The Sex and the City "types" have been well explored, but I was reminded of their usefulness today when someone who has known me for just a few months (but knows me well already) said to me, "When it comes to looking for a guy, you're Charlotte."

For those of you that didn't follow the show, Charlotte was the quintessential romantic, the true believer who just KNEW her Prince Charming was out there. She was often naive, and approached each relationship as if it were her first. She came off a bit like a prude at times, and an innocent, and was by far not the most spectacular character on the show. I always fancied myself a Carrie, wild-haired, attracting really awesome men, getting hurt sometimes, hurting them sometimes, but dusting myself off pretty easily and going on to her next cool adventure.

But, if I'm being honest, yeah, I'm a Charlotte. It wasn't until recently that I realized not every woman was. Certainly, the romantic comedies and the pop songs seem to cater to the Charlottes among us. (I mean, could you imagine a popular Adele ballad, "Hey, It Didn't Work Out With Us, Whatever?" or a Kate Hudson vehicle entitled, How To Realize Guys Aren't Everything in 10 Days?). But as I get older and don't change (I was always told this romantic streak was something I'd grow out of), I am deciding to embrace the Charlotte within me.

For all you Charlottes out there, here is the Charlotte Manifesto:

I believe in love, passionate, complete, everlasting.

I know one day I will meet the man on whose chest I will lay my head, and truly rest.

I believe that love can be so complete that I will be able to share everything about myself with him, and not worry about The Rules, playing the game, keeping an air of mystery or otherwise being worried that he might just not be that into me. (Although I acknowledge that may not be right at first).

I believe there is at least one man who will appreciate the torrent of love and enthusiasm I have to bring to a relationship. I know he'll love how much I'll adore him.

I believe it will work out.

I believe it's okay to wonder if every guy I meet is The One. Because everyone that isn't The One gets me closer to the one that is.

I believe that yearning and searching for love makes me stronger, not weaker.

I believe. And it's okay if you do too. We know all the grown-up stuff, the work, the compromise, the monotony of real relationships. It's not all rose petals and champagne. But the dream can stay alive through all of that, if you let it, and there can be enough rose petals and champagne if you work on it.

Share this with the Charlottes in your life.

PS- Charlotte gets her happily ever after, albeit in a form she never expected. So, Charlottes of the world, unite in the hope that when your heart makes a fervent enough wish, you will get it. And not just in tv shows.