Relationships

Growing up I (along with every other kid I knew) watched movies like Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, etc. I loved all of these movies and still do, but went through adolescence and the first part of adulthood expecting this fantasy, this fairy tale to play out in my own life. The reality is something entirely different. What we DON'T see in these fairy tales is the AFTER. The actual relationship that does and must develop. We don't see the hard work that it takes to keep a relationship alive and thriving. We don't see the up's and the down's of life which can cause rifts in a relationship. Up til now, I've gone through life bouncing from one relationship to the next, looking for that fairy tale, looking for my prince charming. When my current partener didn't hold up to the ideal, I would walk away looking for the next prince to come along.
Now, as I get older, I am faced with being a grown up. I don't like. I buck against it like the wild untamed bronco that I am. But, I feel my age. I am getting older and I very much don't want to be alone. I realize now that no one is perfect. Everyone has their flaws and relationships are just a matter of determining for yourself which flaws you can live with. It's also about recognizing your own flaws, and working on improving yourself as much as possible. It's work, time, effort. If you are willing to put that into a relationship, it can be something very good and healthy and enlightening.
Today I resolve to put in the work that it takes to maintain, nurture and grow a relationship.