It's easy to discredit shows like "The Bachelor" as it seems impossible to genuinely fall in love so fast. It seems so crazy to commit your life to someone after only a few short weeks together. What most people forget, though, is that each and every person's love story is different. Sometimes it takes years to find the love of your life and sometimes it only takes a matter of days or weeks. Although I cannot say with complete certainty that every relationship formulated on "The Bachelor" is the same kind of genuine love found in 'the real world', true love can definitely be found.
Placed on an island with past contestants on "The Bachelor" and "Bachelorette", contestants are encouraged to formulate relationships with each other in order to stay on the show each week. While some contestants are more concerned with staying on the show than finding true love, some couples who meet make organic connections and end up falling in love. One of the most surprising and unconventional love stories on the Bachelor occurred this past season on Bachelor in Paradise.
Marred for his seemingly fragile and sensitive persona, Evan Bass was quickly overseen both on Jojo Fletcher's season of "The Bachelorette" and "Bachelor in Paradise." He was illustrated as the victim of Chad Johnson's bullying and never truly overcame that. The woman to look past this, however, was Carly Waddell on this past season of "Bachelor In Paradise." Although apprehensive at first based on presumptions from his previous season, Carly agreed to go on a one-on-one date with Evan which seemed great according to Evan. It took Carly a couple more weeks to realize that she had met the man she would fall in love with.
"The Bachelor" teaches us that there is no true definition of conventional love and that everyone truly has their own love story.
To think that everyone's journey to find love is the exact same is to think wrongly.
Although first impressions are pertinent and often hard to change, Evan pursued Carly because he could see the potential in their connection even when she couldn't see it herself. In what we consider to be conventional relationships, most would give up after feeling rejected. This unconventional behavior, in my opinion, dissipates Evan's negative perception and rather makes him seem much more strong and manly.
What we can take away from this is that not only can we find unconventional love on "The Bachelor," but also in real life as well. Let's learn to not judge other's relationships on the basis of past reputations or how odd the circumstances and situation of love may seem.
Love happens all the time, even in the weirdest of places.
