trust your heart, and show what makes you special. Others will notice how unique you are. This way, you won't just seem cool, but you'll also feel free and happy. In the Neflental and everywhere else, you can show: I'm real – and that's a good thing!

You want the book „Order “Rosa Immergrün and the Golden Oak Leaf" – click here!. Feel free to take Contact the author Kira Kimmelmann Read more short stories by Pink evergreen here.