Donald and Dorothy Photo Credit: Cambria Grace Photography Read their love story here

I'm always in awe of how love can remain that strong after so many years. 
How do they do it? How do you get to that point? 

I can't even manage to get an actual date or encounter a true gentleman (apologies to the ones who actually are) nowadays, let alone a man who's willing to commit to something serious in a world full of hookups, low expectations, and emotionless sex. 

I am and forever will be a hopeless romantic. 
Although, I'd definitely would like to get rid of the hopeless part. 

Like many, I want my own love story. 

Meet someone and hope they chase me rather than I chase them. 
A guy that surprises me with flowers or plans a fun date. 
Takes me somewhere I've never been. 
Calls me rather than texts me. 
Spends a day at the beach with me soaking in the summer sun and enjoys just taking a long walk along the water during sundown.
Loves to watch the stars at night and talk about life. 
Stroll Central Park and take in the city lights. 
Get to know me on another level than just physical. 
Learn about my dreams, goals, and what keeps me up at night. 

It all seems too "perfect" and yes, it might be. 
But I know it's possible because those ideas wouldn't exist if it wasn't. 

I know a lot of us can relate.

It seems atypical. I'm a woman. 
I love romance: sappy romance movies, Nicholas Sparks novels, and planning my elaborate cathedral wedding on Pinterest. 

Apart from marveling at love stories, day dreaming about my own someday, and binge watching Say Yes to the Dress more than I should, it goes beyond that. 

They say when "it's suppose to happen it will" and "what's mean to be will be". 
Love, that is. 

I don't think it's impossible or delusional to think that one day I'll be like that old couple I described or Donald and Dorothy in the adorable images above. 

It all really starts with one word: crush. 

Let's be real. Have you ever had a crush on someone? Caught yourself liking someone you didn't expect to like? Have one now? 
It's probably one of the best feelings you can have. 

You find yourself thinking about them during the day. Somehow their name seems to appear more frequent anywhere you go. You equate them with a love song and every time that baby comes on your face lights up and the Mariah Carey or Michael Bublé in you makes an appearance. 

Nevertheless, it's scary to have a crush on someone. 
A crush could essentially...crush you. Seems morbid, I know. 
Truth hurts sometimes. 

I've been there many times. You start thinking about them and maybe you end up having the opportunity to see what could be. Sometimes, it doesn't work out for the best. 



Once you open your heart up to someone and they hurt it in anyway however minute that hurt may be, it's hard to open yourself up again to those feelings. You're scared it will happen all over again and end up being worse off than it was before. 

I know my heart turns into a fortress and protects itself stronger than an Army could. I'm terrified to allow that hurt to get in. 

But that's the thing. 

You have to let your guard down to let love in. 

Photo Credit: Cambria Grace Photography