August McLaughlin! Congratulations on organizing this fabulous blogfest for the fifth year! Kudos to you and everyone participating.
As I continue to age … and I’m so glad I do … I become more aware of the years ahead of me and the possibilities that exist. I also find myself seeking mentors older than I am, ahem … 70, who will provide inspiration and motivation so I never stop being a possibilitarian. Through the past 10 years, this has been my philosophy.
Age is not a barrier to following your dreams, beginning new adventures, helping others, setting goals, making a difference with your words and actions. Push aside negative images and stereotypes. Love yourself and let others know you love them.
The BOAW blogfest is a good opportunity for me to break away from my writing to spend some time thinking about unrelated topics. I love checking in on all the other contributors to enjoy their posts and learn from what they are sharing.
In considering women over 80 and 90 who influence the world through writing, art, photography, politics, and a multitude of other endeavours, it was encouraging to realize just how many there are. A book could be written!
Longer life expectancy is trending all over the world. Statistics show women in developed countries are likely to become octogenarians, with life expectancy reaching an all-time high of 81.8 years in 2013, up from 77.9 in 1990.
This year I want to honour the gracious global activist Dr. Jane Goodall, 82, a beautiful woman on the inside and out. She continues to travel the world sharing her wisdom and inspiring others of all ages.
Here is her Wikipedia description: “British primatologist, ethologist, anthropologist, and UN Messenger of Peace. Considered to be the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, Goodall is best known for her 55-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees in Gombe Stream National Park, Tanzania. She is the founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and the Roots & Shoots program, and she has worked extensively on conservation and animal welfare issues. She has served on the board of the Nonhuman Rights Project since its founding in 1996.”
I recently listened to a commencement address Dr. Goodall delivered at the University of Redlands in California. She spoke about knowing at the age of 10 that she wanted to go to Africa and study animals. She counsels to never give up on a dream, to know it may be more difficult because you are a girl/woman, to be strong in your goal and to, in her words, “live to your true potential”. Her mother was a strong influence and support in her achieving her dream. Be that.
I could write pages about this accomplished woman, but nothing would be more effective than you taking 20 minutes to listen to this moving, intelligent and inspiring video by clicking this link. I hope you find the time do to so. Her talk begins at 6:53 on the video.
If nothing else from this post, please take these words of Dr. Goodall’s with you.
“Every single one of us makes an impact on the planet every single day, and we get to choose what sort of impact that is,” she said.
“Respect”, says Goodall, “is the solution.”
“We may have different colored skin, we may be from different cultures, we may eat different things and wear different clothes, but wherever you go in the world: If you cry, your tears are the same. If you’re happy, you laugh, and the laughter around the world is the same. … Within each one of us all around the world, the human heart is structured the same.”
I’ll leave you with this heartwarming video of Dr. Goodall and a chimp they were releasing into the wild, from two years ago. It’s quite remarkable.
Follow Jane Goodall here: Facebook page and Seriously Good For All News website.
Celebrate beauty every day!
Be sure to make some time to drop by other BOAW blogfest pages by clicking here for the list.
If you have participated, please leave your link in the comments below. I can’t wait to spend time reading your posts.
Were you familiar with Dr. Goodall before this?
Big admirer of Jane Goodall, so thank you for this!
You are most welcome! I believe there are a lot of us who feel that way. She’s a beautiful woman in so many ways.
What an amazing woman Jane Goodall is. I love hearing about inspiring women like her.
I love your quote, “As I continue to age … and I’m so glad I do … I become more aware of the years ahead of me and the possibilities that exist.”
I can so relate to how you feel, Patricia. I just turned 60 and am starting a new career! I have to laugh at myself because sometimes I think I’m nuts, but your post is one more affirmation that it’s perfectly fine to start over as an older women. I will be certified as a master health coach sometime in mid-August. I can hardly contain my excitement about all the fascinating things I’m learning. I never in my life could have seen myself going down this road. Just goes to show we can embark on many journeys no matter what age. I plan on working as a health coach until I’m 85. I’ll also continue to write and tons of other things. That’s the beauty of a woman, eh, that we go as far as we dare! I hope you find a good mentor. I’m always on the lookout for one, too!
Lynn! Congratulations! I’m so glad you shared your story here and I could feel your excitement about the new path you have chosen. Isn’t it fabulous that we have the opportunity to choose new careers in later years and bring new challenges and rewards into our lives. Funny how things work out! I’ll look forward to reading your blog as you continue on your new quest. All the best!
I love and admire Jane Goodall. I met her once in Vancouver about twenty years ago and have a signed copy of one of her books. She wrote in it “To Darlene, Follow your heart.” She is such an inspiration and yes, beautiful inside and out.
Lucky you to have met her in person! That must have been quite a thrill. I love the inscription she wrote and doesn’t it truly express her philosophy! Thanks for sharing that story, Darlene. 🙂
Such a wonderful post, Patricia! Thanks so much for participating in BOAW number 5. 🙂
I LOVE what you shared about seeking role models in older women, and the awesome way you embrace and celebrate aging. That chimp video brought tears to my eyes! Jane Goodall absolutely personifies real beauty – and pairs perfectly with you. 😉
Thanks, August. It’s my pleasure to be connected with the fabulous blogfest of yours! Kudos to you for continuing to nurture it every year. Yes, that video is incredibly touching, I agree. You can feel the emotion exchanged. Dr. Goodall said, in reference to it, that the moment was completely unexpected and one of the most powerful in her years of experience. How lovely that it was captured in video.
It’s a good reminder there are all sorts of irreplaceable experiences waiting for us as we age.
This is an amazing post, taking me back a few years when I first learned about Dr. Goodall. I admire her deeply and I thank you for bringing her into this Blog Fest. 🙂
It was my pleasure to write about her. She sets the bar high for all of us! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
I love that quote from Dr. Goodall. She has always been an inspiring woman.
One of my favorite quotes, similar to the one you used, is: “How wonderful it is that not one of us need wait a single moment to start improving the world.”
I hope I make some improvements each and every day.
Great post. And, yes, kudos to August for orchestrating this blogfest again.
Patricia Rickrode
w/a Jansen Schmidt
That’s a powerful quote, Patricia, and I would think that you certainly live up to it. Thanks for stopping by!
I’ve always admired Jane Goodall, and thank you for the quotes. My favorite is “Every single one of us makes an impact on the planet every single day, and we get to choose what sort of impact that is.” What an awesome thing to be able to choose our impact! Thanks for such a thoughtful post.
Thanks, Jennifer. We are so fortunate to have that kind of choice, I agree wholeheartedly.
Congratulations to you about the choices you have made!
What an amazing woman and beautiful message. Thank you for sharing!
You are most welcome, Tiffany. I enjoyed your post and have really loved seeing the photos you have posted of your son all year. What a cutie! And you are so right, sometimes the best word is simply “Amazing”!
Jane Goodall is an amazing woman. Thank you for sharing!
My pleasure! Thanks for stopping by, Christy.
That chimp video is remarkable but then so is Dr. Jane Goodall. How many lives she has changed, countless no doubt. If there is anyone who has lived a life of respect, it is she. I really enjoyed this post, Patricia. Thank you for reminding us that as long as we have a single breath, change is possible.
Karen
I’m glad you enjoyed the post. It was a pleasure to write it and I was surprised to find her on FB … but then, why not? And yes … so right … change is always possible. That’s why I love the word “possibilitarian”. Let’s all be!
I absolutely love that you’re a possibilitarian. You inspire me.
Thanks, Kitt. It’s such a great word, isn’t it? So nice to see you here. 🙂
Jane Goodall is certainly inspirational, and so are you, Patricia. I love that Aristotle quote. That is my new mantra!
Thanks for your kind words, Kassandra. We all have something to offer each other, don’t we? Your post was so candid and poignant. Thank you for that! And, like you, I thank Aristotle for those motivating words that guarantee life will never be dull!