Pirates held her hostage for 93 days. She says surviving taught her what really matters when life falls apart.
Jessica Buchanan endured scorpions, death threats, and weeks of isolation in the Somali desert. She says survival came down to protecting one thing.
Jessica Buchanan survived a 93-day hostage situation in 2011 at the hands of Somali pirates. During her captivity, she lost about 40 pounds, slept outside in the desert, and survived on limited food supplies. Buchanan said that the most important thing she was able to protect during her ordeal was her mental state. She focused on organizing her thoughts and finding peace within herself, even during the most challenging periods.
Buchanan now writes and speaks about her experience, sharing the lessons she learned about resilience and finding purpose after trauma. She emphasizes the importance of protecting one's mind, as it is the only place that remains under one's control. Despite the extreme nature of her situation, Buchanan returned to teaching and found a sense of purpose in sharing her story and helping others navigate difficult circumstances.
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