The Woman Who Joined a Search Party to Look for Herself
This had to be a metaphor for something
In the stunning Eldgjá region of southern Iceland, a young Asian woman on vacation rushed back to her tour bus. The air was fresh, and the beautiful volcanic landscapes stretched in every direction. Settling into her seat, she noticed a stir. The tour guide, with a clipboard in hand, was counting heads carefully.
As she caught her breath, she looked around. The diverse group of tourists, cameras and guidebooks in hand, seemed ready for the day’s adventure. Suddenly, the guide, concerned, announced that a tour member was missing. He counted heads again, causing a wave of worry on the bus. The thought of someone lost in this vast, rugged terrain worried the young lady.
The police were called, and a helicopter was to be sent. After hours of anxious waiting, the official said heavy fog had delayed the copter. The group of 50, worried about their fellow traveler, decided to form a search party. The woman, feeling a sense of community and concern, eagerly joined.
She felt a special connection, as the missing woman was much like her: Asian, fluent in English, and of similar height and weight. The group spread out and moved through the dark, volcanic terrain, calling for the lost person.
As the search went on through the night, a sense of urgency grew. The misty air and the landscape’s surreal beauty gave their mission a dreamlike feel. They had no luck. The woman, deeply empathetic, searched hard, not knowing the irony of her actions. They moved across the rocky land, their voices echoing.
As morning approached, the search seemed more and more hopeless. The woman, taking a break, overheard the guide on the phone with the authorities. Hearing the description again — Asian, about 160 cm, dark clothing — she had a realization. She had been wearing dark clothes before she quickly changed and freshened up at the rest stop. She was searching for herself! No one had recognized her when she returned, apparently she had unwittingly altered her appearance just enough to evade recognition.
With both embarrassment and relief, she told the guide, causing laughter and disbelief in the group. It seemed a change of appearance and a miscount had caused the confusion. The search ended, and the tour went on, but the story of the woman who joined her own search party became a meme for finding oneself.
I first heard this true story from Sam Harris, a podcaster, author, and meditation guru, who used it as a metaphor for the mystery of “self.”
