happily ever after?

I love fairy tales. Happily ever afters. Romance. Like most girls. Today I have just been thinking a lot and does it really all exist? I think it does. I have recently started watching the tv series 'Once Upon a Time' (which is probably what has started all the thinking) and my brother thinks it is really corny. But I would like to believe that "true love" does exist... just not necessarily like it does in Hollywood. Love is something that you have to work on. I'm not a personal expert, I've never been in love, but I am surrounded by relationships. I've seen what works and what doesn't work.  I think in our society everyone is looking for a perfect relationship, the whole true love and marriage  and 'they all lived happily ever after' endings, and they get disappointed when it all comes crashing down. Divorce rates are so high and this world is getting so messed up because real love is being taken out of society.  Being replaced with a fanciful, puffed up version. Most of the time the only things that people really love is themselves. I'm not trying to be all negative, there is still some very amazing love out there, but it's getting harder and harder to hold on to and to find. Even in the storybooks, true love is when they love each other more than they love themselves. They always say "I will do anything for you" not " I will do anything for you that is convenient for me". The hero always has to battle for love. There are always obstacles and challenges and its only after they overcome all of it that they can live happily ever after. The struggles are what make the love so strong because they are fighting together for it. They aren't fighting each other or looking for what will make themselves most happy.  They are fighting for each other and looking for what will make each other most happy.  Love isn't just a feeling that once you have it it will last forever. It is a power that you have to continually fight for.
I will admit to wanting to find true love and a happily ever after for myself. Everyone does. But I want the real kind.  Sometimes, though, I do wonder if I will find it or if I too am caught up in the fairy tale of it all and somehow I will miss what's right in front of me for the want of something that doesn't exist.