This is Scott, and you're listening to What Was That Like?

Every other Friday, I have a guest come on and talk about something they experienced that was extremely unusual.

Well, today's Friday, and we're in between new episodes.

So I want to tell you a story.

Today, I'm going to tell you about Amanda Eller and how she experienced what many people would say is their worst fear, being lost.

In 2019, Amanda Eller was 35 years old.

She was a physical therapist living on the island of Maui with her boyfriend.

By all accounts, she was active, outdoorsy, spiritual, and just starting to settle into a rhythm in her life.

She'd been born in 1983 in Mechanicsville, Maryland, a small town that's probably best known

for its proximity to the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, where her father John worked.

Her mom's name was Julie.

Amanda eventually graduated from the University of Maryland

with a degree in kinesiology and went on to earn her doctorate in physical therapy. Her 20s

could be described as a little chaotic. She spent some time in Tampa, Florida, and shared an apartment with a roommate

who was into yoga. At the time, Amanda was trying to stay sober, but had trouble avoiding the party

scene. It wasn't until she was 29 that something shifted inside her. Something inspired Amanda to change

everything. She decided to start over. She left Florida behind and moved to Maui. Now if you've

never been to Maui, it's paradise.

But it's also rugged and wild in a way you don't really expect.

It's not just beaches and palm trees.

You've got deep forests, massive cliffs, and miles of jungle, where you can easily get

turned around and never find your way back out.

...