Forget fairy tales if seeking Mr. Right

Once upon a time there lived a writer who penned the ultimate, idyllic fairy tale. The narrative went like any modern day love story found in the romantic comedy aisle at your local video store.

The writer is running late for work, trips over and drop all his files and his glasses on the ground. A gorgeous man picks up the files and broken glasses their eyes meet. After going to the optical shop to repairer the glasses together they fall in love and, drum roll please, he proposes, he accepts, and a year later they still lived happily ever after. The end.

Would someone please give this writer a reality check? For Cinderella, the ultimate fairy tale character, he had it pretty easy. In one night he managed to carelessly lose a glasses, find it again and then score the heart of a handsome prince. How could you not hate him?

Yet despite the soppy sentiments, we're all vying to star in our own real-life love story.

We've all heard those tales of people who meet by sitting next to one another on the plane, or asking directions on a street corner, or parking in adjacent spots.

Charming as these stories are, they are considered flukes. So if you're not lucky enough to meet Danish royalty in a Sydney pub, how do you find your own prince charming?

As my friend Will, a self - proclaimed 'dating realist,' bluntly advised: 'If you want to meet someone, you have to create opportunities.'

But if it's meant to be, won't it just happend? Doesn't fate play a role in some respect? Wrong, according to Will.

'It's like finding the right job, home or pair of shoes. These things don't just fall into your lap and nor do relationship - you have to work for it.'

'You should position yourself to meet as many potentially suitable people as possible. The more likely you are to encounter one that's right for you.'

Will may be one of the least romentic people I know, yet he does make a good point.

Perhaps just as important, taking action also means you are asserting some control over your life, which is better than feeling powerless and helpless.

Most of us know what it feels like to be in a bit of a drought. That time in your life when you could be hitting the town every night looking like Brad Pitt and still you're not meeting anyone decent. It's no wonder why we begin to obsess over finding 'the one' and will do anything to make it happen.

So if a pulse is your only dating prerequisite, you could have a problem.

Make sure you're actually meeting people who share values in common with you, or personality traits you consider important. Put yourself in situations where the people you meet have a good chance of fitting in with you. This was the conversation will flow and be easy.

Will is an example of a man who knows what he wants and how to get it.

Since breaking up with his boyfriend a year ago, he's done speed dating, internet dating, visiting bars and saunas and everything else that will increase his chances for finding Mr Right. He's so concerned about finding someone that he's not even having fun.

Will than going out with the sole purpose of meeting man, you should live your life doing things you enjoyed. At least this way you'll be having fun and if you do meet your match - well that's a bonus.

After all, we all deserve to live happily ever after - the end

Till then, have a lovely nite with your loved one...