I know by now many have heard of the little anglerfish that has captured the hearts of millions across the world with her story. I've taken it upon myself to name her Angel the Anglerfish (sorry for anyone who is dyslexic and reading that, but seeing the video of her making her way to the surface and how she just flowed through the water was angelic...no matter what she looks like she's an angel to me). There is likely a scientific reason for why this little fish who comes from crushing depths swam to the surface (was she sick? idk) but I’m not here to talk scientifically (and even if I was, I’m not qualified enough to give anything more than my opinion). So I’m going to write about what everyone else in the world is writing about, how inspirational her story is.
Let’s take a moment to look at where the researchers were when they found her. They were off the coast of the Canary Islands. According to Google’s AI Overview (super reliable source, I know) the ocean depth around the Canary Islands can get up to 16,404ft. Per Nat Geo the depth in which the Black Seadevil anglerfish can inhabit is between 650ft and 6,500ft. I wanted to (roughly) calculate a comparison of the distance she swam to that of a 5 foot human swimming an equivalent distance. So using chatGPT I decided to do just that (with Austin's help of course).
I took a guess at the size of the anglerfish(3.5 inches) based on photos and asked chatGPT "If a 3.5 inch fish travels 3,000 feet, what would be the equivalent distance for a 60 inch human". I'm not going to go into depth on how the calculations were worked out but basically it uses proportions to figure out how much bigger the human is compared to the fish and scales the distance the fish travelled according to that comparison (I very likely could've figured this out on my own but I was quite tired when trying, so I let A.I. do it's thang). So, per chatGPT the distance for a 60 inch (5ft) human traveling an equivalent distance to the fish's would be approximately 51,428.57 feet. (I didn't choose the deepest depth that an anglerfish could inhabit but had I, the distance would have been 111,428.57 feet or a little over 21 miles)
So now imagine that you have gills and would not die at the depths that the angler thrives at...51,428.57 feet...That is how far you'd have to swim to equal the distance she travelled. Think of all the predators, along the almost 10 mile trek through the dark depths of the ocean, that could potentially eat you. I don't know that anyone can really fathom the distance this tiny but mighty female travelled and the dangers that were all around her but she did it. She did it and she made it to the surface. Now is there a possibility that other anglers have successfully made the same journey? Maybe. But, now here is the other crazy thing, what are the odds that the researchers that were in the water that day looking for sharks just so happened to be in the exact same spot where she was surfacing; to be able to photograph this rare event for the world to see and to connect with. I believe they could win the lottery with that luck...
I'm an empathetic person and like many people who read her story and saw the photos and videos of her, I was moved to tears, especially when I learned that a few hours after she surfaced, she passed (which is understandable because she shouldn't be able to survive at the surface given where she came from, but still incredibly sad). I read so many other's posts about Angel and how she touched so many lives with her long, brave journey. While, like I said before, there probably is a scientific reason behind her trek many people have stated that she just wanted to see a light that she didn't have to make and I thought that concept was too beautiful not to believe.
So here is my short story of Angel the Anglerfish.
Angel lived at crushing depths in oppressive darkness her whole life, known as The Midnight Zone, being told that the only light she will ever see is the one she creates. Angel decided she was not going to let the limitations others placed on her determine her fate to be forever in the dark, and so she decided to take her life into her own hands (fins).
"I'm going to the surface. I want to see the great light that I've heard so much about." Angel boldly stated.
"You can't do that!"
"The journey is too long, you will likely die along the way."
"Don't you know how small you are? There are so many creatures between here and the surface that could eat you!"
"This is where you belong, going to the surface is a fools errand." The other anglers proclaimed, but Angel was persistent.
"I will see the light at the surface. Even if it kills me."
So Angel said goodbye to those she loved and began the long, treacherous journey to the surface.
She encountered many different creatures, of varying shapes and sizes, that she had never seen before. Angel had almost been eaten so many times she lost count, but somehow she was still alive, and she persisted.
As she neared the surface Angel tired, but she could see the light all those from The Midnight Zone talked about, but now she was here and she would see it for herself, in all it's glory.
As she surfaced Angel knew that she would not make it home to tell her friends and family of her amazing journey but she did it. She met new friends along the way, learned valuable life lessons from those unlikely friends, and experienced things that she otherwise never would've experienced and she was happy for it. As she looked at the light in the sky, she learned was called the sun, she smiled to herself and said, "I never imagined seeing a light that I didn't have to create. It's so beautiful."
With tears beginning to fall down her face she said, "My first sunset will be my last. But you know what? It was worth it." She closes her eyes and utters her last words, "The journey was worth it."
Angel's life, however short it was, is a reminder to us all that life is about the journey not the destination. It's the experiences, lessons, and people you encounter along the way that make life worth living.
Anyway (adverb): used to indicate that something happened or will happen in spite of/regardless of something else.
I'll leave you with one last thing. This little anglerfish didn't know anything beyond the depths in which she lived before she began this journey but she did it anyway; nor did she know that her story would touch millions of people, but it did. You may feel small at times and you may feel like your story doesn't matter but you never know how many people you and your story will affect; and although you may not know what awaits you in this world, begin your journey anyway.
Do it anyway.
Morals of today’s story:
Don't let others' limiting beliefs stop you from doing what you know you're capable of.
Always believe in yourself.
It will be hard but it will be worth it.
Never underestimate yourself.
Life is about the journey, not the destination.
Do it anyway.
Thanks for reading. Follow along & grow with me.
-CJ
Angel’s story is inspiring, as is yours. Just keep swimming! If you want to change paths, remember I and so many others will always be here to help you float.
Thank you for sharing; it’s easy to be overcome by fear, and if you figure out who I am you will know that I was until recently when I began trying for something I’ve always wanted again, after failing before. I’m not sure what changed, but I have to admit even after the change I am still scared but I now know that I have people like you, the new people I will meet and the journey to look forward to. Thank you! Love you!