Jane Goodall’s Famous Last Words

I know very little about Jane Goodall. I know Dr. Jane Goodall was a passionate advocate for the environment, and her contributions have significantly shaped how we understand our impact on the planet's health. This previous sentence marks the limit of my understanding of this world-renowned leader.

I was curious enough to watch her interview on Netflix's Famous Last Words. This conversation was recorded with the understanding that the interview would only be released after her passing. I was moved by the authenticity of someone who knew their words would only be heard after their death. The interview wasn't a gratuitous example of oversharing, but a gentle reveal of pages from Dr. Goodall's story to help the world distinguish the Icon Dr. Jane Goodall from the real Jane. The interview felt like a gift, not from the icon but from a very real human being. These days, many of us find value in the non-material, and the act of someone sharing their story often feels like a demonstration of generosity.

I'm used to thinking of generosity as people sharing resources like cash or physical gifts. I love gifting, but I am convinced that adding value to others' lives has a lot to do with sharing your story. Story sharing adds clarity and reaffirms solidarity in our most important relationships.

I enjoyed finding out that Jane likes to drink whiskey and that, when she was a little girl, she dreamed of going to Africa and had a mother who believed in her. These simple insights stood out amid her immense accomplishments. Had I known nothing else, I would still have received value from listening to her interview, which reminds me that everyone has value in their story and that we don't have to be an icon to feel we have something worthwhile to share.

The interview also highlighted the beautiful truth that words of kindness and encouragement are never wasted efforts. There are leaders who don't lead with kindness and encouragement, and there are leaders who do; those are the people we want to remember. The final moments of the program feature Dr. Goodall looking directly into the camera to share her final words with the world. With gentleness and conviction, she challenged the audience to remember that everyone has value and that they matter. She could have delivered a highly politicized message or one last brilliant insight into the natural world, but she chose to lift the spirits of those listening. The simplicity of these words is easy enough for anyone to share.

I need to be reminded that being perfect, famous, and well-resourced are not prerequisites for adding value to those around us. We can always choose to start today.

Thanks, friend, let’s be like Jane