I believe in ‘self-actualization’, in trying to live one’s life to the fullest. However, life isn’t all about us, our dreams, and our accomplishments. Even as we pursue our personal development, we must be mindful of others.

I feel a strong social pressure to speak as if I admire what she did (for example, because she was following her dreams or because it required a great deal of skill and courage). But, I don’t really feel that way. I think that she deliberately put herself and others in great danger for the sake of a vanity mission. I cannot, with conscience, condone that or any part of it. She was in the Indian Ocean at the wrong time of the year because she wanted to break a record, and not one that is really going to be of much use to greater good.

Interestingly, had she been successful, the glory that she seeks would have been all apportioned to her; yet, when something goes wrong for these glory-seekers, it’s up to taxpayers in the rest of the world to bail them out. I’m all for personal choice and adventure, but I think that these people ought to show others some consideration by, for example, taking out a bond/insurance policy for their probable need for an expensive rescue mission.

She is arguably too young to have appreciated fully the risk. Our grasp on life is fickle and a centimeter here or there can be the difference between living and dying. I don’t think, in the main, 16 year olds from American society understand that. A street urchin from Rio maybe can grasp it, but not Abby. That is why there is an age at which children are not thought to be capable of making informed judgements on their own. I think it’s 18.

I hope she’s found and lives.