Community Chat

[UpNorthGorgy]

I had a 91 year old friend pass in August. She had a full life and fled Germany as a child. As the say" She had a good run" So good to have had her life so long.

Jane Goodall's book is worth reading. Our book club read it. I used to enjoy her documentaries. Written in an interview style. She truly was a gentle soul and those who met her certainly were fortunate!

[Cakers3]

I had the honor to meet Jane Goodall with Michael York at a retreat years ago. He provided the narration for her CD/DVD project "Jane Goodall's Message of Peace".

This project includes images of Africa and her teachings from her book "Reason for Hope".

Jane Goodall just fit in as a friend with everyone and Michael York, who has narrated other environmental projects, was just so down to earth.

They were special guests at this retreat and you left with knowing the world can be a better place for animals too. Not an experience you can have at a book signing for sure.

Jane Goodall still had the stuffed chimpanzee animal her father gave her when she was a toddler, instead of a teddy bear. The toy was named Jubilee and started her interest in the chimpanzees. How fitting 🙂

I believe Jubilee was on the bureau in her room at the time of her death.

[They CallMe MRWILKES]

This is the text from Dr. Goodall's last Instagram post which featured video of chimpanzees;  absolutely fascinating insights and oh, what we could learn from them:

"Chimpanzee societies work a little differently than our own. Instead of staying in one fixed group, chimps live in what’s called a fission fusion social system;

What does that mean? Chimp communities are large and deeply bonded, but they often split into smaller groups during the day to forage, rest, or explore, and then come back together later.

This constant shifting allows them to adapt to changing resources and manage social tensions.   It is a delicate balance of cooperation and independence, strategy and survival. One day you might travel with your closest ally. The next week, with a former rival.

This kind of flexibility keeps the group strong, relationships dynamic, and the social scene full of surprises. Fission fusion is not chaos. It is intelligence in motion.”

[threecees]

[LuvSoCal]

What a remarkable and adventurous life she led. Yes, a life well lived.

[Estellee]

@threecees So very true 

[just bee]

Jane Goodall, the iconic primatologist who inspired the world with her lifelong work in conservation, animal welfare, and protecting the planet, passed away on October 1 at age 91.

While genetics played a role — both of her parents lived to 94 — Goodall’s lifestyle choices also supported her health and vitality. She worked tirelessly into her 80s and 90s, traveling up to 300 days a year to spread her message of hope. Her longevity offers lessons for us all.

Here are 10 habits that contributed to Goodall's long, healthy life:

A Strong Sense of Purpose

Goodall’s mission never wavered. Research shows that having a sense of purpose is linked to lower rates of depression, greater resilience, and longer life. According to The Healthy, she actually worked harder in her later years, traveling 300 days a year, to spread her message of hope.

Optimism

In her 2021 book, The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times, Goodall shared reasons for optimism — even when facing climate change and other daunting global challenges.

Time in Nature

Spending countless hours in forests observing chimpanzees, Goodall benefited from what science now confirms: exposure to green spaces improves sleep, lowers blood pressure, reduces chronic disease risk, and even lengthens life expectancy, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Walking Daily

Goodall's fieldwork meant hours of trekking through rugged terrain, giving her a natural full-body workout. She kept active throughout her life — even during her speaking tours. “I think the most important thing is to keep active, and to hope that your mind stays active,” she said in 2010.

Plant-Based Diet

Goodall championed a mostly plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes, while minimizing animal products. She credited her diet with maintaining her vitality. Studies confirm that plant-based eating lowers the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Cultivating Calm

“I’ve cultivated a way that I don’t get stressed very often,” she said in a 2017 interview. Her calm demeanor came from meditation, mindfulness, and years of quietly waiting, notebook in hand, for chimpanzees in the forest.

Love of Animals

Though best known for her groundbreaking work with primates, Goodall adored dogs. She said they gave her unconditional love — joy and comfort that nurtured her emotional well-being.

Practicing Self-Care

Despite a hectic schedule, Goodall recognized the importance of maintaining balance in life. She made time to care for herself physically and mentally. “It’s not selfish,” she wrote in her Good for All newsletter, stressing the importance of balance.

Building Strong Relationships

Although her early work was solitary, she later surrounded herself with trusted colleagues and the young people in her Roots & Shoots program. Decades of research, including the Harvard Longevity Study, show that close relationships are one of the strongest predictors of a long life.

Living Simply

Goodall valued simplicity. She carried her own tea kettle so she could make tea anywhere, avoided hotel housekeeping, and minimized possessions. Gratitude for life’s small comforts, along with reduced clutter, is linked to better physical and mental health.

-- Lynn C. Allison

[geezerette]

@just bee 

The last paragraph...Living Simply.  ❤️

[just bee]

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@geezerette wrote:

@just bee 

The last paragraph...Living Simply.  ❤️

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@geezerette 

Precisely!  Travel light.