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Abby Sunderland was seeking to become the youngest person ever to sail around the world alone. It's unfortunate that Abby is receiving more publicity for not completing her task than she would have if she had succeeded. Notice that I purposely avoid using the word "fail". This gurl has done everything but fail. She has pursued her dream to the fullest! To use a phrase I acquired from the late Dr. Joe Campbell--she has "followed her bliss"!
I don't know Abby or her family, and I know only what I've seen in the news about her story. But what got to me tho was criticism of her parents by people who apparently live fear-based lives.... "How could you let your daughter...blah blah blah...." I saw a 10-second sound bite where her father replied that "you don't know Abby", but as I say, I don't know these people, so I won't presume to speak for them. I will, however, tell you not only why parents should permit this sort of behavior, but why they should (as the Sunderlands seem to) encourage it!
Since this is my blog, I'll use my life as an example. I have been planning a cross-country trip for the past 37 years. At first it was supposed to happen with friends, mostly by train, when we were 20-years old. But we couldn't all get time off together and some of us were already drinking way too much and it never happened. As I got older, work and responsibility was always in the way and when I finally got an RV 8 years ago, more shit happened, and the trip still hasn't taken place.
I did stupid, risky things when I was younger--walking through the subway tunnels in NYC, been shot at a few times for various reasons, a back injury, a knee injury when I fell from the back seat of a statonwagon in fourth grade, a few more close calls, sometimes drinking related--bottom line: I could have been killed many times. k
Abby could have been killed in her pursuit also, but at least it would have happened as part of a greater goal--not stupidity or recklessness. Following one's bliss is not quite the same thing as a life of excitement. I can tell you, based on the few available facts, that this gurl has lived more in 16 years than most of us will in a lifetime.
I think I'd watch Oprah if she has the parents on. Their take on life (and death) would be fascinating! How unselfish does a parent have to be in order to put their child's needs before their own fear? My mother used to worry about her three boys and she didn't have a clue about most of what we were up to. We were always careful to shield her from it. Like the time when my brother had the rear end of his sports car jacked up for street racing in Queens... she was a bit suspicious... when she asked him why the car was like that he said because it made the car look cool. From what I recall, she let herself accept that as fact.
There is also the other extreme where parents use poor judgment and I am not condoning that. Again, based on fragmented evidence, there was a report of a 7-year old who was killed while trying to fly a plane cross-country (alone?). There are some cognitive activities that a 7-year old brain can't perform.. but anyway, I am not encouraging recklessness... good judgment is always a must. It's when the judgment is fear-based, or selfish, or based on false evidence that it becomes problematic.
I hope Abby has greater goals for her young life than setting records, but even if this sail was her greatest accomplishment, she has made a contribution to humanity. In theory, it is never too late to start living, and if she has encouraged even one person to follow there bliss, she has accomplished much!
