Coy Bowles
Explorer, father, musician, children’s book author, speaker of words thinker of thoughts.
just a radical dude in to being
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just a radical dude in to being 〰️
What does nature mean to you?
It’s the beginning and the end of everything. The guaranteed reset of a grander purpose and connection.
I travel the world playing music, I live in Atlanta, I’m on a bus all the time, I’m on my cell phone, I’m a philosopher…none of these things matter.
There is the daily struggle, as a soul that is blessed enough to be born and experience life. Nature is everything. It’s where the code lies. It’s why things make sense. It’s the cycle of life and the overturning of all of this…
If you can go into nature and sit still for a moment. It’s so complete. It’s the code we live by. Just look down at your feet and see entire ecosystems at work. The more I stay connected with nature, the more I feel connected to myself. It’s what’s important. It’s the remedy for all of life. For mental health.
Whenever things get too far out, just find that missing piece, and go into nature. The ultimate fix.
“It’s all in mind and body and for a split second, you disappear. It’s fleeting, a kind of forever.”
Describe your ideal wilderness.
The more water that’s involved - the more I’m drawn to nature. That tangible flow and experience.
Waterfalls - there is this thing - to be swimming in the pool below a waterfall. To feel the rush of energy. Nothing too dangerous, just to be a part of it. To get in, to climb in. It gives me a real sense of belonging, a sense of peace.
“I haven’t been able to see the mountain ahead for some time.
I can now and I can climb it, I can see what I’m going to be like.”
I love the feeling of water rushing over me. To experience that in the Flint River, Georgia. It’s a feeling of enlightenment, of disappearing for a second. It’s all in mind and body and for a split second, you disappear. It’s fleeting, a kind of forever. I’ll chase that feeling and the quickest way to get there is to be in the flow of water, rushing over my shoulders and body, to be one with it. There is enough sensation there to completely overload my nervous system.
What mountain are you currently working on?
Ultimately, my self is my mountain. I’ve always seen these different versions of myself. When I was 10, I could envision being 13, a teenager! Then to be 16! I could visualize and know who that person was going to be, the way he can be different and better than he is now.
At a certain point, those milestoned become further and further apart. Less of a secret. And then you realize that nobody knows what's going on. I mean here I am. I don't know what the hell I'm doing, I'm just trying my best (day by day).
have the freedom and strength to climb, to dance, to spin in circles
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have the freedom and strength to climb, to dance, to spin in circles 〰️
There is another version I can see now, and I haven't been able to see him for many years. It's someone who has stripped away the superficial aspects of their life.
Let’s boil it down to the core. Every second counts. This man embodies those words on all levels. To be more at peace, where every day is a chance to do good for myself and my family, and others.
I haven't been able to see the mountain ahead for some time. I can now and I can climb it, I can see what I'm going to be like.
What does movement mean to you?
Right now it means more than it ever has before. To have the ability to move, and have the freedom and strength to climb, to dance, to spin in circles while I'm playing the guitar. I value that more now than I ever have.
I realize how fragile our existence is. I’m seeing one of my best friends lose his ability to move. Two years ago we would jump up in the air at the same time, now he can't do that. I feel a deep appreciation and gratitude. I’m so much more connected with movement now than ever.
What books have had the most notable impact on you?
Most recently The Four Agreements & The Untethered Soul. Both have lent me clarity to the human experience. They answered a lot of questions and simplified a lot of things for me. I try to process life through the 4 agreements now. If it's good or bad or in turmoil, I ask myself these questions, and almost every time the obvious one shows up.
I'm basically not allowing my expectations of any outcome to interfere with what’s really going on.
WHAT PIECE OF GEAR WOULD YOU NEVER LEAVE BEHIND?
My knife. My dad was a knife guy and I was an only child. I would ask my dad to empty out his knife drawer which held Granddad’s knife, his skinning-dear knife, and all sorts. He has a decent collection.
I always feel like if I have a knife on me, I feel like I'm back to the simplest version of a human.
The biggest advantage we have is the ability to make tools and protect ourselves. I feel like a knife is the most useful.
Oh, and I can truly say that I'm a flashlight junkie! If you're camping with me, I’ll show up with a flashlight for everyone and they're all good ones! They’re in my house in every drawer.
Yeh, I am definitely a gear person. I love reading about different tech and camping gear and boots and…man I just recently got into it all again. I bought this really small cot that weighs 4 pounds and it's just so unbelievably cool. It's mindblowing for the 7-year-old in me. I’m that same person, like this is the coolest shit ever, then I put this cot together and sleep on it as a grown man.
