A LIGHT FOR MOTHER EARTH AND ALL HER CREATURES

I don't know anyone of my generation who grew up with the image imprinted in memory of a young, beautiful, starry eyed explorer on the cover of National Geographic alongside chimpanzees, which she was dedicating her life to understanding, who is not mourning the loss of this great teacher and helper now. That remarkable model of hope for young women who choose to take a unique and deeply personal route into learning about the world, who became a hero for animals in the wild, and for Mother Earth and all of humankind was Dr. Jane Goodall, and the impact she has left in her wake cannot and will not ever be able to be estimated. 

If you have not yet seen her final message to the world on Netflix, please do yourself the favor and watch her deeply moving, personal message.

Her lessons, like those of HH the Dalai Lama, are profound, universal and simple: Be kind to all. Appreciate Mother Earth and every sentient being on it. Be gentle. 

There are other imperatives too, which Dr. Jane Goodall practiced meticulously: Don't be wasteful. Don't use plastic. Conserve. Be mindful. 

How important these lessons seem now. I also believe the wave of grief that has overcome everyone who ever heard of her will be followed by inspired action in her name. She has not only moved celebrities like Billie Eilish, Jane Fonda, Dave Matthews, Leonardo DiCaprio, Eminem, The Philadelphia Eagles, and others who have "gone green" in her honor, but youth, professionals, and ordinary people, young and old, far and wide. Her spiritual daughter is Greta Thunberg, the brave, young activist for climate change who is also engaged in a very real struggle to help Gaza. But so are we all who knew her work and mourn her loss her spiritual children.

Her biggest lesson is that one positively-inspired person can make a huge difference in the world. Imagine if everyone on the planet made one change to make it better. 

A great being has left us, but her light prevails.






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