Indomitable spirit: Dr. Jane Goodall

I had the privilege of taking a “Master Class” online with Dr. Jane Goodall. It taught me an immense amount about her work and how she has pursued a life dedicated to chimps, their intelligence and conservation. She has also led the way in animal activism and environmental preservation.

She sparkles with energy and hope

I was most surprised by her broad acceptance of the human race. She is still hopeful in spite of all the destruction that is happening in the world. As she speaks, serenely dressed in a cape of dark green, her eyes dance with hope and energy. She glows with the confidence and intelligence of a dedicated primatologist and anthropologist.

Jane travels around 300 days of the year, visiting and speaking with leaders all over the world. During this time she loves to meet with young people. She believes our hope lies in young people who are conscious of the need to invent new ways of living and preserving our resources.

No shame or negativity

What you won’t hear as you work your way through her lessons and as you listen to her vision is shame or negativity. For example, she believes that if we can’t become vegan or vegetarian, then perhaps we can give up meat once or twice a week. Whatever we can do, it will help our planet at this most dire time.

She ends the series with a few questions: What can we do to make changes in our lives – both large and small? How do we live? What do we eat? Here are the words from this wise octogenarian who hopes to live long enough to see the bare forests become lush again, to see all species grow and prosper and all humans live abundantly. I hope to be there with her – ideally seeing her in person someday and in any case, trying to follow in her footsteps.