Fareed Zakaria (journalist, political scientist, and author) interviewed the extraordinary Jane Goodall to discuss her lifelong study of chimpanzees, and how it led her to become a leading conservationist. It was a fascinating interview, but I have to admit that although Jane’s work is pretty amazing, it’s what inspired her to pursue this path that I found incredible. She told a story that as a child falling in love with the Tarzan character. This sparked the most unusual desire to want to live in the jungle and learn about wild animals. This was a dream planted in her by a fantasy television character. Gives you pause about the kinds of things that may be influencing children today. But her mother encouraged her to pursue this fantastical dream. I have a feeling that her mother would have encouraged her daughter to pursue any dream placed on her heart. Jane’s fantastical dream turned into her lifelong work.
I thought about all the ways her dream could have dried up as her life continued. She could have succumbed to the weight of low expectations of women, especially during those times. She could have decided that her own her greatness was a tiresome load to carry and would lead to eventual disappointment. Her fear of failure could have clouded her path. Sometimes it doesn’t take much. Never underestimate the power of both positive and negative influences. Both have prevailing consequences on our lives. In Jane’s case, it was her mother’s indomitable human spirit that allowed her to see her world, and the world of her daughter’s differently. She believed in Jane’s greatness and her innate ability to make her dream a reality against all odds.
This indomitable human spirit resides in each person –own it.
Sila