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What you need to realize when you discover you did not marry Prince Charming
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Sometimes life is not a fairy tale, and that is not a bad thing. In fact, your life is better than a fairy tale. Here's why. - photo by Megan Shauri
It can be easy to grow up thinking one day your prince will come -- the man that sweeps you off your feet, covers you in romance and treats you like a literal princess. When we first fall in love, it can seem like that is how you will live your life every day, but soon a different reality sets in. You realize every day is no longer filled with roses and chocolates, but rather bills and dirty dishes. Even though life is not as fairy-tale-like as you imagined, it is actually even better. Here's why.

It doesnt end at happily ever after

The nice thing about real life is it doesnt end when you find the one. Your story did not stop when you got married; it just began. You get to experience life together, have children, go on vacations and work to make your dreams reality. And you get to have these experiences with someone you love by your side. You get to make new goals together and you have someone to accompany you on the great journey of life.

Your husband is better than any prince

Sure, in fairy tales the prince saves the princess from some crazy scenario; but when your husband opens a door for you, carries your purse or runs to the grocery store for ice cream, realize those are the things that matter; not that he cant bench press 300 pounds like he once did or stay up all night out dancing with you, but that he knows your favorite place to get soda and what book your daughter likes him to read to her. These things make up the wonderful man you married, and that is sweeter than any prince.

You get to slay the villains together

It is not your husbands job to kill the "evil queen"; it is your job as a couple. When you face trials, demons and obstacles you get to work together to overcome them. It is your power as a couple that helps you defeat the evil in your life. Whether it be losing a job, fighting an illness or overcoming a personal loss, you dont have to face it alone, but rather with your one true love by your side.

If I have learned one thing from my marriage, it is that I do not want to live a fairy tale or be married to Prince Charming. I want to be married to a man that tries every day to make me happy; a man who goes to a job that he may not necessarily like so we can continue to have a roof over our head; A man who would rather stay in and watch movies with our kids then go to a fancy restaurant in the city; a man who knows life can be hard, but it does not mean we are not happy. We may not have a palace, but we have a happy home full of laughter and love. I may not be married to an actual prince, but I am married to a partner who works just as hard as I do at our marriage and is willing to keep trying even when we disagree. These are the things that make up a man, and I would much rather have a man than a prince.
Its toxic: New study says blue light from tech devices can speed up blindness
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A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers. - photo by Herb Scribner
It turns out checking Twitter or Facebook before bed is bad for your health.

A new study from the University of Toledo found that blue light from digital devices can transform molecules in your eyes retina into cell killers.

That process can lead to age-related macular degeneration, which is a leading cause of blindness in the United States, according to the researchs extract.

Blue light is a common issue for many modern Americans. Blue light is emitted from screens, most notably at night, causing sleep loss, eye strain and a number of other issues.

Dr. Ajith Karunarathne, assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, said our constant exposure to blue light cant be blocked by the lens or cornea.

"It's no secret that blue light harms our vision by damaging the eye's retina. Our experiments explain how this happens, and we hope this leads to therapies that slow macular degeneration, such as a new kind of eye drop, he said.

Macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease that often affects those in their 50s or 60s. It occurs after the death of photoreceptor cells in the retina. Those cells need retinal to sense light and help signal the brain.

The research team found blue light exposure created poisonous chemical molecules that killed photoreceptor cells

"It's toxic. If you shine blue light on retinal, the retinal kills photoreceptor cells as the signaling molecule on the membrane dissolves," said Kasun Ratnayake, a Ph.D. student researcher working in Karunarathne's cellular photo chemistry group. "Photoreceptor cells do not regenerate in the eye. When they're dead, they're dead for good."

However, the researchers found a molecule called alpha-tocopherol, which comes from Vitamin E, can help prevent cell death, according to Futurism.

The researchers plan to review how light from TVs, cellphones and tablet screens affect the eyes as well.

"If you look at the amount of light coming out of your cellphone, it's not great but it seems tolerable," said Dr. John Payton, visiting assistant professor in the UT Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Some cellphone companies are adding blue-light filters to the screens, and I think that is a good idea."

Indeed, Apple released a Night Shift mode two years ago to help quell blue lights strain on the eyes, according to The Verge. The screen will dim into a warmer, orange light that will cause less stress on the eyes.