I grew up watching VHS tapes with my family on Friday nights. Often they would start with a blue castle and that famous signature we all know so well - Walt Disney. While I watched them I fell in love with the heroines; amazingly kind women who in the end get what they want and score a handsome man.
While looking up to these animated women I tried to be like them. But soon it became obvious that I would never be able to have animal friends who understood me as well as Flounder, beautiful hair with minimal effort or be able to fall in love at first sight.
Now how was I supposed to find my prince?
Aurora was able to find the man of her dreams in one try. Literally, Philip was the first guy she ever met and she somehow still knew that he was the one for her. Ariel thought that a prince with two legs instead of a singular fin was the right man. And even with objections from others she was proven right. And Anna... well Anna was wrong about her first guy.
However, I was not simply raised on VHS tapes. I was surrounded by a loving family. When asking them for guy advice, it was as though I was hearing more stories from Disney. For two generations (at least) the couples that make up my family tree were founded on their first interaction. They somehow seemed to be in cahoots with Mr. Disney himself because they fell within a glance (or a prolonged gaze, I didn’t really get all of the eye contact details).
My grandma met my grandpa when she was on a date with another man. Who happened to be one of his best friends. My grandpa was on leave from the Navy and wanted to visit while he was in town. The three of them went out for dinner and talked for hours. That night they separated casually. However, the next day my grandpa drove around the town trying to find her before he had to go back to port. Luckily he did find her and he asked her out. They have been together ever since.
So Disney wasn’t wrong? I’m just supposed to look at a guy and somehow know he is the one (or him know I am the one for him)? That is way too much pressure. Falling in love at first sight? Please. I can barely complete an "I Spy" book within a decent time frame. I’m pretty sure I won’t be finding ‘the one’ for me by looking into a guy’s eyes any time soon.
For now I will continue the life I have planned. I’m more on a Merida level. But who knows - maybe one day I will lock eyes with someone and some Disney magic will work on me too.
