"The Notebook," starring Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, came out in 2004. Many of us were too young to even understand what was going on in this Nicholas Sparks phenomenon. I personally was still very hung up on Leonardo DiCaprio and the "Titanic" so, at the time, "The Notebook" didn’t even phase me.

But I first saw this movie at the ripe age of 12. It was the summer between sixth and seventh grade and my middle-school-self had no idea of what this movie, that my friend so casually popped in the DVD player one rainy day, would do to me.

My young, eager, unknowing eyes watched in awe as one of the most timeless love stories of our generation unfolded before me.

All previously conceived expectations and ideas of love ceased to exist in my mind and were instantly replaced with Noah and Allie.

The "The Notebook" and the ideas it put in my head ruined my life.

1. I daydreamed of being pursued like this by a guy who strongly resembles Ryan Gosling.

2. Being asked out like this, was the new standard.

If you don’t risk your life and dignity, I’m not into it

3. Being looked at like this, became a necessity.

4. Dancing in the street needs to happen.

5. And persuade me to lay down in the street, too.

6. I want you to call me out on my shit, but only because you care.

7. You have to want to be whatever I am. No matter what it is that I want to be.

If you're a turd, I'm a turd.

8. If you don’t say things like this and mean it, why are you even here?

9. Kissing like this.

10. And this.

11. Needing something that is worth fighting for.

12. Something that will bring us to this sappy but tear-jerking ending.

AKA being old farts together.

13. And no matter what to end the day like this.

The Notebook" showed most of us all of the things that we want from a relationship. And then reality comes in, hard.

Expectation:

Reality:

For more references, please see below:

And this.

Thanks for giving us unrealistic expectations when it comes to love, "Notebook." Not many can hold a candle to Ryan Gosling as Noah Calhoun.

But then, we see that Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams dated in real life. And Gosling's quote on their relationship may re-spark some hope.

" God bless 'The Notebook.' It introduced me to one of the great loves of my life. But people do Rachel and me a disservice by assuming we were anything like the people in that movie. Rachel and my love story is a hell of a lot more romantic than that."

Regardless, your hopeless romantics keep those standards high. Don't settle for anything less than the person who treats you how you want to be treated. The right person will rise to the occasion. And also, maybe have other goals in life besides a stellar relationship.