The Hopeless Romantic: Good or Bad?

As I finished Breaking Dawn last night (which was so good), it made me realize the down side of being a hopeless romantic. Filling my mind with the made up love stories, too-good-to-be-true men, more romantic that possible get-a-ways, gestures, and gifts, etc. only sets the bar higher than it should be. Wishing and hoping that my life will turn out with my knight in shining armor riding up on his white horse, reaching and exceeding my impossibly high romantic expectations, and having life really turn out happily ever after, will only leave me wanting. This is the down side of being a hopeless romantic. At times the ideology is beneficial in keeping the faith that Love really is just around the corner and Love still exists in the world, but has it's weakness in setting expectations to never be reached.

I've always wanted my life to be like the perfect love story, with the uber romantic husband and everything. I have realized, however, that this is a severely flawed sense of love. Love can only grow and strengthen through the downfalls and hard times. Of course I will want the romance, but I don't want my life to be perfect. I gain too much and appreciate so much when the road gets rough and the incline steepens. Getting through the bumps and the uphill battle is never fun, but once the road smooths and evens out, you take the time to appreciate the gentle ride and all that comes with it.