Shonda Rhimes

I'd bought the fairy tale.

I really had, I think.

And saying that I didn't want to do that, saying yes to not being a person who wants to get married, it was really hard to let that definition sit inside me.

But it also was the greatest relief that I ever felt when I finally said like, no, I don't want to do this.

And that's how I know I'd done the right thing.

I mean, there's nothing like that feeling.

And I think we're all raised to believe this fairy tale, right?

We've all been indoctrinated into it.

I don't care what it is.

The things that you're told you're supposed to want, you're supposed to want.

And when you don't want them, part of you feels like something's wrong with you.

But part of you feels like, well, I've got to figure this out and sort of shove myself into whatever box I'm supposed to be in.

And I remember feeling panicked at all times.

I literally remember people saying, you're glowing and me thinking I'm sweating.

Like I'm not glowing.

I'm sweating with panic.

And just not able to mold myself into this idea of what you're supposed to want to be.

And I think there are so many people, so many people, men and women, so many people who feel like this.

Who feel like these are the things I'm supposed to want.

And if I don't want them, I'm somehow wrong.