"I want the fairy tale . . ."

Let me tell you a story.

There once was a young girl who had big dreams. Her dreams were idealistic and untarnished by life's future disappointments. She dreamed of living a life that made a difference. She imagined that life would someday include a family of her own.

The girl grew into a woman. She had worked hard and long to make her dreams come true. She really felt that her daily life mattered. That her daily life impacted others. That, as she once dreamed, she was making a difference. She was surrounded by family and friends that she loved, that loved her. The only missing piece was a partner to share her life with. A man to start a family with.

But despite this missing piece, the girl-turned-woman was happy. She was content with who she was and where she was in life. She was confident that her dreams would be realized to completion. That one day, someday, she would have the partner she wanted. She never doubted a destiny that included marriage and children.

Time passed. Her girlhood optimism and idealism were repeatedly threatened by the world's cynicism. She found it harder and harder to trust in her dream. At the end of most days, she was unable to be certain that the past 24 hours were of any significance. And while she continued to meet and date boys, no man was anywhere to be seen.

So on the eve of her 30th birthday, we find our heroine wondering where her dreams have gone. Where is the life she wanted, the destiny she was previously so certain of?

Is it time for new dreams? Or instead of losing her dreams, has she really just lost her faith?

To be continued . . .