Irresponsible, or allowing greatness?

Any over achiever is usually a little different, and refuses to be boxed into the standard 'boundaries' that everyone else assumes are the limits on life. Legendary inventors, scientists, authors, musicians, artists... They all started on the same path as the rest of us, but they chose to go off that path and onto one of the extraordinary, limitless paths that life offers.
I have read quite a few comments about the 16 year old girl whose yacht has capsized in the Southern Indian Ocean. Many of the comments are hateful, and talk of how irresponsible her parents are to allow her to attempt such a thing. We know nothing of her and her family. If she has chosen an extraordinary path for herself, it is her parents' responsibility to evaluate her talents and her skills and her passion, and to then encourage and help her achieve her goals, if they believe she is capable and they are able.
What if Thomas Edison or Albert Einstein gave into the peer pressure to be ordinary? Take anyone who has achieved great things... Do you think they were ever ridiculed? Do you think anyone told them they were not special? I'm sure it happened, more than once.

So, Abby, I pray for your safe return, and I hope this failure does not diminish your desire to do something amazing in your future, to stay on the path that leads to extraordinary adventures and accomplishments. To the naysayers and haters... Go back to watching tv and stay out of it.



And while I'm at it, let's honor our military. Millions of Americans are out there serving and fighting to allow us to go to sleep at night with Freedom and Safety.

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A U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter takes off after dropping supplies to soldiers at Forward Operating Base Baylough in the Zabul province, Afghanistan, June 7, 2010. The soldiers are assigned to Company D, 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, and the helicopter crew is assigned to the 101st Airborne Division. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. William Tremblay


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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (June 10, 2009) Two multi-mission MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters fly in tandem during section landings at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla. The new Sea Hawk variant has many improvements, such as the glass cockpit, improved mission systems, new sensors and advanced avionics. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Shannon Renfroe/Released)


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OAK HARBOR, Wash. (June 9, 2010) Chief Naval Aircrewman Stan Culbertson, from Camano Island, Wash., a flight engineer assigned to the Screaming Eagles of Patrol Squadron (VP) 1, is greeted by his daughters during a homecoming at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island. The Screaming Eagles returned from a six-month deployment supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom and U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tucker M. Yates/Released)


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ATLANTIC OCEAN (June 6, 2010) The guided-missile destroyer USS Mahan (DDG 72) fires its MK-45 5-inch/54-caliber lightweight gun during a live-fire weapons exercise. Mahan is at sea participating in the Southeast Anti-Submarine Warfare Integration Training Initiative (SEASWITI) exercise 10-3. The multinational exercise is designed to improve their anti-submarine warfare readiness and proficiency. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Daniel Gay/Released)


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BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (May 27, 2010) Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2, company 2-6, teach the Regional Security Services divers various underwater skills. MDSU is currently participating in Navy Diver-Southern Partnership Station, a multinational partnership engagement designed to increase interoperability and partner nation capacity through diving operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist David Collins/Released)


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OCEAN CITY, Md. (June 3, 2010) Members of the U.S. Navy parachute demonstration team, the Leap Frogs, perform a bi-plane formation with an American flag during the Ocean City Air Show pre-show performers' event. The Leap Frogs are based in San Diego and perform parachute demonstrations across the United States supporting Naval Special Warfare and the Navy Recruiting Command. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Special Warfare Boat Operator J.C. Ledbetter/Released)


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ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (May. 26, 2010) - F-22 Raptors from Elmendorf Air Force Base fly over Alaska.


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F22 Raptor Alaska


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OAK HARBOR, Wash. (June 6, 2010) Cmdr. Chris Bergen, from Jefferson Township, N.J. executive officer of the Wizards of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 133, is greeted by his daughter at the Naval Air Station Whidbey Island flight line during a homecoming celebration. The VAQ-133 returned after a six-month deployment supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tucker M. Yates/Released)


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U.S. Air Force pararescuemen transport a simulated casualty to a Marine Corps MH-53 Super Stallion helicopter while conducting a combat search and rescue exercise outside of Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, June 1, 2010.


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Paratroopers exit a perfectly good plane, that is not even on fire or anything!