You Always Have a Choice
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Story and photo credits: Jennifer Troyan
Oxford Dictionary meaning:
ref·u·gee
noun
1. a person who has been forced to leave their country in order to escape war, persecution, or natural disaster.
"tens of thousands of refugees fled their homes"
Just this past January (2023), 300 migrants landed on different islands in the Florida Keys. The National Park Service used
Dry Tortugas National Park to process and evaluate the people and closed the park for several days to do so. This is not a
political piece. I am telling a human story about life, privilege, and the lack of; I’m just considering the what ifs.
Let me share my far-removed experience.
Please look at the boat pictured above. What would it take for you to do this? Would you get on that boat knowing you
may not make the journey, likely encountering rough seas and high winds? What if there were children involved? Travel
ninety (90) miles, with no motor in this little boat across the ocean?
I have mixed feelings about this boat. There is something so sad and beautiful about it - inspiring and scary all at the
same time. It takes an incredible amount of hope to go this route. That’s the beautiful part – the hope.
Imagine being in the water and this is your view?
Perhaps some of you reading this have made a journey like this to flee a terrible situation. What I was wondering so
much and still am is, what it would take for me to leave my home country and take a perilous journey? That the
situation you are in is so awful that you must go? Could I do it? The truth is, I can scarcely imagine it.
Let me back up a bit and start my story here. I was in Islamorada (in the Florida Keys – USA) at the end of October 2022
and decided to go snorkeling. I found a snorkeling tour operator and super excited because I love snorkeling. It makes
my heart smile and my soul dance. I feel the most alive and my soul the most connected to God in the ocean. The thing
is, I almost didn’t get to go and wouldn’t have this story to tell you…
I was on standby because the tour operator needed a minimum of four people to go out. There was me and two other
people. They asked us if we would be willing to cover the cost of the fourth person to take us out. We all agreed. Yes!
And were off! It was just me and this couple from the UK. Three of us for this trip plus the captain and first mate. Oh,
and another mate – a dog. It felt like a private charter. It was a beautiful, sunny day and the weather was perfect. I have
done many snorkeling trips in multiple countries, and I can tell you that it is incredibly rare to go on a charter with so few
people, unless it is a private charter.
On the way to the reef, the captain spotted what we initially thought was a raft floating in the waters. When we got
closer, we saw it was an abandoned refugee boat that likely came from Cuba. In South Florida and in The Keys, it is
common for refugee boats to be in the waters coming from Cuba and Haiti. Often, they are over capacity, filled with too
many people, no cover and minimal food and supplies. Can you imagine being cramped, sometimes standing room only,
for days or even weeks?
We stopped and checked out the boat a little bit and the captain called the Coast Guard to report it. She had never seen
one before and had just heard about it. The first mate said he had seen three boats previously and some of them even
had people in them. It was a sad moment. We were just staring at this boat bobbing in the water, while reggae music
was playing on our boat. What a strange thing. They turned the music down a bit. I think we all said a prayer or at least a
wish that whoever was on board didn't drown. The reality is, they likely did. If they were rescued, the boat would not be
floating around abandoned and almost sinking.
I was thinking about who might have been in that boat. If I was in their shoes, it could have been me or someone I love,
or a total stranger that I have never even laid eyes on. It immediately put my life in perspective. Admittedly, I live a
wondrous life. I spent many years cultivating and arranging my life to be this way. I can’t help but think about them and
what they were striving to reach. The promise of a better life. Work hard. Live the dream and all that good stuff.
“The heart of man is very much like the sea, it has its storms, it has its tides and in its depths it has its
pearls too.” ~ Vincent van Gogh
We were there for a few minutes and went along on our journey to the reef. Another example of how life moves on. I
was still thinking about the boat and the people in it, feeling sad for them but also feeling very fortunate. Here I am
going into the water to be with the sea life. I chose to do this.
If I didn’t go on that charter, at that exact time, I would not have this story to share and this level of gratitude and
appreciation for life that I am sharing with you now. Everything serves a purpose. The hard and good stuff. This might
sound strange, yet I am grateful for those people, even having the chance to try for something better. They did their
best. Just like us doing our best.
We made it to our spot and had the entire reef to ourselves, another unusual occurrence. We went to the Hens and
Chickens Reef, and it was amazing.
There was an algae bloom a couple of days before, so the water was a little green and a little bit hazy but the coral reef
was so healthy. This also gives me hope for our Earth and her oceans. This reef is known for sea turtles which I did not
see. Well, I saw one from the boat but not in the water. I did see an eagle ray, some barracudas (a few large ones, I saw
their teeth), and a bunch of different tropical fish. The reefs were so healthy and just thriving (and huge!). I can only
imagine on a clear day how glorious that water is like, but I was in heaven, as usual.
We had an hour out there. I also love taking photographs and was snapping pics away when my camera battery died. No
worries, right? I enjoy what is around me and I revel in it! It was cool, the water was a little bit murky but then at one
point there was just a couple of minutes where it was clear, and these reefs were just so wonderful. Makes me so
grateful to be able to do this. The awe of it all. Countless varieties of life, all just trying to live our best lives.
“The ocean makes me feel really small and it makes me put my whole life into perspective.” ~
Beyoncé
We all got back in the boat and on the way back we encountered a brand new boat with four engines that had run
aground in seagrass. The first mate said there's a cut through channel, but they missed it by like twenty feet (or just over
6 meters). A guy was standing in water which didn't quite come up to his hip. Our captain was going to stop to help but
the guy waved her on. It was too shallow to go in that channel. Then we saw the rescue helicopter coming. Apparently,
he may have damaged a fair amount of seagrass in the process of running aground and they fine you for that. Not to
mention the damage to his boat, the cost of the rescue efforts, as well as a stupid mistake that destroyed protected sea
grass.
For every point there is a counterpoint, and I couldn’t help but notice the juxtaposition between the two scenes going
and coming on that trip, including during. A compelling contrast of images/thoughts on this day. Going from the most
desperate of situations to the spoils of the rich. It left me feeling perplexed and I needed some time to process
everything.
I took some time to consider things. Here are the takeaways:
o You always have a choice!
o Sometimes we are burdened with life but think of the choices others must make. Not saying your issues aren’t
important or significant – consider the options is all.
o Think of the suffering of others, you can see that everyone is going through something. For some, their issues
are much more dire. Now ours don’t seem so bad.
o Everyone wants to be seen, heard and know that they matter.
o Live in gratitude, awe and appreciation as often as you can.
o Enjoy every moment. Put things in perspective!
o Love often and be kind.
Soon after, it was nighttime and was sitting on a balcony enjoying the view, about to go find some yummy food. I am
happy, healthy, feeling peaceful and it is so beautiful outside.
All of it makes me GRATEFUL. I think about the life I live and this story helps me remember that you always have a
choice. Life is short and precious. I once heard someone say life is a whisper. It I just that brief.
I keep this story and that boat in my heart. I carry it with me to remind me that even on dark days things can be much
more harrowing. They can also be much more amazing. This keeps things in perspective and helps me to appreciate all
things and try to approach everything from a place of thankfulness. There is something to learn from every situation.
Sometimes we may not feel it in the moment but if you can be as aware as possible, things can shift.
“We are like islands in the sea, separate on the surface but connected on the deep.” ~ William James
Now go out there, dream, be happy and get in nature (the great equalizer) as often as possible. Much love to you and
yours!