A Step Closer to Solving Earhart’s Mystery?
After decades of mystery, American explorer Tony Romeo claims he and his team may have located Amelia Earhart’s long-lost plane at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean. Deep Sea Vision, an ocean exploration company founded by Romeo, announced their capture of compelling sonar images with a plane-shaped object sitting 16,000 feet deep.
In 1937, Earhart and co-pilot Noona attempted to circumnavigate the globe by plane. A successful trip would have made Earhart the first female pilot to fly around the world. Unfortunately, the plane vanished during the most difficult portion of their journey.
Neither the plane nor the bodies have been definitively recovered despite numerous attempts by explorers. There are, however, many theories as to what happened to Earhart and Noona. Here are five theories that are floating around.
1. Earhart ran out of fuel, crashed into the Pacific Ocean, and drowned
2. Earhart landed on a deserted island and died as a castaway
3. Earhart was captured by the Japanese and taken prisoner
4. Earhart was a spy and used her trip as a guise to spy on the Japanese
5. Earhart somehow survived her trip and lived on under another identity
As interesting as these theories are, the fact remains that Earhart, Noona, and their plane were lost at the most challenging part of their journey.
Feeling Lost
Similar to Earhart and Noona, we can also find ourselves lost during a difficult time in our lives.
Maybe in the busyness of everyday life, we have lost touch with who we are and what makes us happy. We are just going through the motions, feeling like we are treading water, hoping to stay afloat.
Perhaps in trying to accomplish a certain goal, we have lost balance in our lives. In our zeal to achieve and be successful, we have neglected some relationships with others or with ourselves.
It could be that you have a general feeling of being lost living in these uncertain times. Different events – political, economic, environmental, and social – happen globally, and their effects reverberate around the world, making us feel unsure of the future. At this time in human history, we are all venturing into uncharted territory, especially with the advancement of technology. It is exciting, yet daunting, as we don’t understand the consequences of the actions taking place in the present.
Finding Your Way
Although it might feel like you are trapped in these feelings of aimlessness, depression, or lack of control, there are things you can do to find your way out.
1. Acknowledge and accept how you feel
Bottling and denying your negative feelings will not make them go away. As scary as it might seem, bringing them to the forefront to acknowledge them is necessary to move past them. Tell yourself it’s ok to have these feelings. Work to identify why you feel the way you do. This is all a part of learning about yourself.
2. Self-care
Take part in practices that soothe you and bring you to a state of calm. Practices like deep breathing, yoga, or meditation can center you and bring your attention to the present.
Those of us who are used to the chaos of life might find it difficult to slow down. It might even seem impossible to gain any benefits from “not doing”.
Try setting aside a small amount of time, even one minute, to practice stillness. Release any expectations to achieve anything, and enjoy a moment of being alive.
Other forms of self-care can range from a massage to a haircut. Whatever you choose, let it be something that makes you happy, and feel nourished in your soul. You deserve it.
3. Engage in activities that give you joy
When was the last time you had fun? Like how a kid has fun?
Joy, happiness, and laughter should not be feelings exclusive to childhood. Find and do something fun, even if you are not good at it, even better if you can share the experience with a friend or family member.
4. Attend inspirational events
Taking part in live events with motivational speakers or events that are connected to your passion can create the spark you need to feel alive. Those events are opportunities to connect with like-minded people, and even the energy in the room can help you see life differently.
If you haven’t found your passion yet, here is an article to start your discovery.
5. Reflect on your values
We can get so caught up in the busyness of doing that we forget what is most important to us.
Our values are a set of principles and beliefs that guide our decision-making. These are concepts like independence versus collaboration or professionalism versus fun. Everyone prioritizes their core values differently, and yours shape how you uniquely move through the world.
Defining your values will not only give you insight into who you are, but it will also guide you towards taking action in areas you feel most connected.
For example, if one of your values is self-reliance, you can start your own vegetable garden, or teach others how to sow seeds or support water well projects in communities that lack clean water.
It’s so fulfilling to take part in making the world a better place in areas that feel authentic to you.
Take a look at this list of personal values to identify yours.
6. Seek helpful resources
Sometimes we might need more guidance whether from professionals, or peer groups facing the same issues we are. There are also books and videos on numerous self-help topics that can help in your journey to regain your sense of self.
The perfect lives displayed on social media are just a facade. There are more people experiencing an internal struggle than you realize. Working on yourself is a brave endeavor, the rewards of which benefit not only you but also inspire the people around you.
A Worthwhile Expedition
It remains to be seen whether Deep Sea Vision has located the long-lost plane of Amelia Earhart. Romeo and his team plan to return to the site in hopes of capturing the wreckage on video. Despite the tremendous amount of effort and resources it takes to further the exploration, there is much hope and excitement.
The same can be said about finding yourself. The journey of discovery is like revealing something that feels so far out of reach, in the depths of darkness, and the slow ascent to the light takes patience and care. It’s well worth the effort. Being lost isn't so bad when the result is finding a better you.
