We all know the usual fairytale books and movies. The princess of the story finds herself before a seemingly insurmountable obstacle placed before her by a villainous entity. All hope seems lost unless an external party miraculously intervenes.
Enter Prince Charming.
He makes a royal entrance, riding atop a loyal steed. Upon his arrival, he brings a momentary sigh of relief to both the princess and us, the audience. Armed with a quick wit and a weapon he has undeniably mastered, Prince Charming now stands before the villain. He is poised to fight for the freedom of the princess and against all the vices the villain seeks to defend.
Weapons clang. Firearms bang. After a close fight, Prince Charming inevitably claims victory. With the villain destroyed, the princess and prince ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after. The End.
So... That’s it? When encountering an obstacle, I’m supposed to melt into misery and passively wish and wait for a prince charming to save the day? Weak sauce. I want to be a saucy princess, made of sugar and spice, who is sometimes not so nice. I want to be someone who can save herself.
Enter Friend Charming.
My dearest Friend Charming, I’ve told you this before. But when I met you, I thought you were charming. Too charming. “Are you just another Prince Charming? Eager to add to your extensive list of spared princesses and damsels in distress?” I silently questioned.
You made a warm introduction, arriving at the bar minutes before me. Oops. And just like all the other Prince Charmings in times of olde, you, too, were armed with a cuirass of quick wit, a reassuring smile, and a powerful weapon only you could wield.
“Oh, here we go again,” I rolled my eyes. “Another brave one. Maybe another short-lived happily ever after.”
Though I did feel trapped under the weight of a broken relationship, you weren't here to fight my battle and save the day. No. You were here for much more. At my request, you unsheathed the metaphorical rope dart you carried via stories from your past and hopes for the future. Just like your kind face, it emanated an alluring glow. As it glinted back at me, I was inspired to forge my own weapon: a dagger. I sought to master the same weapon that had pierced my heart too many times before. Too many run-ins with ruffians, Heffalumps, and Woozles taught me I needed to learn to defend myself, especially against the evil emperors disguised as prince charmings. I yearned to fight for my own freedom and against all the vices these villains sought to uphold.
Little did I know that the person to teach me now sat before me with a bourbon in his hand, smiling back at me, eager to share both his experience and expertise in vanquishing evil and cultivating love.
Over the next few months, you shared your stories of both victory and loss, always emphasizing the lesson learned from each one. With each interaction and with each story shared, the power in my own dagger grew, and the bravery in my heart swelled.
Now I’m well on my way to becoming a warrior princess. I have a long way to go, but one thing is for sure: I’ll never be another damsel in distress.
With villains to vanquish and so much more to explore, the Warrior Princess and Friend Charming rode into the sunset and lived each day one at a time.
The End... Of the beginning.
Thank you for being my Friend Charming.