“Someone Should Start Laughing I have a thousand brilliant lies For the question: How are you? I have a thousand brilliant lies For the question: What is God? If you think that the Truth can be known From words, If you think that the Sun and the Ocean Can pass through that tiny opening Called the mouth, O someone should start laughing! Someone should start wildly Laughing –Now!”
-From I Heard God Laughing: Renderings of Hafiz,
by Daniel Ladinsky
Where I consider home: Western Massachusetts
Why it matters for me to be on this expedition: I am excited to be a part of this expedition because this is a great opportunity to learn and grow with horses, humans, and nature. All three have different lessons to teach, yet all are intricately connected. I recently made a promise to myself that I would make every effort to include horses in my college learning experience and here is the perfect opportunity to do that. Horses have shaped my life and I am forever grateful for the places they have lead me in the past and will lead me in the future.
Influential book or movie: The most influential book I’ve read in the past year was The Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. The book brought to my attention some agricultural and factory farming practices that hurt people, the economy, and the earth. The book also highlighted ethical issues of food such as environmental issues, the humane treatment of animals, and where our food comes from. Since reading the book I have tried to be more conscientious about the food choices I make and more intentional about knowing where my food comes from.
If I could change one thing in the world it would be:
If I could change one thing in the world it would be how we educate children. Ideally, education would be more holistic and inclusive. Children would learn facts and figures, but more importantly they would learn how to be in relationship with each other and the non-human world. Art, music, and experiential learning would be ingrained in the curriculum. The goal would be to educate the whole child, not just his or her brain.
To read about Eleni’s experiences on the expedition, click here.
