It is hard to put into words how sad I felt
when I learned that Jane Goodall had passed away. Her physical body may not be
with us, but we all know that her indomitable spirit lives on in the spirit of
those who care deeply about the Earth, the animals and the people. Her
indomitable spirit is the light that keeps shining amid the darkest times, and
we need her hope to guide our journey…
The
Book of Hope: A survival Guide for Trying Times took me on a magical journey. I had
no idea it would be such a unique gift; it is more than a call for tenacity,
solidarity and care. I came back from it with a renewed sense of hope and
inspiration. I did not want the book to end.
Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams recorded and
put together a series of conversations they had. They share true stories; they
share her experiences and they dare to believe that despite the most awkward
and grim circumstances, the human spirit can move forward…
From the first page, we can tell the book is
relevant and essential:
“Democracy is under attack in many countries.”The abuse of power and disregard for life of authoritarian men-dictators-is evident
and destructive on many levels. The corruption is distressing. The effects of hate and discrimination are
happening. The effects of the climate crisis are real and they are happening
right now. "The gap between the haves and the have-nots is widening." Yet we can all choose to be part of the solution. We all have a
unique role to play in the complex mosaic of life. Our talents and motivation can be the resources that help us.
Apathy is not the answer. We can all choose to
be part of the solution using our awareness to move forward in the
right direction.
What is hope?
Hope is necessary for survival. Hope builds
resilience and relies on perseverance. It is not blind optimism. Hope is aware
of the facts-no matter how dark they are—and keeps moving forward, finding ways
to meet the reality with new resources and ideas. It is not passive wishful
thinking. Hope is about action, but even when actions are not possible, hope
can still exist.
There
are cases in which action can’t take place. Jane Goodall says, “I don’t think
all hope requires action, because sometimes you can’t take action. If you’re in
a cell in a prison where you’ve been thrown for no good reason, you can’t take
action, but you can still hope to get out. I’ve been communicating with a group
of conservationists who have been tried and given long sentences for putting up
camera traps to record the presence of wildlife. They’re living in hope for the
day they’re released through the actions of others, but they can’t take action
themselves.”
Jane Goodall stated that hope is what enables
us to keep going in the face of adversity.
Far from being an empty rambling on hope,
this book shares the real experiences of people who were able to overcome the
greatest challenges and obstacles.
This book is a very special invitation, so settle in your favorite spot, grab your beverage and take the time to “witness” these conversations. The wisdom of Jane Goodall’s words will kindle the power of your own resilience.
I felt I was right there with Jane and Abrams contemplating their setting, breathing their air, sharing their thoughts and
traveling to the past. Some of these conversations take place in Gombe; others
in Netherlands. Finally, they had to complete their talks via Zoom because of
the pandemic. Jane in her home in England, Douglas in California.
I was planning to share some of the stories
here, but I will keep this post simple. Find out more by readng The Book of Hope. Read it and pass it on.
I enjoyed learning about Jane Goodall's mother. She played a
crucial role in Jane's success as a naturalist. I believe that her mother was an empath, and her qualities were passed on to Jane. Intuition, wonder and empathy can move
together, as if connected through an exquisite dance.
Jane Goodall says that “As a naturalist, you
need to have empathy and intuition—and love.”
The book of Hope touched me deeply. Its
wisdom will always stay with me, like the spirit of a good friend.
Jane Goodall reassured me on my belief that
the power of our good intentions and choices matters. This is hope.
We have to honor her legacy by protecting the animals, the people, the planet. Jane Goodall always tried to make people aware of the fact that we are all interconnected. By helping people, she also helped the animals.
This past week I was horrified to read about
the torture of dogs, monkeys, cats and other animals in
laboratories. Animals have personalities, minds, feelings, emotions. I read the
experience of Jeff Brown, a scientist who witnessed the terrified eyes of
monkeys who were subjected to torture. He had to speak up about the horrors that take place in these laboratories. I make donations
and sign petitions to end this torture, and I hope that other human beings will
awaken to this reality and do their part too.
I invite you, dear reader, to become aware and do your
part to help animals, people and the planet. Sometimes, a simple click can help to make a difference.
https://www.idausa.org/take-action/
https://earthjustice.org/action
And please, don't miss this video of Jane Goodall being hugged by Wounda, a rescued chimpanzee. Wounda
hardly knew Jane, but Wounda had the intuition to “see” the love Jane Goodall
encompasses, and this hug expresses that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ClOMa_GufsA
If you
enjoyed this post, feel free to read my writing on the following books:
Untamed: the life of Jane Goodall by Anita Silvey
