As I surfed across the internet the other day while putting off homework, I decided to get my fix of FML’s on fmylife.com. While laughing at the misfortune of others, I came across one that really caused me to LOL.

“Today, my girlfriend dumped me proclaiming she wanted someone more like her ‘Edward.’ I asked her who Edward was. She held up a copy her “Twilight” book. She was talking about a fictional vampire. FML”

While most of us laugh at this, there are a good number of people who, while laughing, also agree. But not only Edward Cullen, but any Disney movie and romantic comedy characters. They portray a tragic yet beautiful love story take place. They leave the audience happy and excited, hoping it will one day happen to them, but also quite bitter because it hasn’t.

I happened to be on a date when I first saw the “Twilight” movie, and it was a really bad idea. I kind of had the same reaction as the girl who broke up with her boyfriend.

It was the scene where Edward has Bella climb onto his back and he jumps from tree to tree, climbing higher and higher, and we see them way above everything, romantically looking out over the valley. I couldn’t help but look at the guy I was seeing the movie with and think, “Psh. You can’t do that. What have you got for me?”

I knew perfectly well that thinking that was quite ridiculous. There’s never going to be that guy who could jump in front of a crashing car to save my life or rip the head off of another attacking vampire. And really, there’s never going to be someone who could be the picture perfect boyfriend, crazy vampire skills or not.

It’s the same with movies like “The Notebook,” “P.S. I Love You,” and “Cinderella;” and the list continues. No one falls in love the way they do in these movies. There’s no glass slipper, magic wand, series of love notes or love lost, love found..

My biggest pet peeve of all, however, is when someone that’s hot as hell chases after us and vies for attention like no other. We never say, “No I can’t.” It’s usually, “OMG, yes please. I want to be with you too.”

Here’s the deal. And for once, I’m actually attempting to offer some serious, legitimate advice.

Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t think so. We spend too much time trying to make our dating and love lives like those in the movies. We want someone to be funny and smart and get our lame jokes and cuddle with us when it rains so we can check off every box on that “ideal partner” checklist. But really, it’s not going to happen.

Finding that “true love” is more about not looking, but going with the flow. Go ahead and date around, but remember that more than likely, he’s not going to be “the one.”

It’s okay to make mistakes and realize that you just don’t click with someone, and it’s even okay to put yourself out there and get hurt. This is the time to have fun. Meet lots of people and learn about yourself. If we just focus on finding our future partner, there’s no telling what we’ll really miss out on.

We need to leave Edward Cullen where he belongs – in a storybook. Forget the movies and quit waiting for that knight in shining armor. Because if we just sit and wait for him or her to come, they might not. They might be just as lost as we are, sitting and waiting for us to find them.

So if you’re going to take anything from my blabbering this past semester about the woes of dating, take this: Stop watching the movies where people fall in love. Go out and write your own story.