I Wish I Still Believed in Fairy Tales

It’s a damn shame that as we grow up we stop believing in fairy tales. Let’s put aside for the time being that they are unrealistic and unnatural. Instead, let’s consider that they are simply exercises in hope and optimism. Now maybe more than ever, we need some more hope and optimism.

The reality of my Thursday night is an internet connection that’s only half working, rain falling on angry on the tin roof (just like Edwin McCain said), and a sadness that I just can’t shake. I’m laying on my couch with absolutely no reason to be feeling down, yet I just want to cover up with a blanket and bawl my eyes out. I’m writing this to keep that scenario from playing out. Let’s be honest, though, it still might.

Now if I still believed in fairy tales, perhaps I’d be gazing out the window waiting for my prince to come and sweep me off my feet. Or maybe I’d be chatting with a furry little woodland creature who just happened to wander up on my porch. There’s even a good chance that I’d just break out in song for no apparent reason. If I still believed.

If I still believed in fairy tales, I’d know there was no reason to cry. Why, you ask? Well, it’s simple. Fairy tales have happy endings. The prince will come, the underdog will win, the problem will be solved. Everything will work out in the end.

Now logically I know that life is not a fairy tale. Just hear me out. Right now, as you sit reading this, your happy ending is possible. As of this very moment, you have overcome every obstacle that’s come your way. Every day that you wake up is a victory. Every moment that you spend living your life is an absolute gift. If we all still believed in fairy tales, maybe we’d see it that way more often. Maybe we would spend more time being hopeful than hateful. Maybe we’d be determined instead of depressed. Maybe we’d be joyful instead of jaded.

The Ugly Duckling turned into a beautiful swan. Rapunzel made it out of the tower. Cinderella met her prince and made such an impression that he scoured the kingdom until he found her again. Belle melted the heart of the Beast. Timon and Pumba survived the wilds of Africa by embracing Hakuna Matata. You see the common themes here? They were all hopeful that life would go their way. Even through adversity, they remained optimistic.

There is a powerfulness that comes with optimism. A little hope can do wonders. Of course life isn’t a fairy tale, but tell me this. Why is it so “childish” to believe in fairy tales? I submit to you that it isn’t childish at all. Rather it is a brave and admirable quality to be able to look at the world around you in times of trouble, knowing that it’d be so easy to give in to the fear and despair and instead choose to be hopeful. Not only that, but optimism is contagious. I just think that maybe if we allowed ourselves to continue believing in the magic of living happily ever after, the world wouldn’t be such a scary place.

😯 Did you read all of that? Did any of it make sense to you?? Let me know what you think. 🤔

Happy Thursday!