What's ruining your life?

The other day I read a pretty funny article on MSN, "Is Twilight Bad for your love life?" Granted, it was written by a blogger at Glamour (Erin Meanly) who was not already an avid fan (aka she does not have the intense love for Edward Cullen/Rob Pattinson that 15 year old girls and I do). But, she was totally right. Twilight is probably bad for your love life. No guy will ever be Edward Cullen. Period. Edward Cullen is fictional, and Stephanie Meyer (and Disney for that matter) lied with the whole Cinderella/happy ending thing.

Life is not going to be perfect. The article got me thinking, Twilight might actually be ruining some things for some people (gasp, shock I know I know, just wait). OK, maybe not just Twilight in general, but the hyped up sensationalism that surrounds the books and especially the movie stars might be. I think at some point, everyone thinks that having everything you ever wanted right this second would be the answer to life's problems. Hell, maybe being a vampire sounds like the answer to your problems. But the point is Edward and Bella are fictional and the whole story is written to entertain you, not for you to spend your time crying that you don't have what they have. (In their case it's everlasting love, perfection and the ability to knock over trees and boulders with a sneeze.)

Unemployment has given me a new lease on life. Or rather, it's made me look at life differently. This is what I know:

1. Life doesn't always have some bigger purpose. We're not all going to be famous authors or movie stars. In fact, the chances of this happening are pretty slim. Obviously it happens, but a lot of it has to do with luck and being in the right place and the right time. Good things will probably happen to you, but it may not be a best-selling novel, an Oscar, an Edward Cullen or a winning lottery ticket.

2. Patience is a virtue. Someone very close to me told me that if you want something badly enough, eventually you will get. But, you probably won't get it when or how you thought you would. No one is on the same time table. Some of your friends may have found their Edward Cullen wannabe's or their dream job, but it has nothing to do with you or your life. I repeat, other people's lives have nothing to do with yours. Sometimes you just have to wait.

3. You have to believe the universe is on your side. Paulo Coehlo's book "The Alchemist" is one of my favorites and in it he says "And when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it." You may go through tough times. And it may last longer than you want. But you can't think the universe is against you, because the second you think that it will be. Tough times don't last, tough people do.

4. To quote Rev Run, "Do your best, forget the rest." The past is over so stop dwelling on it. Stop looking backwards and wishing you could do things differently. For as many people there are that like you, there's probably going to be some that don't. And for the record, it doesn't matter.

You don't have to stop reading Twilight or obsessing over Robert Pattinson (wahooo!) but I agree with the article's point. Don't expect Edward Cullen to show up at your doorstep, and don't let what you don't have ruin your life.

P.S. You can read Erin's article here: http://www.glamour.com/sex-love-life/blogs/single-ish/2009/08/is-twilight-bad-for-your-love.html?mbid=synd_msn_wonderwall.