Erstwhile but essential social graces of proper etiquette, penmanship, ballroom dancing, needle work, mourning customs may be lost to the ages; however, the true and indomitable spirit of the Southern Belle is alive and well. Albeit transformed and reinvented to meet the demands of a twenty-first century modern society moving at warp speed, in comparison to the previous more thoughtful and genteel pace of Southern Life for young ladies.
Belle, from the french "beautiful" most certainly does apply to today's modern Southern Belle who remains free to pursue the qualities of hospitality, the cultivation of beauty, flirtatiousness, and a certain upper class demeanor and taste. This same Southern Belle also allows for compassion, kindness, care for their fellow men and women, and all creatures on God's earth.
A strong sense of community allows the modern Southern Belle to leave behind old stereotypes such as the idle gossiper or the flamboyant surface beauty with little to nothing on the emotional inside, stale, selfish, and yes self centered. A knowledge of history reminds her to learn from the mistakes of the past and not repeat them. Curiosity allows new information to permeate new ideas and an ability to continually question motives and circumstances.
Southern Belles or True Grits (Girls Raised In The South), are today free from the vestiges of readying for the next Cotillion and are interested and active in local and national politics. No longer forced to ride side saddle as part of the silent majority, Southern Belles today care about the issues of inalienable rights, the economy, abuse of any nature, and world hunger and they are actively doing something about these issues by participating front and center to bring these issues to public awareness.
Yes, we may have lost our monogrammed stationary and laced handkerchiefs, but they have proudly been replaced by symbols of greater meaning like the Pink Ribbons representing the Susan G Koman Foundation for the Cure against Breast Cancer.
Today, striving to be a Southern Belle is a full time occupation with no room for part-timers. Today's educated, strong willed, and informed Southern Belles are "Bulldozers" disguised as "Powder Puffs", yes we still desire to be your Sorority Sister, Honorary Chairperson, Junior League, and a member of the Garden Club however, we are longer satisfied to be the window dressing but demand an ever evolving role with prospect for personal growth. We are making our mark on Society, and changing the world that we live in one day at a time. Yes, the True and Indomitable Spirit of the Southern Belle live on.
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