We live in a time where late night text messages, heart eyed emojis and likes on an Instagram post are considered romantic. A guy can text a girl the simple word, “hey” and we’re supposed to get excited and fussy, tell our girlfriends and put actual thought into what to say next. Call me old-fashioned, but a three-lettered, one syllable word at one a.m. via text message doesn’t get my heart racing.

Now, if you’re anything like me, you’re the type of person that cries during every movie (yes, even the happy ones). A girl gets the guy? Tears. A guy loses the girl? Tears. No matter how much I try to deny and hide it, I am the typical emotional and sappy hopeless romantic.

At first thought, being a hopeless romantic sounds, for lack of a better word, pretty hopeless. But after actually putting it all into perspective and taking a look at the time I live in, what’s wrong with high expectations, dreams and aspirations? Absolutely nothing.

I think it’s important to embrace the fact that I was brought up, thanks to fantastic romance novels (shout out to Nicholas Sparks, Sarah Dessen, and Jojo Moyes) and beautiful movies, to settle for nothing less than butterflies and happy endings.

I am a 20-year-old hopeless romantic, and it is more than okay if you are too. Here’s why:

1. You never settle (or you at least try your hardest not to).

In our favorite romance novels and movies, the main characters go for what their heart wants. The princess never sees Prince Charming and thinks, “Eh, why bother, I’d rather date someone I’m not nearly as attracted to.”

Take Belle, for example (yes, I’m citing Disney romance). In the fairy tale, Gaston was every girl’s dream and Belle wasn’t even slightly interested. Not because he wasn’t handsome or promising, but because it wasn’t her happy ending. Sure, Beast was no dream man at first, but she went after what she wanted when she realized she was in love.

The point is that Belle didn't settle, and we may not all be Disney princesses in beautiful ball gowns, but if we hopelessly believe in real romance, we won’t settle either.

2. You know your worth.

Everyone has had that one bad date or regretful relationship. Now we can certainly look at those bad dates and relationships as mistakes, or we can look at them as lessons. Every bad date and every wrong relationship teach you not only what you’re looking for in another person, but also what you believe you deserve.

If you find yourself watching movies like "The Longest Ride", "A Walk To Remember" or "The Fault In Our Stars" while telling yourself that you deserve a relationship filled with that much love and passion, then don't cast it aside as a dream that may never come true. If that is what you are looking for in life, then go after it and don’t settle for anything that isn’t what you deserve.

There’s no rule in life that happy endings only happen in books and movies. Romance is real, and those great reads and must-sees portray what could be, not what will never be.

3. You see the beauty in every aspect of life.

Hopeless romantics have beautiful and amazing romance notions for life. As visionaries, sentimental dreamers and idealists, hopeless romantics look for the beauty in every scenario. To some, it may sound cheesy, but to me, it’s a simple description of who I am as a person.

I get touched by the smallest things in life, I get excited about other people’s happiness; I find extreme joy in life's many surprises and I’m obsessed (and not even the slightest bit ashamed) with chick-flicks. It’s easy to walk around and focus on the bad things in life, the what if’s and the why not’s. However, hopeless romantics never look at life that way.

We’re “glass half full” kind of people, always seeking out the beauty and positivity in every situation.

4. Your advice game is on point.

We tend to become connected to the characters we read about, almost as if we are a part of their love story. Because of that, when similar real-life situations occur, we feel as if we lived through it. A guy cheated on our best friend? We know exactly what to say; it happened in two of our favorite books. Passing through a hard time in your relationship? No worries, just come to us, and we’ll have plenty to say.

If our friends have relationship problems and need someone to talk to, we’re the ones to see for positive, uplifting and helpful advice.

5. You believe in “The One.”

With over 7 billion people on the planet, many believe that it’s nearly impossible to find the “The One.” But not us. As hopeless romantics we believe in meeting that special someone when you least expect it, whether it be while sitting in a college class, waiting at the bus stop or in the middle of a crowded restaurant. Some say impossible; we say 100% possible.

We are not daydreamers or adults with child-like complexes. We are humans that simply are in love with love. And why is that more than okay? Because a life with love is much happier than a life without.

Proudly step out into the world as the hopeless romantic that you are, holding your box of tissues at the movie theater, keeping your head in the romance novels and seeking for that special someone.