Amanda Burrill

So they kind of like, rude, bounce me down the side of the ship and pull me in a hatch, and I'm sitting there soaking wet on this steel deck, and nobody is making eye contact with me.

I'm like, what the hell just happened?

And it had been a mistake.

The guy who was supposed to make the turn clammed up, but my commanding officer could pretend there was no mistake at all because, one, I had cut the line,

And two, I had said, you know, I'm okay.

And I thought I had been out there for like four to six hours.

It had actually been closer to one.

Just one, yeah.

Everyone was really apologetic about this incident, but I couldn't be mad.

I had just been given this incredible gift.

What I learned that day out there in what we like to call the drink,

Was that thing that I'd been looking for, not even knowing I was looking for it since I was a little girl, peace?

It wasn't something I had to go out and find.

It was right here inside me, and it was something I could call upon anytime.

Thank you.