Not many people would leave a high-paying job. But Dr Robert Aruho is not many people. The Head of the Mount Kenya Wildlife Conservancy (MKWC) left money on the table because of a promise he made. For a time, to marry the love of his life, he slammed the brakes on his wildlife career, too. But though he was delayed, he would not be denied. “I made a promise to my mother at five years old that I would be a wildlife veterinarian.” His life now has been making good on his word and turning his promise into prominence.
It is also what he teaches his four daughters: keep your word. It doesn’t matter how much you earn if your word ain’t worth much. These days, Dr Aruho is learning to be present by unwrapping all of life’s simple gifts: running, hiking, taking his car for a spa date. He is not overthinking life. He knows it all could be snuffed out in a second, so he enjoys today, today. It is, perhaps, one of the things animals have taught him best.
