What I Learned From Fairytales

"A long, long time ago in a land far, far away...." 

I grew up with fairytales. Reading them, watching them, listening to my dad tell them to me, making up my own, you name it. I had a pretty wild imagination as a child (I still do actually), and I'm positive that fairytales were a huge contributor that. As I've grown up my love of fairytales has stayed with me and can say that I still 100%  believe in fairytales. Some of the biggest life lessons I've gotten came from fairytales in one form or the other. I'll share a few:

Always Be Ready. Almost every fairytale had a hero/heroine going on an unexpected journey. Most of the time they're not fully prepared and have to improvise. These stories always taught me to expect the unexpected, but also to be flexible and ready to rise to whatever occasion might present itself.

Sometimes You Just Have to Save Yourself. Being a girl, I always loved stories that had strong and/or smart female characters. Not all princesses waited around for Prince Charming to sweep in and save the day. You have to be able to rely on yourself to get out of a sticky situation because Prince Charming (or whoever else) is late or lost or doesn't even realize that he's your Prince. Sometimes you just have to take care of business and meet him halfway. And that's just fine.

Magic is Real. Fairytales are all about magic, but there's magic in the real world too. It's in those small moments, when you least expect it. It's in that gorgeous sunset, or that baby's first laugh or that first kiss. It's the moment when you slip into a dream, it's in music, it's everywhere. It's unexplainable, but it's there. All you have to do is look.

The Greatest Challenges Come Just Before the Greatest Rewards. In every fairytale there's a climax, that moment when you have to face the dragon, or defeat the witch, or stand up to the wicked stepmother. Whatever your challenge is, or whatever situation life throws you, the greatest rewards and blessings are just beyond it. And sometimes your hardest and most unthinkable challenge or trial becomes your greatest reward.

Good Always Overcomes Evil. Always. I'll let you in on a secret: The Villain doesn't win in the end. Good always conquers evil, and it will continue to conquer evil until the end of time. If it seems like The Villain in your life is currently winning, just remember that the story isn't over yet. Don't give up.

True Love is Worth Fighting For. Because when you find it, it never goes away. It's perfect and beautiful and it lasts forever, beyond what you could ever imagine. That doesn't mean the road there is easy, and it doesn't mean that you will recognize it right away. Here's another secret: The Villain's favorite disguise is Prince Charming. Learn to recognize which is which. It takes a few tries, believe me. But someday when you find real True Love, wherever and with whomever, you will know that everything you went through to get there was worth it. It was all worth it in the end.

Everyone Can Have a Happy Ending. No matter who they are, whether a scullery maid or a king of nations. Happy Endings aren't free though. It's a rough and sometimes lonely road. You just have to have the courage to take the first step. Whatever your journey has in store for you, it will all someday come to a close. And then you will have many, many more journeys to take. You have the power to write your own ending.  

"...And they lived Happily Ever After."

Love, Brontë