Published on
August 28, 2012

There's no such thing as a hopeless romantic.

No. That would imply that you are actually romantic at times. That you pursue, and are foiled in your own efforts. Contrary to popular belief, fantasizing about romantics does not make you a romantic, and dreaming about falling in love doesn't mean you know what love is.

A hopeless astronaut is not a person who dreams about going into space. It is not a person who imagines scenarios of various space adventures or missions, and yet has never experienced zero gravity.

No. A hopeless astronaut would be an astronaut who trains for years, passes multiple test and exercises, and struggles to prepare for that moment he would finally reach the outer limits, only to never reach those stars. When he has become fully ready, worthy of being called an astronaut, and yet every mission is canceled or runs into complications, to where he never fully realizes his dream, then he is a hopeless astronaught (see what I did there?)

You can dream of going to the stars. That doesn't make you a hopeless astronaut.

You can imagine sailing the high seas, pillaging and plundering. That doesn't make you a hopeless pirate.

You can fantasize about felling dragons and trolls. That doesn't make you a hopeless knight.

You can believe in wooing girls you don't even know. That doesn't make you a hopeless romantic.

That just makes you hopeless.

It may also make you a dreamer, but just because I dream of weilding a lightsaber and using the force, that doesn't make me a jedi. So don't call yourself a romantic, or a hopeless one at that, unless you're doing something about it.

Mattias is an actor, writer, filmmaker, and editor currently living in Los Angeles, CA. He often writes about his observations about life, the human condition, spirituality, and relationships. He also enjoys writing about movies, pop culture, formula one, and current events. Often these writings are 'initial thoughts' and un-edited, as authentic as possible, and should be considered opinions. If you're interested in commenting on his work, or continuing the conversation, you should consider following him on Twitter or share an article on social media, where he would love to engage even further. Consider subscribing via RSS for more.