The Swadence does not walk. It does not run. It does not skip. No, this creature of confidence moves in the only way it knows how. It struts.
It struts as if the whole world exists to admire it. It will glide along, bobbing its head and tossing its flowing mane like a star in a hair commercial. It knows it looks magnificent and is living its best life but, most importantly, it wants to make sure you are as well.
Only two things can stop a Swadence's swagger-like strut. The first is a mirror. Or, any reflective surface. Here it will bask, albeit briefly, to coo at its own appearance. The second is when it spots someone it thinks also looks great. Which, to the Swadence, is nearly everyone it meets.
Here it will purr out affectionate squeals and squeaks which echo through the air and send waves of confidence into those who are lucky enough to hear it. I watched people pause as if struck, check their reflections, straighten up and continue walking on with a skip in their step. Others even began singing along to a tune as they did so.
Through repeated experiments, I found that the confidence a Swadence can inspire often depends on the style of the person receiving it. If I wore running gear and passed a Swadence, I felt instantly uplifted, ready to run farther and faster. for job interviews, my professional best always ensured success. It was as the admiration of a Swadence gave me self-belief I could use to crush any obstacle.
Be warned. The confidence-boosting power of a Swadence can be addictive. I found myself seeking one out before doing any tasks and, failing to do so, I would start to hide away. Little by little, I ventured out less, missing the fierce reassurance the Swadence seemed to provide.
One morning, I had a family outing. I stood before the mirror, staring at myself and my outfit, wishing someone would tell me I looked good but there was no Swadence around. But then I realised, the Swadence is its own cheerleader. I paid myself a compliment, like the Swadence do. I reminded myself that I look good, feel good and am good.
Immediately I started to feel better. I stepped outside and hummed along to a song that put me in a good mood. It was my own rhythm, my own confidence and my own swagger-step.
This confidence was overpowering in a good way. I felt the need to share it and so started giving compliments to others I passed by spurred on by my new-found confidence. They too, started to have a little skip in their step.
Perhaps that is the lesson the Swadence teaches us: compliments and kindness is contagious. To truly strut like a Swadence you have to believe in yourself because that belief is pure magic that you can share with others on their own path to self-belief. Once you learn to believe in yourself, you can pass that magic on to someone else.
That was when I noticed a Swadence staring at me. It winked with a very knowing look. Then it flicked its hair and strutted away.