Although this post is induced by ratings-seeking-ABC's "The Bachelor" I can't help but be slightly obsessed with the outcome of the show and apply it to my life and the life of my close friends. After Bachelor Jason was dumped last year by Deanna (the Bachelorette) he came back to try his luck again at finding his perfect mate (this time as the Bachelor). And while he THOUGHT he met that perfect person, he later reneged on his decision, thinking instead that he wanted the girl he originally sent home. (Whew!) At first glance we think this guy is a basket case and has unreasonable expectations...until you really look at his eyes and see that he is genuinely hurt and confused. Jason, a single dad of a three year old son, has loved and lost many times. To see it from his side is something that many people may not normally do.
Sure, I haven't been on The Bachelor and I haven't made my relationship a must-see television show (although sometimes I think I have the drama that it would take to make one!) I HAVE been the parent who is sitting there thinking, "WHAT HAVE I DONE?" I'm sure that everyone has those days when they wake up next to their partner and thinks, "Really? This is it? Forever?" (And if you're one of those people who doesn't think that, I don't want to hear it!) BUT...where do we draw that line of what's just satisfying and what's what we TRULY want? When does a married man decide that he's had enough and go towards a life that couldn't be farther from the life he promised himself and his wife? When does a mother decide that what SHE truly wants isn't what she promised for her children?
All I'm saying is that we all go through confusing times. We're all Jason Mesnicks.
