It means I’ve reached a point in my life where I don’t care what anybody thinks!
These were the words during Dr. Bob Bowker’s first lecture at the EponaMind Educational Event last November, when I first realized this man would be a mentor to me forever more. They were followed closely by the next quote that will remain forever etched in my memory…
I don’t believe anything I read until I understand it for myself.
These two statements, from a man I’d never met before, summed up my life of 41 years in less than 5 minutes. What else would I learn from him over the incredibly short feeling span of 48 hours?
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Joy is the purpose of life. I have been studying teachers of science for as long as I can remember & teachers of spirituality for less than 1 year. Scientists boasting the most incredible discoveries seem to subscribe to the most poignant messages of many spiritual teachers. My first recollection of this was in my first year of Physical Anthropology at the University of Miami, where my soon to be lifelong friend & primate expert, Dr. Linda Taylor, explained that there is nothing mutually exclusive about science & a greater power. She had clearly refereed many arguments between students over the years, & she was having none of it! Every scientist that has drawn my attention since that class back in 1997, has been on the same page. We are smart enough to know we aren’t smart enough to explain away everything in our universe.
Constant curiosity & fun, that’s what my favorite scientists are after. It’s contagious! Spend a day in the presence of a maniacal scientist, bent on seeking answers to questions no one has asked before & you can feel yourself jumping on that bandwagon. Dr. Bowker’s favorite quote:
Unquestioned answers are far more dangerous than unanswered questions.
I could not agree more. If the functional anatomy & the regenerative properties of the horse’s foot are any example of the incredible mysteries of the world that we stand a real chance to understand & positively influence, we still have a lot to learn & a lot to contribute to this Earth! Horses give us power, so generous, so beautiful, so endearing- Dr. Bowker helped me realize, horses really can help us help this world we live in NOW. Nature teaches, if we can just learn to listen!
The only argument I have with Bob, is the final quote he left us with…
We have met the enemy & he is us.
Dr. Bowker, with people like you on this Earth, we who used to be the enemy are now the allies. Humans like you challenge us all to be better, by being ourselves- questioning everything & remaining perpetually an annoying 3 year old, asking continually WHY? WHY? WHY?
