To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Friday, January 21, 2011

My Kind of Fairy Tale

So, I just re-did my room, as you can see from my last post. And, in doing so, I displayed all the frames I had with old and new photographs of my family and friends in them. I juxtaposed those with some of my very favorite quotes. Looking at all of it showcased together made me all sorts of nostalgic.

I was remembering a conversation that I had a few years ago. I was talking to a good friend of mine. And, I remember telling her that all I wanted was a fairy tale ending and asking her if that was too much to ask for. She said "yes." I totally remember thinking 'that bites.' But, I accpeted that she was probably right. It sounded a lot more realistic then what I imagined. And, that's what I was supposed to be shooting for right? Realism. And so, my reaction to that conversation was pretty similar to my reaction to most things. I just shrugged it off and moved on.

Well, I used to fancy myself more of a realist than a romantic. But, if I am honest, the interpretation of myself I would have to agree the most with aligns most with Ariel Bierbaum when stating "I am hopeless romantic trapped in a cynic's body." Because I could watch the same stupid cheesy movies over and over and over again (and I do). I loved the line in Eat, Pray, Love where the old dude says he could be in love for 10 years with a girl he's never even kissed. It made me laugh. I don't fall often, but when I do, I fall hard. I read something else the other day that also made me laugh, "Dear heart, why him?"

I could also listen to the same mushy songs on repeat (and I do), because I am a sucker for lyrics. And, in one of those the lyrics include this prophetic line "sometimes it takes a good fall to really know where you stand." (Hayley Williams). Now, that's something I can agree with. I guess as I get older, I realize how in every failed relationship, the best outcome you can hope for is to have a better understanding of yourself.

I also love and agree with all things Audrey Hepburn, who said "... I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles."

Ms. Hepburn also said "If I am honest, I have to tell you that I still believe in fairy tales, and I like them best of all." This is one of the quotes I have framed in my room. It's sitting next to two other quotes I got from one of my best friends for my birthday last year which incorporate some of the very same thoughts, "Expect Miracles" and "She lived her life in her own little fairytale."

It's true. I do live in my own little fairy tale. I like it there. Hope still resides there, or at least it visits every once in a while. And, that's what keeps me happy.

Alexander Dumas wrote "Happiness is like those palaces in fairy tales whose gates are guarded with dragons: we must fight in order to conquer it." Then bring on the fight.

And, Hans Christian Anderson (the father of fairytales and story-telling) created the paragon for all to follow in insisting that "Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale of all." Isn't that true?!? I guess to me, it's just easy enough to assume that everyone is living some part of their own fairy tale, whether it be the beginning, the end ,or in the middle of the fairytale. After all, isn't each person is fighting proverbial dragons of some sort in order to achieve their own definition of happiness. I am running with that theory, because it makes me happy to think so.

But, if I had to steal someone else's happy ending and call it my own, I could only assume it would go something like this...

Juno: I think I'm in love with you.
Paulie Bleeker: You mean as friends?
Juno: No... I mean for real. Cause you're like the coolest person I've ever met, and you don't ever have to try you know...
Paulie Bleeker: I try real hard, actually.

2 comments:

Amanda said...

Your room is looking so fancy - love it!

Katy said...

I really really like this post. Everything about it is fantastic--the romantic in a cynic's body, proverbial dragons, different stages of our own fairy tales, the Juno quote. By the way, I'll be in Orange County in a few weeks!