Teachers represent so many of the best human traits: service to others, valuing learning, and shaping the future in positive ways. I was blessed with parents who were both teachers, and like all of us, I am who I am largely because of the parenting I received. My parents were environmentalists long before the word existed, driving one gas-sipping car, living simply and—most instructive for me—valuing life experiences and travel above consumer goods. They loved nature and taught me a deep respect for all creatures. While we all went to church on Sundays, we were also taught acceptance of other world or religious views.

Their example and teachings led me to a somewhat alternative path in life. I spent a year abroad after high school, studying French in Paris, hitchhiking across North Africa, working on a kibbutz in Israel and then returning to the U.S. to attend St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland. St. John’s is a small liberal arts college with a focus on learning for learning’s sake as opposed to learning to pass a test or get a “useful” degree. Every student follows the same course in the “Great Books” of western civilization, and my time there was fundamental in shaping my life.

I was fortunate to find my passion in life at age 21 when I stumbled into a summer job as a rafting guide in West Virginia. After 111 one-day trips my first season, I yearned to spend more time with people on longer trips in wilderness settings. So the next season, I came to Idaho where there are more multi-day wilderness whitewater river trips than any place in the U.S. and maybe the world. That led to the start of my own rafting company in 1979, ROW Adventures. While our roots are in rafting, that is now roughly a quarter of our business and the remainder is sea kayaking, wildlife and cultural tours, hiking, biking and more, in more than 25 countries around the world.

My life partner in this journey—my wife Betsy Bowen—and I have grown and nurtured our business while raising two wonderful children, for whom we are eternally thankful. As my parents instilled so many values in me that I carry forward, I feel fortunate that our life’s work presents a daily opportunity to foster personal growth and create positive, meaningful experiences for so many, including our guests and the many people who have worked with us as guides, office staff and other team members over the decades.

Through life’s journey, here are a few of my main take-aways:

Be curious—Our world is a fascinating place and there is so much to learn about it and the people we share it with. My father was an incessant questioner and I’ve embraced this trait.

Listen more, talk less—We don’t learn much when we’re the one talking. There are times when our own stories or thoughts are important, but more often we serve ourselves better by listening to others and learning what we can from them.

Be open minded—One of the things plaguing American society today—and much of the world—seems to be pre-determined judgments about politics, value systems and issues at large. There is always something to be learned by listening to others with an open mind and trying to see things from their perspective. One of my favorite bumper stickers is “If you can’t change your mind, maybe you don’t have one.” Opinions should change as new information is assimilated.

Love our earth—It’s the only one we have. We all need to do all we can to lessen our impact and there are so many easy things we can do. Recycle at home and work. Consume less. Buy things consciously. Drive mindfully to consume less fuel. Grow a garden. Keep chickens. Eat less meat. Have less lawn.

Be appreciative—Most anyone born in the United States has already won the lottery. We are the most privileged people on earth. Remembering that and considering how to give back leads to a more fulfilling life.

Read to your children—Books are the window to learning and expanding our horizons beyond our limited world of vision. Passing the gift of books onto the next generation is one of the more important things we can do.