Seriously. Setting aside the huge risk involved with this stunt, think of the huge cost in both time and money. And then think of the *worthwhile* things this girl could be doing with that amount of time and money, if she hadn't gone off on this crazy expedition for the thrill of being able to say "I did that". She could spend a few months building houses through some program like Habitat for Humanity -- and cover all the costs. She could provide free respite care to families who are overwhelmed with caring for a severely disabled child or elderly parent. She could host an all-expenses-paid summer camp for inner city kids from crappy home situations, teaching them to sail at a safe location near her home, and get them physically fit while tucking in a little reading and math and civilized social skills in the process.
But instead, with her parents' blessing, she is taking a huge risk and spending a lot of money (now including a lot of *other* people's money, as search and rescue teams are deployed) to do something that's all about ME.
I know a whole bunch of people around me who would tell me all sorts of ways to spend my time and my money — and do it differently than I do. (yes..., I’ve been told that by different people, over the years, telling me I should “do this” or “that” with my time and money, which is different than I actually do).
And the nice thing about that — is — “it’s my time and it’s my money” ... LOL ...
Good thing no one else gets to decide how I spend my extra cash and time. Worry about your own.
Why don’t we sell the perfume to the poor?
Someone’s going to have to be the first man out to mars and beyond. That persons’ going to need brass balls at a young age.
We need more young people willing to take on anything.
I know I'm not being over the top on this. I greive for this girl as I would any child lost. I have deep feelings and compassion for kids and their dreams.
But this was SO preventable it's not funny.
The saddest thing is that so many of these endeavors that kids get consumed by, the ones that take so much time and treasure and, really, their childhood, turn out to be not worth much in the end, even if they do end up making a buck on them or gaining a measure of fame.
Think of all the little girl gymnasts who spent their entire childhood in a gym (often away from home!), going to meets, make it to the Olympics, win a medal, get a few magazine covers and endorsement checks, go to DisneyWorld. Ten, fifteen years later, who even remembers most of them or cares?
Would they really think that was the most important thing in their life? Would they really get a kick out of being 70 years old and still being introduced at garden clubs as that “girl who sailed around the world”?
In the scheme of things, the sacrifices made and risks taken just don’t seem worth anything.