Why I Was (Almost) on The Golden Bachelor

How I Became a Finalist for The Golden Bachelor …and what how I learned how to say no to the wrong stage.

I was in the middle of a work sprint. Laptop open. Deadline looming. No makeup. No distractions.

Then a call. From my granddaughter.

Now let me say this: She’s not the “call just to chat” type. She’s at Yale. Getting her Master’s. Sharp. Busy. Totally unimpressed by most things.

Which is why her next sentence caught me off guard:

“Grandma, there’s this new show called The Golden Bachelor... You should apply. It would be SO cool.”

Me? On a reality dating show? I laughed. But… she was serious.

I thought You know what? Why not? Maybe it’ll make her smile. Maybe it’ll make me cool, just for a second.

So that night, I filled out the application. Quick. No big deal. I told her I did it. We laughed. I hadn't been in a romantic relationship for over twenty years. No big deal.

And I thought that’s the end of it.

But it wasn’t.

Two months later, I got the call:

“Congratulations! You’re a finalist.”

And just like that, I was on a rollercoaster I hadn’t planned to ride. Interviews. Producer calls. Questions about my love life, my schedule, my wardrobe. Weeks off work. Gowns. Cameras.

At first, it felt exciting. Until it didn’t.

I started asking myself… Who is this man? Why am I doing this? Is this actually me… or am I playing a part for someone else?

Then came the turning point.

My granddaughter came to town. We went to lunch and I told her everything the stress, the gowns, the time off, the pressure.

She listened. Quiet. Thoughtful.

Then looked at me and said,

“Oh, I’d never do anything like that.”

That sentence hit me like a splash of cold water.

In that moment, I saw it all clearly: I wasn’t chasing love. I wasn’t chasing adventure. I was chasing her approval.

And I didn’t need to.

Right there at the table, I picked up my phone… and texted the producers: “I’m out.”

Funny thing is, the moment I stopped chasing something that wasn’t for me… something better found me.

A few weeks later, I met someone. No cameras. No gowns. Just two people connecting.

Now we’re engaged. And it’s real. No reality show needed.

So why am I telling you this?

Because sometimes, the things we think we “should” do… the things we say “yes” to out of fear or flattery… are just distractions from what we actually want.

And the moment we learn how to say no to the wrong stage… we make space for the right one.

Your Golden Bachelor finalist story might look different. But trust me, there’s power in the pivot.

I only filled out the application to impress my granddaughter. Two months later, I was one phone call away from becoming a reality TV star, and completely losing my mind.

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