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I've always been the reader and movie-lover in my friend group. The way that stories and characters inspire me to be the best version of myself touches my soul in a way that nothing else does. I was already an imaginative child, but after my family moved across our state, I spent all of middle school connecting with fictional words and characters, so I spoke to relationship expert Elizabeth Earnshaw, LMFT, for a look at why our bonds with fictional characters are so strong.

I've always been the reader and movie-lover in my friend group. The way that stories and characters inspire me to be the best version of myself touches my soul in a way that nothing else does. I was already an imaginative child, but after my family moved across our state, I spent all of middle school connecting with fictional words and characters, so I spoke to relationship expert Elizabeth Earnshaw, LMFT, for a look at why our bonds with fictional characters are so strong.

As I aged, I felt like I was growing up with my favorite characters, from The Chronicles of Narnia's Lucy Pevensie to the various superheroes in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As someone who's on the quieter side, it's always been inspiring to see characters that are brave under pressure because it makes me feel like I can be brave, too.

"Fictional romances can make us believe that our own romances should look exactly as we see them on the screen," Earnshaw says. "The same with how friendships and family relationships might be represented. But in real life, relationships are more complex and include day-to-day interactions which can't possibly be demonstrated on TV."

With so many shows and movies available, it takes no time at all to fall out of one hyperfixation and into another, but Earnshaw says that's not necessarily a bad thing. "Remind yourself that it's okay to have a fantasy! It is also okay to admire a character. I think it's super important not to have shame around this," she says. "And then, use that admiration and fantasy to consider what it means for your real life — what are you hoping for? What type of connections do you need?"

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Love the idea of a bridal jumpsuit, but don’t want to commit to it on the big day? Getting married at a country club, but know you’re a cottagecore girlie at heart? Let your personal style shine here! From one bride-to-be to another, here are the best white outfits to wear for your engagement photos.

Love the idea of a bridal jumpsuit, but don’t want to commit to it on the big day? Getting married at a country club, but know you’re a cottagecore girlie at heart? Let your personal style shine here! From one bride-to-be to another, here are the best white outfits to wear for your engagement photos.

low angle of pink flowering tree Photo by Anders Jildén on Unsplash

Love the idea of a bridal jumpsuit, but don’t want to commit to it on the big day? Getting married at a country club, but know you’re a cottagecore girlie at heart? Let your personal style shine here! From one bride-to-be to another, here are the best white outfits to wear for your engagement photos.

selective focus photography of jolly woman using peace hand gesture Photo by Brooke Cagle on Unsplash

Love the idea of a bridal jumpsuit, but don’t want to commit to it on the big day? Getting married at a country club, but know you’re a cottagecore girlie at heart? Let your personal style shine here! From one bride-to-be to another, here are the best white outfits to wear for your engagement photos.

a person holding a plate of food Photo by Polina Kuzovkova on Unsplash

Love the idea of a bridal jumpsuit, but don’t want to commit to it on the big day? Getting married at a country club, but know you’re a cottagecore girlie at heart? Let your personal style shine here! From one bride-to-be to another, here are the best white outfits to wear for your engagement photos.

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I've always been a stan for reading, and I've been a so-called book geek since kindergarten. My mom would always reward good grades and behavior with a trip to the local library, something my siblings loved more than any new toys or free time to play outside. We would spend hours at the tall stone building in the downtown area of the small town I spent my childhood in, first in the downstairs "Children's Room" (which only had books for readers 5-13). I later graduated to going (i.e., snuck) upstairs to find all the juicy celebrity autobiographies, travel books, and classics like Sula, Moby Dick, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

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