Travelers Tale: A Scholar’s Journey to Pitcairn

by Benjamin D. Aiken, PhD

For Benjamin Aiken, Pitcairn Island was more than a remote destination—it was a profound lesson in meaning. A Canadian professor of counseling psychology and Diplomate Clinician of Logotherapy, Dr. Aiken approached his brief time on the island through the lens of Viktor Frankl’s philosophy of meaning, discovering in Pitcairn’s people a powerful truth: “Life’s greatest meaning comes not from what we escape but from what we embrace.”

Reflecting on his experience, he observed that “creativity is inseparable from survival on Pitcairn. The islanders do not merely exist; they create their lives with intention.” Their resilience, he noted, is evident in their craftsmanship, storytelling, and deep-rooted connection to the island’s history. “Past and present merge here,” he wrote, describing Pitcairn as “a living testament to endurance, legacy, and reinvention.”

Ultimately, he concluded, “Pitcairn’s people, land, and history remind us that meaning is never out of reach, no matter how remote or challenging our circumstances may seem. Frankl taught us that life is indeed worth living if we dare to find the bounty of meaning hidden in its every corner.”

Dr. Aiken’s article has been submitted to The International Forum for Logotherapy.