“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.”
— Dr. Jane Goodall
When I first learned about Jane Goodall as a child, she seemed like a quiet miracle. A young woman in the wilds of Africa, studying chimpanzees not with cages or commands, but with patience, respect, and love. She taught us that listening to nature could teach us as much as any textbook. That compassion belonged in science. That the world could be studied and still held sacred.
Through her work, I saw how one person’s gentle courage could transform how the world sees itself. And through the years, I’ve carried that with me.
Now, as a mother, I’ve watched my children discover Jane in their own way — through her books, her voice, and her stories of Gombe. I’ve watched them light up at the idea that kindness can exist in research, that empathy belongs in the forest and the classroom alike. When I see their admiration, I’m reminded that Jane’s legacy isn’t just about chimpanzees — it’s about how we choose to be human.
A Final Message to the World
Netflix recently released The Last Words of Jane Goodall, a moving and deeply personal special that feels both like a farewell and a call to action. Filmed before her passing, it captures Jane reflecting on her life’s journey — her triumphs, her fears, and her unwavering hope for our planet’s future.
She speaks softly but firmly about what it means to live with purpose. She reminds us that each decision matters — what we eat, what we buy, how we treat one another, and how we protect what we love.
In one of her most touching moments, she says:
“We must do everything in our power to make the world a better place for the children alive today — and for those who will follow.”
Even in her final words, Jane offered not despair, but direction. She spoke of joy, humor, and an unshakable belief that change begins with small acts. She laughed about sending certain world leaders on a one-way trip to space, and yet her message was profoundly serious — that our survival depends on humility and connection.
A Loss That Echoes
Losing Jane Goodall feels like losing a compass — a true north for both science and the soul. She guided us through decades of environmental change and moral questioning. She stood in the space where research met reverence and showed us how to live there, gracefully.
Her passing leaves a silence that feels heavy, yet within that silence is an invitation: to keep her voice alive in the way we speak, act, and care.
For all of us who consider ourselves part of her Roots & Shoots — the generations of dreamers, doers, and believers she inspired — her work continues in the choices we make each day. We are her living legacy.
Carrying the Torch
Jane’s message was simple, but it asked everything of us: that we pay attention, that we stay curious, and that we never forget our power to do good.
In a world that can often feel fractured, she reminded us of our shared roots — in the earth, in kindness, in hope. And while the world mourns, her ripples move outward still. They live in scientists who study with empathy, in children who plant trees, and in anyone who chooses to believe that care for the planet is care for each other.
May we continue to listen — to the forests, to the animals, to one another — just as Jane taught us. Because as long as we listen, her spirit remains.
Be well. Be kind. And keep believing in the small things that grow big.
#FarOutStars
