5 Ways to Make Your Life More Like a Fairy Tale – Guest Post

Let’s face it, sometimes everyday life can be somewhat monotonous. Go to the office, clean the house, manage the errands and all the other necessities required of maintaining one’s everyday modern life. When we read stories and fairy tales it is not hard to see why we are so easily swept away on magical journeys filled with charismatic characters and edge-of-your-seat narratives.

Their stories start with an exciting premise, a rise in action, and come to, in most cases, a happily ever after. Looking at their stories, even if they aren’t real can sometimes make our own feel a lot less eventful.

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But this should not be so! Daily life does not have to be so drab and dour. Remember that everyone’s life is a story in its own way, just like the fairy tales we know and love. There is no reason why everyone and anyone shouldn’t take a couple of moments out of each day to feel as if their lives also began with a ‘once upon a time’ in a faraway land, or at the least exist in a fun magical story.

Without further ado, here are five ways to make your life so it is just ever so slightly more like a fairy tale.

Be with Nature

What fairy tale doesn’t have a lovely enchanted forest, rolling meadows, and hillsides, or birds chirping in the morning? Nature and the beauty of natural surroundings have a major impact on our psyche and it’s hard to deny that they aren’t magical in and of themselves.

In the classic fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty by Charles Perrault the princess sleeps in a beautiful forest, surrounded by birds and woodland animals watching over her all the while. In the story of Snow White told by The Brothers Grimm, Snow White has such a unique relationship with nature, spending much of the story in an enchanted forest.

Getting outside and experiencing nature is a great way to feel as if you are in a fairy tale. From locally in your own backyard to the wide open wilderness, there are so many options to choose from. If you live in the city, going for a walk is a great way to get a bit of free air. Look up some botanical gardens and local hiking trails to try out. Most cities have many of these either within the urban downtown or on the outskirts of the city borders.

If you are planning a getaway, consider ditching the hotel and going for a camping trip. There is no better way to experience nature than sleeping under the stars and waking up directly to a beautiful sunrise.

Dress the Part

When was the last time you saw someone in a fairy tale wearing clothes like the ones we wear today? From synthetic fabrics to workout clothes, and suits and ties for the office, you can’t deny, fashion has come a long way since the time most of these stories were published. Black stretchy yoga pants and slimming leggings are comfy and practical but are simply not suitable for the fairy-tale lifestyle.

When we think of princesses, we think of ballgowns and glittery dresses that can really only be worn to a few occasions. Princes don’t wear the same types of suits that we wear to the office or formal occasions, but tailored clothing based on whatever was natural for them to wear at the time.

Depending on the story, this could be military uniforms or outfits geared towards specific activities such as riding for long distances on horses. Unless it is a costume party, these days one would not wear these types of clothes in public. But it’s really not that hard to incorporate a few fun pieces to make it just a little bit more fairy-tale-like.

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If dresses and skirts are your styles, choose them over shorts and pants. Take a stroll, and pretend like you are a princess, or perhaps a peasant. Or don a cloak and pretend you are little red riding hood making her way through the dark and dense woods. Synthetic fabrics weren’t available hundreds of years ago, so choose natural fabrics when you can.

Cotton, wool, and linen are great choices that have been throughout history even earlier than when the first fairy tales were penned. Light colors are a must when putting together a fairy-tale wardrobe. Choose light pinks, baby blues, and off-white beige tones. And if you are going to a ball, make sure you don’t forget the tiara!

Spend Lots of Time in Castles

What we experience around us, in particular visually, is extremely important in making us feel the way we do. Modern and contemporary architecture and art is fascinating and mind opening but was not something that would be found a long time ago.

Although not always described in the stories, Grimms’ Fairy Tales were published during the 19th century and comprises of a collection of stories, some new and some retellings from much older than that era. One can guess that most fairy tales’ architecture and artwork would be from as long a time ago as possible. Think castles, medieval artwork, and the odd gargoyle statue here and there.

So spend lots of times in castles, ruins, and anywhere really that gives off the vibe of being old, very old. Check out your local museums and art galleries for a way to experience some artwork from these time periods. This can be not only a fun experience but educational as well.

If you are planning a trip, consider skipping the shopping mall (at least for a day) and scoping out some historical landmarks in the area. The fairy-tale castle in the picture looks like something straight out of a story, but in fact, it is the very real Neuschwanstein Castle in southwest Bavaria, Germany commissioned by Ludwig II. It has an amazing history behind its creation, as well as clear architectural relevance as well. Sometimes all it takes is to go a little off the beaten path to take a truly special fairy-tale experience of your own.

Find Your Own Prince or Princess

Who doesn’t love a little romance in their own life? As intriguing and heartwarming as it is to read about the great romantic tales of Cinderella or Rapunzel, both stories are also a part of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales, both with princes, and both with happily ever after endings of their own.

Sometimes the idea of romance can feel a little overwhelming, or even time consuming, but there is a reason why everyone from Shakespeare to Lord Byron wrote countless works about the very subject of love.

So go out into the world and add a little romance to your life. You may be surprised at how just a touch of excitement in the romantic department can make a huge difference in how you feel day-to-day. Even if the particular prince or princess doesn’t turn out to be your one true love. If you already have a romantic partner have some fun with fresh colorful flowers, maybe some roses or daisies, chocolates or sweet treats, or a candlelight dinner. Romance is unique to the individual, but nearly always an essential part of every fairy tale.

Keep a Positive Mindset

In just about every story there is conflict. In many of the best known and beloved fairy tales, the conflicts are so great that they make everyday problems, like the car breaking down, or spilling the milk look downright trivial. The way young Cinderella was treated by her stepmother and stepsisters was unimaginably horrible. They made her cook, clean, and even mocked her. Yet she remained strong and had enough hope to even attend the ball, which of course resulted in the prince finding her.

In Rapunzel, the princess was literally held a prisoner in a tower. For years!

Just about every character has faced their own difficulties, and many of them greater and more extreme than perhaps some of our own everyday struggles. In order to vanquish the villain or escape the evil clutches of the antagonist, they all kept their spirits up and their wits about them. We can all learn something from the courage that these characters exhibit during times of great struggle.

So keep a positive mindset and take your failures in stride. Just like one of the many protagonists from these fairy tales you will find a solution to your problems, and make your way through seemingly impossible situations.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed reading a few ways to make your life a little more fun, exciting, and just ever so slightly more like a fairy tale. Remember, even though life can sometimes get you down, there can always be a happily ever after just around the corner.

Have you ever tried to make your life more like a fairy tale? Did it work? Let me know in the comments below!

BIO – ABOUT MELISSA CHAN

Melissa Chan is the founder of Literary Book Gifts. She took her love of literature and design to the collection of fun and fashionable clothing and tote bags for teachers, librarians, and book lovers.

Images in the post from Unsplash.

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