Sunitha Williams -When life throws a curveball at you

Life is unpredictable. No matter how well we plan, sometimes things take an unexpected turn. When that happens, how do we react? Do we panic, or do we accept the challenge with resilience?

Astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore recently faced such a moment when their carefully planned eight-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) turned into an extended stay of 286 days—far longer than anyone anticipated. Their story is not just about space travel; it is a lesson in patience, duty, and composure in the face of uncertainty.

A Mission That Didn’t Go as Planned

Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner spacecraft, ready for a short stay at the ISS. However, even before the launch, a helium leak issue was detected. It was assessed as low-risk, and the mission proceeded. But after reaching space, the issue persisted, making their return uncertain.

NASA deemed it unsafe to bring them back in the faulty spacecraft. With no immediate rescue option available, the two astronauts had only one choice—to wait. And wait they did.

How Did They React?

For most people, being stranded in space would be a terrifying ordeal. But these astronauts did not let anxiety take over. They remained calm, adapted to the situation, and accepted their extended stay as part of their duty.

Their words reflect a mindset that we can all learn from.

Butch Wilmore shared his approach:

“If I can’t affect it, if there’s nothing we can do, there’s nothing we can do. So we march forward, carry out the plan of the day.”

Sunita Williams, drawing from their military background, said:

“We’re both Navy, we’ve both been on deployments. We’re not surprised when deployments get changed. Our families are used to that as well. So that’s not a humongous surprise.”

Instead of frustration, they embraced acceptance and responsibility. They understood that some things are beyond control—and the only thing we can control is our attitude.

Lessons from the Bhagavad Gita

Reading their words, one cannot help but recall the teachings of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita:

“You have a right to perform your prescribed duties, but you are not entitled to the fruits of your actions. Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities, nor be attached to inaction.” (BG 2.47)

In another verse, Krishna teaches:

“Fight for the sake of duty, treating alike happiness and distress, loss and gain, victory and defeat. Fulfilling your responsibility in this way, you will never incur sin.” (BG 2.38)

The astronauts unknowingly embodied this wisdom. They focused on doing their duty without being fixated on the outcome. They did not resist reality; instead, they flowed with it, trusting that things would unfold as they should. 

What Can We Learn?

Life, like space travel, is full of uncertainties. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, things do not go according to plan. In those moments, we have two choices:

1. Complain, worry, and panic.
   
2. Accept, adapt, and keep moving forward.
   

The first choice makes us miserable. The second makes us stronger. Hence, when faced with challenges, let us remember this: True strength lies in staying calm, focusing on what we can control, and trusting the process.

After an incredible 286 days in space, Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore have finally returned to Earth. They are now under quarantine, but their journey is far from over. More than astronauts, they have become an example of how to embrace life’s uncertainties with grace and courage.

So, the next time life throws a curveball at you, ask yourself—will you fight it, or will you flow with it?

Sources:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/starliner-astronauts-no-regrets-agree-with-nasa-decision-to-extend-mission

https://www.space.com/boeing-starliner-spacecraft-tension-return-earth-without-astronauts

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/explained-why-helium-leaks-delayed-boeing-starliner-astronauts-return-6509846