Dear LPG,

Through the years, and since books and feature films were available to the masses, the films aimed at men always seemed to focus on war and hardship, while we ladies favoured the stories that allowed our heroes and heroines to get to the other side of that and live happily ever after. 

I suppose that we can argue that we ladies prefer the fairy story, be they ancient or modern, because of the ‘happily ever after’ aspect of them

I think that ’happily ever after’ is always preceded by challenge, unhappiness, sadness, the frustration of not being able to achieve a goal, being the underdog, feeling worried frightened and anxious, or feeling bored and, wherever the plot starts there has to be an element of impossibility or negativity.  The stories that all these films are based on have something in common with reality, because they all tend to start with situations which are not impossible for us to relate to.

All my supposition has led me to one deduction, and that is if you are feeling negative or frustrated about something it may just be that you are experiencing the prequel to your ‘happily ever after’ and, while I know that ‘ever after’ is a bit of an exaggeration, regardless of if you get the guy, finish the knitting, get to the end of the spring cleaning, finish your DIY project, finish writing the book or do the half marathon, each accomplishment or goal that we achieve is worth celebrating.  So, ladies and gentleman, celebrate them.

PM, Downham