A Modern-Day Fairytale

"Certain as the sun, rising in the east. Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme."

Little girls grow up dreaming of their Prince Charming.. Or Prince Eric, or Aladdin, or Prince Phillip, or heck maybe even their own Beast. It doesn't stop with little girls though, it is a dream that is with us even as we enter middle and high school, when we graduate, go off to college.

In this day and age it is easy to hold the classical standards of a "fairytale romance" in a world where that honestly isn't feasible anymore. With the technology we have nowadays, it would be likely that Prince Charming would post on Facebook rather than searching the kingdom, and that someone would have used Find My Friends to find Belle and save her from Beast. Now, with that being said - that doesn't mean you have to take the Taylor Swift outlook on love and relationships (she's a little bit too jaded and melancholy for a beautiful woman her age, if you ask me).

T-Swifty tells us, "When I was a little girl I used to read fairy tales. In fairy tales you meet Prince Charming and he's everything you ever wanted. In fairy tales the bad guy is very easy to spot. The bad guy is always wearing a black cape so you always know who he is. Then you grow up and you realize that Prince Charming is not as easy to find as you thought. You realize the bad guy is not wearing a black cape and he's not easy to spot; he's really funny, and he makes you laugh, and he has perfect hair.”

I'm calling bullshit on this one, y'all. Just because the modern-day fairytale isn't the storybook fable of a knight in shining armor riding in on a noble white steed sweeping you off your feet, it does not mean that the Prince Charming is any less easy to spot. It doesn't mean that the fairytale to be told is any less romantic, or necessary, or important, or fulfilling.

I am by no means a feminist. But that doesn't mean I believe that a woman's place is in the kitchen, or anything sexist like that. I don't believe that a woman needs a man to save her, to take care of her, provide for her. And that, right there, is the beauty of the modern fairytale.

A woman doesn't need a man to do any of these things for her, but she has the choice to let him. And she has the prerogative to be okay with it. 

The modern Prince doesn't come riding in on a white horse or rescue you from your ivory tower - he drives a gunmetal gray Honda Civic and carries you to bed when you fall asleep on the couch.

The modern Prince doesn't have to search across the entire kingdom to bring you back your shoe - he will search across the entire kingdom to find the perfect bottle of champagne to ring in New Years with you.

The modern Prince won't indulge your every need and be at your every beck and call to save you from yourself - he won't be afraid to tell you no when you need to hear it, but will never let the outside world bring you down while you find yourself.

The modern Prince won't lock you away from the world to keep you to himself - he will encourage you to see the world, meet new people, and live your lives both together and apart because he values your independence as much as you do.

The modern Prince will tease you, tickle you, maybe he'll even yell at you or make you cry. He will question and help strengthen your beliefs, he will build you up, he will teach you lessons you didn't know you needed to learn.

Maybe the modern day Prince isn't the man you imagined as a little girl. Maybe he didn't have to fight down a thorn bush forest, or rescue you from your ivory tower or evil stepmother and stepsisters, or give you true love's kiss to save you from your eternal sleep. But isn't that the point? The traditional fairytale is about magical and imaginary beings and lands. Key words here: magical and imaginary.

The modern-day fairytale is a reality, but one many of us lacking Y-chromosomes are so quick to ignore. My question is, "Why?" Why turn away the possibility of being treated like a princess by a not-so-conventional Prince Charming in favor of a completely conventional Beast?

Don't be afraid to let someone in, you never know what is hiding behind the suit of armor.

Six months later

Six months ago, I sat down and began to type. Six months ago, I was beginning my sophomore year of college. Six months ago, I thought I knew exactly what I was doing with my life, what my plan was, who I was.

Somewhere along the line, I realized maybe I wasn't quite so sure.

Avicii has a popular song, many would argue that it is popular to the point of disintegration, but no matter your views, this song has lyrics that struck me right to the core. One line in particular especially hit home to me, "All this time I was finding myself, and I didn't know I was lost."

Six months ago, I took a risk. Six months ago, I started this blog. Six months ago, I opened myself up and finally decided to share my love of writing with the world.

These last six months have been a whirlwind... To say the least.

Since August, I've realized the truth in the philosophy of "If you can't change the people around you, change the people around you." I was in a car accident that I was lucky to walk away from. I started learning a second language. I met one of the most incredible, life-changing people that I could have ever imagined. I changed my mind of what I want to do with my life (albeit a small change). I stood up for myself. I had my first knee injury and my first concussion. I broke the heart of someone I cared deeply about, if only to save my own. I've worked to become healthier, more patient, more well-rounded, more open-minded. I've questioned the very foundations of my thinking, and I've created a relationship with God more solid than ever.

Six months ago, I thought I had it all figured out. Six months ago, I was a different person than the woman I am today. Six months ago, I didn't think it could get any better than it was.

I was wrong.

Sharing my writing has changed me as a person, and I have you to thank. If you're reading this - thank you. All I have ever wanted was to leave my mark on this world, to maybe change someone's life. I never needed it to be a big mark, just enough to be remembered by. So many people have come to me to tell me how much they love my blog, that I inspire them, to keep doing what I love. So many times when I'm told things like this, I admit, I teared up and maybe let go of a few tears.

Six months ago, I was looking for direction - even if I didn't know it at the time. Six months ago, I wrote just for me because it was something I love to do. Six months ago, I never imagined where sharing my writing would take me.

Brandon Heath sings a song I've always loved, and the chorus goes like this... "I wish you could see me now. I wish I could show you how. I'm not who I was."

I'm not who I was six months ago, and I couldn't be more thankful for that. For the first time in my life, I'm not completely sure where life is going to take me - and strangely enough? I'm completely okay with that. I have a new appreciation for the little things, for quiet moments, for new experiences. I want to travel the world, and I say "yes" now to trying anything (within reason) once. I'm in a healthy relationship for the first time, and even crazier is that he is 500 miles away. I am more grateful than ever for my independence, but I also have finally accepted that sometimes it's okay to ask for a helping hand.

Six months ago, I never could have guessed that I would be where I am today. And I can only hope to say the same six months from now.