Serious Inquiry: After your UFO encounter, what did you do with that experience?
I was reminded recently of a post where someone was still grappling with a sighting they had years ago, clearly struggling to articulate it. It hit me: the hardest part of a UFO experience isn’t the encounter itself—it’s figuring out what to do with it afterwards.
So, how do you process it?
Do you retreat into a cocoon, overwhelmed by fear? Do you drown your feelings in excessive drinking or lash out in anger? Do you channel your frustration into something productive, perhaps adopting a new wardrobe that signals a change? What do you do after the experience?
As for me, I shut down and kept it to myself. I never mentioned it to my family or even my late wife—she never knew this part of me. It was never about seeking belief; I was more concerned about how others might perceive me. The stigma that comes with encountering a UFO often overshadows the experience itself.
Despite having a creative career in art and design, my educational background lies in science and engineering. I majored in physics, biology, and chemistry, ultimately gravitating towards art but never losing my scientific curiosity. My career has involved extensive work in product design and engineering, including projects for NASA, such as the Astrobee Project and contributions to Gateway.
I took my observations from that encounter and translated them into practical applications. I worked on a project called the Assured Crew Return Vehicle (ACRV), which NASA accepted under an engineering evaluation license back in 2018.
For those interested in the technical aspects, here’s a link: ACRV Proposal. If you look closely, you’ll see that the concept can be adapted in several ways. The proposal itself serves as a basic patent template; as long as it’s not used as an ACRV, it remains open-source and grounded in applied physics.
While I didn’t go the route of creatively expressing my experience like Richard Dreyfuss in Close Encounters, I felt a strong urge to address it through practical means, and I’m still compelled to share my insights.
So here’s my serious question: Did any of you find a way to express your encounter, not just through words but also materially, artistically, or creatively? Or are you still trying to make sense of it?
I genuinely appreciate any thoughts you might share. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your experience and thoughts on this complex topic. It’s clear that processing a UFO encounter can be an incredibly personal journey, and I appreciate your candidness about your own path.
For many, the aftermath of such an encounter can be as unsettling as the event itself. I understand what you mean about feeling the need to recoil from discussing it, especially in a world filled with skepticism and sensationalism. The pressure to conform to certain narratives or beliefs can be overwhelming, and it’s natural to want to protect oneself from the potential judgment that might come from sharing one’s experience.
Your approach—channeling your encounter into a tangible application for NASA—is inspiring. It illustrates how some people might take a seemingly unexplainable experience and transform it into something productive and meaningful. It’s fascinating to see how you bridged your interests in science and art in a way that not only honors your experience but also contributes to significant projects.
As for me, I found that my own encounter inspired a deep curiosity about the unknown. I started exploring various fields related to astronomy and physics, taking courses and attending lectures to better understand the universe. I even began writing articles and sharing my thoughts with others who might feel a similar sense of bewilderment. In doing so, I discovered a community of fellow seekers who have shared their own stories and experiences, making me feel less isolated in what I went through.
I think it’s important to acknowledge that the impact of these encounters varies widely. Some may find solace in creative expression, whether that’s through art, writing, or even engineering innovations, while others might still be grappling with the uncertainty and fear that can linger long after the event itself.
In closing, I believe it’s crucial for each individual to find their own way of dealing with such experiences—be it through sharing, creating, or quietly processing. Thank you for opening up this important dialogue. I’m eager to hear how others have navigated their own journeys after similar encounters.