Day 17: Q is for Quaintrelle

(So sorry I didn't post yesterday. I was insainly busy, and didn't have time to even think about blogging until 11 o'clock at night. Needless to say, I didn't want to do it then. So here I am, posting a day late.)

I've had the word "quaintrelle" in mind for quite some time, mainly because I like the way it sounds, and its definition is exactly who I want to be. But until I tapped on the Spotify app on my phone and started listening to the Pride and Prejudice soundtrack (whether or not you like the 2005 version, you have to admit it has a gorgeous soundtrack), I had no idea what I was going to write about. That's when it hit me: Elizabeth Bennet. 

Having grown up with three older sisters, I've seen my fair share of romance movies; but none of them have stayed with me as long as Pride and Prejudice. It was at a very young age that I decided, in my little feminine, feminist heart, that I wanted to be just like Lizzie Bennet. She was always so inspiring to me. I loved her spunk, her charm, and her strength. I loved that she didn't sit around all day, pining and moping and waiting for a Mr. Darcy to sweep her off her feet, like so many girls do today. No, Lizzie was a strong young woman. She wasn't "going to die if she didn't have a boyfriend!" That is what makes her a true quaintrelle. 

So many of my peers feel so alone and worthless without a boyfriend, and they become desperate. They become easy. They jump at any guy who shows the slightest interest, even if that guy definitely doesn't deserve them. Girls are forgetting their dignity and worth. They are forgetting to take care of their precious hearts. Think about what would have happened if Elizabeth got desperate, easy, and tired of waiting. What if she'd forgotten her worth? If she jumped at any guy who showed the slightest interest? Well, she probably would have married Mr. Collins, and the story wouldn't be half and beautiful and memorable.

But Elizabeth didn't forget her worth. She knew that her heart was more important than an advantageous marriage. She knew that she deserved love, so she waited for Mr. Darcy. But did she mope around while she wanted? No! Elizabeth lived like a true quaintrelle. She pursued her passions, she read good books and took long walks, she made memories with Jane and Charlotte, her two best friends. Elizabeth understood something that many people these days do not understand: singleness isn't a curse, it's a gift, and waiting shouldn't seem terrible, it should be a time for having fun.

So the next time you're sick of being single and "alone" (you're never actually alone), remember that if elizabeth had settled for Mr. Collins, the story wouldn't still be told.