Why I’m 22 and Still Believe in Fairytales

I read an article today that a 29-year-old man published talking about how he hates listening to “fairytale” success stories because they gloss over all the hardships that people had to face. Then he proceeds to give 10 “brutal” truths about the world that will “help people get their shit together.” I don’t think the truths he gives are brutal, and I don’t think everyone who believes in a fairytale is naive or “kidding themselves.” Then along with the truths, he includes a life lesson at the end of each one. I’m not saying that they aren’t true, but I would like to propose the opposite view.
For about 19 years, I’ve been watching Disney movies and Bollywood romcoms. It’s the life I’ve grown up with, and the music that I’ve listened to growing up. Now that I’m done with college, my music selection, although expanded a great deal since Elementary School, still includes Disney and Bollywood music. A lot of it has shaped the way I think about the world: I like to think that at the end everything will work out, and that if you work hard and are nice to people, then you’ll get what you deserve.
I like to daydream about all the things I want to do with my life: I like to create vision boards and update my motivation wall and hope that one day it would come true. But I also know, closing your eyes and wishing for something to happen, is a waste of time.
“Don’t be upset by the results you didn’t get with the work you didn’t do,” I always remind myself. I know all I have to do was put her head down, stay focused, and work hard.
Just because I believe in fairytales, does not mean that I’m sheltered, or unexperienced, or even unaware about the world around me. Of course I’m aware. In 2017, you have to be. Of course I know life isn’t a fairytale, but that doesn’t stop me from feeling like it’s one.
I work as an event planner. I get to spend my weekends hanging out with 500 people who are celebrating someone else’s happiness. Everyone takes time to dress up and pick out gifts for someone else, whether it’s a wedding, a birthday, or a retirement party. Some of these people traveled from out of city, state, even country, to attend these events. I’m tired of hearing that people are inherently mean and selfish. You wouldn’t say that after you’ve seen them dancing, and singing, and tearing up at toasts.
Two of his points were that, if you don’t have a goal, then you are aimlessly walking, and that change is always happening and we are not in control.
I don’t think not having a goal means you’re lost: I think it means you’re taking what comes to you. Everyone has goals, everyone dreams. Everyone wishes for their ideal self, but sometimes goals are unrealistic. Not pursuing these goals doesn’t mean you’re lazy or unaccomplished either.
I also think we are in control, at least to a certain extent. Right now it is a Monday evening, and I am sitting in my room. I can choose right now, to shave all the hair off my head, to donate all of my clothes and buy new ones. I can tell someone that I love them, or tell the person I hate why they irk me. I can quit my job and go down a completely different path. I can travel the world, move to a different place, adopt a new religion, or change my way of thinking. Change isn’t always this impending chaos; change can be great too.
I don’t appreciate the “It’s all you, no one will be there for you” concept. People are there to help you, people want to help you. People are willing to go the extra mile if you let them. You get back what you deserve, and if you are there for people, they will be there for you too.
Believing in fairytales is my “escape.” I hate using the word escape because it has such a negative connotation. It gives me a chance to explore. I like rewatching Aladdin and Moana, and I am always ready to sit down for 16 hours and watch Harry Potter. But that doesn’t make me any less “adult,” or capable of taking on the world.
After all, I am a gladiator. Gladiators don’t run, they stay and fight. They slay dragons. They wipe off the blood and stitch up their wounds and they live to fight another day, and I always remind myself that I’m a fighter.
