With 23 seasons to its name, it’s safe to say that The Bachelor franchise has captured the attention of many drama-loving viewers around the world. Watching the love lives of young men and women who can seemingly pack their bags and leave their jobs at the snap of a finger has become one of our favourite forms of entertainment. Through the different trials and tribulations of contestants on the show, I feel like I’ve learned a thing or two about love along the way!
- If they wanted to, they would.
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It’s really that simple. On The Bachelor, time and time again we have watched a contestant who wants their love interest to do or say something that would reaffirm their feelings. Whether it’s taking them on a one-on-one date, saying “I love you,” or showing just a sliver of interest, the truth is this: if they wanted to, they would. Trying to look for alternate explanations to someone’s behavior or making excuses as to why this person is giving you mixed signals are just ways of ignoring the actual situation at hand: they may not be interested. If someone truly wants to pursue you, there will be no doubt or confusion. Of course on The Bachelor one person is dating a group of 30 people, and so things can get a little complicated. But if there is a strong connection between both people, neither party will let the other think there is a chance of disinterest.
- Don’t fall for the idea of someone.
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Perhaps one of the most entertaining things to watch on this show is the speed with which people fall in love. Two people go on a date, things are going smoothly, and then you hear: “I can see us getting married at the end of this.” Oh no.
What you need to watch out for in your dating journey is falling in love with the idea of someone. There is no way you can imagine someone being the father or mother of your children on the first date. People often put their best foot forward in the beginning stages, after all it is called the honeymoon phase. It is only when you see and accept someone’s flaws that you can begin to truly understand and love them as they are.
- If you can’t get along now, you can’t get along later.
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Contestants are on a dating show that takes place in either a mansion (The Bachelor/Bachelorette) or on a private beach house in Mexico (Bachelor in Paradise). They are on a leave from their jobs, they are being taken away to magical dates, and they are being filmed on national television. If you are STILL fighting with your love interest during the most ideal time of your relationship where there are literally no external stressors, it’s probably not going to get better.
This goes for regular people, too. If you are at the beginning stages of a relationship and you seem to already be fighting without having introduced the stress of living together, doing long-distance, having kids or sharing finances, just know that responsibilities will only get harder with time. Of course there are other things to fight about, but it is a matter of analyzing whether or not you are strong enough to deal with things once they become more difficult.
- Sometimes, things are happily ever after.
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Kind of. Just look at Jade and Tanner, Chris and Crystal, Evan and Carly, Ashley I. and Jared, Sean and Catherine, Jojo and Jordan, Raven and Adam, and Colton and Cassie, to name a few. Sometimes, things really do work out for us and we find our person. We get to fall in love and have the other person fall in love back. We get to have a best friend to confide in and share our life with. And that is what makes the whole journey worth it. So ladies, don’t always say your goodbyes (as Chris Harrison would say), because love is worth it and always will be!