More than the glamour, fame, power, and influence that a queen's crown represents stands her enormous responsibility and task. Being given many endowments either by birthright or ascension, a queen is always quick on her feet and always on her guard. Her own needs will always be subservient to her people's welfare. These are the essential things that one must think of when ascending to the throne.
So how does one become a queen? Some are born into royalty by birthright. Some ascend to the throne by sheer will and perseverance building their kingdom from scratch. Like Machiavelli, I personally favor a queen who, by virtue of her perseverance, has ascended to the throne of the kingdom she built from the ground. It is she who has a consummate understanding of the inner workings of a kingdom having built it with her own hands. She alone knows the strengths and weaknesses of every pebble that makes up the foundation of her castle. This queen as well has the monopoly of defining the extent and boundaries of the kingdom that she built. Now, if one desires to build a kingdom, he/she must endure all the trials that he/she will face. There will be resistance in many forms and they will manifest in ways that mean to test one's character. One must have the determination and grit of a person who has everything at stake because that will push you to carry on even in the face of desolation. The truth is, once you've built your kingdom, you'll see that there was really nothing to lose but everything to gain. If you are able to endure all of this and overcome every trial, you would've already surpassed half of the task - the easier part.
How can that be the easier part? Well, to build a kingdom is one thing, but what separates a queen from a nobleman/woman is her magnanimity - that which enables her to sustain her power and govern her kingdom. Once a queen ascends to her throne she not only acquires power, she also attracts enemies, those who mean to destroy what she has built either out of envy or personal discord. This is the exact reason why a queen is always on her guard because the attacks do not die down with the completion of the castle, they actually intensify. However, having built the kingdom on her own, a queen would presumably have the strength of character needed in order for her to fend off all the attacks. More importantly, her kingdom will only last as long as she is able to fulfill her duties to her people. She will not be able to fend off the attacks on her own, she will need her army and her royal guards to protect the crown. The people in her kingdom will not render their service to the crown if she is unable to inspire them to action and the only way to do this is to fulfill the needs of her people. The reality is, as much as we would like to act selflessly, social relations work on the principle of WIIFMs (what's in it for me?). On the surface, we exert conscious effort not to expect favors in return but honestly speaking, there is always a voice in our heads that is expectant of favors being returned. We do not acknowledge it for fear that a kind act will lose meaning if we do.
After all these things are established and you have been crowned queen, the fundamental question that you should ask yourself is what kind of legacy are you going to leave the kingdom that you built - one that your people would forever remember you by? Would you want to be loved more than feared or would you rather be feared than loved? Ideally, one should be both, but if you can't be both feared and loved, are you willing to be feared than loved in order to maintain order in your kingdom? Are you ready to make tough decisions that would render you unpopular towards your people? I cannot answer these for you but in my kingdom, whether I am loved, feared or both, I'd kick the bucket with a smile on my face if I have, in the span of my reign, able to fight the injustices suffered by my people. To speak up for those who have been silenced, to act for those who have been enslaved, to support those who have been disenfranchised and to fight for those who have been disheartened: to accomplish these during my reign would be more than a queen could ever wish for. Her life finds meaning in inspiring positive action from her people because that is what her crown symbolizes - inspiration, one that unites people. To be able to inspire your people through your actions would mean that all your labors have born fruit in that you have planted seeds of hope that in turn will be planted on the ground to grow a new generation of fruits that would bear the same seeds that you have first planted. So, do not take your post likely for while it is filled with privilege, it is a beacon that can either lead your people to safe shores or crush them on the banks of rocky seas. Your choice. But know that no decision is ever neutral. Brace yourself for it won't always be sunny but for the days when it rains, your comfort will be the shelter of your castle - you just have to ensure that your people have roofs over their heads too.
xoxo
QB
So how does one become a queen? Some are born into royalty by birthright. Some ascend to the throne by sheer will and perseverance building their kingdom from scratch. Like Machiavelli, I personally favor a queen who, by virtue of her perseverance, has ascended to the throne of the kingdom she built from the ground. It is she who has a consummate understanding of the inner workings of a kingdom having built it with her own hands. She alone knows the strengths and weaknesses of every pebble that makes up the foundation of her castle. This queen as well has the monopoly of defining the extent and boundaries of the kingdom that she built. Now, if one desires to build a kingdom, he/she must endure all the trials that he/she will face. There will be resistance in many forms and they will manifest in ways that mean to test one's character. One must have the determination and grit of a person who has everything at stake because that will push you to carry on even in the face of desolation. The truth is, once you've built your kingdom, you'll see that there was really nothing to lose but everything to gain. If you are able to endure all of this and overcome every trial, you would've already surpassed half of the task - the easier part.
How can that be the easier part? Well, to build a kingdom is one thing, but what separates a queen from a nobleman/woman is her magnanimity - that which enables her to sustain her power and govern her kingdom. Once a queen ascends to her throne she not only acquires power, she also attracts enemies, those who mean to destroy what she has built either out of envy or personal discord. This is the exact reason why a queen is always on her guard because the attacks do not die down with the completion of the castle, they actually intensify. However, having built the kingdom on her own, a queen would presumably have the strength of character needed in order for her to fend off all the attacks. More importantly, her kingdom will only last as long as she is able to fulfill her duties to her people. She will not be able to fend off the attacks on her own, she will need her army and her royal guards to protect the crown. The people in her kingdom will not render their service to the crown if she is unable to inspire them to action and the only way to do this is to fulfill the needs of her people. The reality is, as much as we would like to act selflessly, social relations work on the principle of WIIFMs (what's in it for me?). On the surface, we exert conscious effort not to expect favors in return but honestly speaking, there is always a voice in our heads that is expectant of favors being returned. We do not acknowledge it for fear that a kind act will lose meaning if we do.
After all these things are established and you have been crowned queen, the fundamental question that you should ask yourself is what kind of legacy are you going to leave the kingdom that you built - one that your people would forever remember you by? Would you want to be loved more than feared or would you rather be feared than loved? Ideally, one should be both, but if you can't be both feared and loved, are you willing to be feared than loved in order to maintain order in your kingdom? Are you ready to make tough decisions that would render you unpopular towards your people? I cannot answer these for you but in my kingdom, whether I am loved, feared or both, I'd kick the bucket with a smile on my face if I have, in the span of my reign, able to fight the injustices suffered by my people. To speak up for those who have been silenced, to act for those who have been enslaved, to support those who have been disenfranchised and to fight for those who have been disheartened: to accomplish these during my reign would be more than a queen could ever wish for. Her life finds meaning in inspiring positive action from her people because that is what her crown symbolizes - inspiration, one that unites people. To be able to inspire your people through your actions would mean that all your labors have born fruit in that you have planted seeds of hope that in turn will be planted on the ground to grow a new generation of fruits that would bear the same seeds that you have first planted. So, do not take your post likely for while it is filled with privilege, it is a beacon that can either lead your people to safe shores or crush them on the banks of rocky seas. Your choice. But know that no decision is ever neutral. Brace yourself for it won't always be sunny but for the days when it rains, your comfort will be the shelter of your castle - you just have to ensure that your people have roofs over their heads too.
xoxo
QB
No comments:
Post a Comment