That’s because Gonzalez was chosen as a contestant on the 46^th season of Survivor, one of CBS’ longest running reality shows. As the season premiere (Feb. 28) got closer and closer, Gonzalez sat down with us and talked about how making the show was a dream come true, but also one of the most challenging experiences of her life.

I think the most amazing lesson for me through this is that you don’t ever have to give up on your dreams. Keep dreaming those dreams, but release the timing of the outcome. Be clear on your WHAT and WHY, but release the control of the WHEN and the HOW. Getting the green light was so much validation for me also that you’re never too old to go after what you want. You don’t have to sit back and let those dreams slip away because you should be doing this or you shouldn’t be doing that. And now for the rest of my kids’ lives I can remind them that their mom fought for what she wanted and they can too! J

 

I love the raw, stripped down, vulnerability of the show. It’s fascinating to put people into an environment that is challenging, depleting, intimidating, overwhelming, awkward, and watch how they can rise. That speaks to me so powerfully and parallels the most challenging times in my life as well. Often sinking is not an option so you learn how to swim.

 

Having watched every season I had a great idea what to expect, but no one can prepare you for the magnificence of the moment pulling up to the beach and seeing Jeff for the first time. It’s magical, intimidating, terrifying, empowering, and everything in between. Also we are all incredible armchair quarterbacks, but the only way you will know if you have what it takes is to actually experience it firsthand.

 

Competing on the show is incredibly exciting, but watching how the show is made is mind blowing. I was constantly in awe of the magnificence of production and how things were seamless to us as the participants, like a beautiful choreography in which we never had to learn the steps, just watch it all be performed. They are so passionate about what they do and it shows how much love they have for their jobs. Every piece of their puzzle fits perfectly.

 

It’s really hard to know it’s going to feel like until you’re in it, and then there’s no turning back. You’ve got to hit the ground running, literally and figuratively. In many ways I knew it was going to be challenging, whether physically, mentally, socially, emotionally, or even spiritually. But there was no way to know exactly how those challenges would affect me, but I knew I had the tools to face whatever was in front of me, and pull from life experiences.

 

This has been the most exciting thing I have done in my life. EVER! I am a very private person and also rather introverted, so to put myself in this position is really funny and surprising. But I didn’t want to be that parent that just tells their children to go after their dreams. I wanted to show them. And now I get to watch their excitement, listen to them counting down the days until they get to see their mom on TV, and relive this experience from their perspective. It’s been so much fun to introduce Survivor to people who have never watched the show too. We’ve had to wait a long time for our season to air and I’ve been blown away by my kids’ abilities to keep a secret. Maybe we have future Survivor players in the making!