Fairy
tales have become a part of our image of what romance is supposed to
be like. This image not only deceives women, but also men. One of the
definitions of the term "fairy tale" in Webster's is "a made-up story,
usually designed to mislead."
On one
hand, everyone knows that fairy-tale romances are make-believe. On the
other hand, fairy tales inspire us to believe in happy love stories.
For this fact alone, they have given us something we need for building
our own love affair: hope. Many people have lost hope, and it's time
to get it back.
Modeling Love on Fairy-Tales
Some people think that fairy tales create a false image for a
real partner to live up to. The next time you read a fairy tale about
a love affair, look to see the characteristics that form the
foundation of these stories. What you will find are characteristics
such as the following:
Looking
for unconditional love
Wanting
to be loved by someone
Seeking
understanding
Looking
to be accepted by another
These
stories also show that life is happier with someone as opposed to
being without someone. What they show is the humanness in having a
mate. People innately gravitate to others for a sense of completeness.
We are relational beings, with a need to relate to others. In a fairy
tale, these themes are conveyed simply in a fantastical setting. In
fact, fairy tales serve as wonderful models to use when deciding on
what you want in your relationship.
Regaining a Belief in Fairy-Tales
How can we make romance just as magical as it is in the fairy tales?
All you have to do is create your own love story, the greatest love
story ever known. This means cherishing the one you love as though he
were a prince or she were a princess. It means making your
relationship a priority by including romance as one of its basic
ingredients. An apple a day may keep the doctor away, but a kiss a day
keeps others away.
