As soon as I found out I had a teammate that loved watching the trashy yet incredibly addicting show "The Bachelor" I was stoked. Not only would I have someone to gossip about the past seasons with, but I'd have someone to watch the newest season with me while on the field. God's hand was ALL over this 😉
Ali and I knew the season of 'The Bachelor" was approaching and with no reliable wifi and trying to watch it internationally it was becoming a challenge. Our team had two sad girls. All we wanted was some comfort trashy reality TV from home. Was that too much to ask for?!
Finally we were able to download a VPN that would let us watch ABC.com from over seas and when we got all comfy in our sleeping bags and pushed play for the first episode I can assure you that our teammates could only roll their eyes at the 5th grade girls who were COMPLETELY giddy.
If I'm being honest with you, I will tell you that I was hesitant to watch. I had grown a lot the last 6 months. It's easy for this show to make you completely miserable. TRUST ME. I'm such a hopeless romantic, and watching the TV show "The Bachelor" does not help matters. It's easy to compare yourself to the gorgeous women and the gorgeous bachelor who seems to have it all together. Not to mention, the show always seemed to remind me of what I DON'T have….. the looks of all those beautiful women, and a man who is as 'perfect' as the bachelor. (I know what you are thinking, "it's a REALITY show" I know I know. Just let me explain!)
God had other plans. He always does. Turns out, all the growth that I've experienced came to the surface as Ali and I watched each episode. There were even moments when I would pause it, look at Ali, and say, "the old Bethany would have seen this perfect date and fell to the ground in a dramatic fashion in hysterical fake tears kicking my feet like a small child"
Here is what The Bachelor has taught me:
Gossip is not cool: Before coming on the race I guess you could say that I loved to gossip. Not the mean and degrading gossip, but sitting around with my girls and analyzing every ones lives seemed so fulfilling and entertaining. When you live in a smaller community it's SO easy to get caught up in that mess. There was one particular moment early on in the season when I paused it, turned to Ali and said "I'm embarrassed for these girls and the way they are sitting around enjoying drowning themselves in gossip." Watching them talk about each other made me so uncomfortable. Gossip is not cool. I don't find any point in it anymore.
I'm pretty: I'm pretty, and I'm going to own it. Am I the most stunning girl on the plant? Probably not. But who cares? I was made by the most perfect divine being that ever happened in this world and it was no mistake. The way God made me makes me beautiful, and I've decided to walk in that truth. Before? Watching those girls on TV was miserable. They were so incredibly gorgeous and I could never be them if I tried. But that's the point, I won't ever be them! I'm ME and it's time to own it!
I'm single, and it's ok: I'll be the first one to tell you that when I made a commitment in my interview to go on The World Race that I would remain single from the time of acceptance and through the entire 11 months, I didn't realize how hard of a commitment that was going to be. It hasn't been easy. There are days on the race when I'm "over it." This life gets exhausting, and it's hard not to think that it would be easier if I had that "someone" with me to share in this journey with. BUT, while watching the Bachelor instead of falling to the ground in a dramatic fashion in hysterical fake tears kicking my feet like a small child, I just smiled. I smiled because I knew that my turn to have a love WAY more real than whats on The Bachelor was coming, and I can't help but be excited for that!
So, while the show is trashy and kind of ridiculous – I'm thankful for it! I'm thankful because watching the season on the halfway mark has shown me the growth that I've fought for. I knew that going home after the race I'd be put back in my familiar surroundings and then I'd be able to tangibly see the ways I've grown. But, God gave me a dose of it at the halfway mark! Each day I'm striving to build off of the growth I've already had let me tell you….. It truly IS the best way to live!
