very little girl dreams of having the happily-ever-after tale when she is growing up: A prince, galloping on a white horse, saves her from the evil witch or wicked stepmother. My childhood happily-ever-after tale involved my wanting to marry the post-Beast from Beauty and the Beast. The Beast was courageous and brave, and my 5-year-old self wanted to live in the palace that had such an amazing library.
As I grew up, reality hit me, and my expectations of a happily-ever-after have changed, but not so much that I don't believe in great things happening. I know there are no dragons or cruel wizards, but the idea of having a good ending and good times are still present.
Young adults are told to not believe in fairy tales and magic because it is not reality. With a financial crisis in the United States, high divorce rates and a shaky job market, I can see why people need to be practical and sensible, but there needs to be fun and excitement as well. If life is all about rules and regulations, then it would soon become extremely boring.
Who makes the rule that we have to live in reality, never believing in pixie dust or great things just because we are growing up? Maybe I'm getting Peter-Pan syndrome because I'm graduating in May, but there can be satisfying endings. I don't mean the live-happily-ever-after with no obstacles, but a decent ending is possible.
One thing that is scary is how people are afraid of relationships, especially college students, making them not believe in good endings. For example, seniors do not want to become involved with someone because they do not know where they will end up after graduation, but that excuse is unacceptable. It is important to take risks, because there should never be a what-if situation.
People are so cynical and afraid of commitment and relationships. People have to work at relationships; there needs to be compromise and acceptance and understanding of both sides' strengths and weaknesses.
I look at my parents and know there have been rough times in their marriage - every marriage goes through hard times - but they stuck with each other because they have a strong bond. Now, nearing 60, I can see my parents happily growing old together.
Still, in order to acheive a good ending, we have to go through rejection. Rejection is a part of life, and I know everyone has had their fair share of it.
You need to go through rejection and heartache in order to end up with something good. We all know that life isn't easy and rejection is one step closer to figuring out what we want. There is nothing wrong with having a broken heart; if it gets broken, it'll mend. If a guy I'm seeing doesn't want to talk to me anymore because he's just not that into me - next, please.
Time heals all wounds, and when that Band-Aid is ripped off, you will be better, ready to live life and be happy. This may sound unbelievable, but hardships makes a person stronger.
I believe that I will have my version of a happy-ending tale one day, though I know it will not be perfect. That's life. But I am positive I will have a fair share of the bad and the ugly, as well as the good.
Still, to achieve a good ending, a person must work at it. Each person has the ability to do what he or she wants and be who he or she wants to be.
There is no fairy godmother to make the dress for the ball; we have to create our own destinies, and we do have control over our choices and reactions to situations.
This may sound like a glass-full column of cheesy optimism, but if there is nothing to believe in, there is no point to living. So, for now I'm going to continue living the Allison-tale, not a perfect-ending fairy tale.
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