That Time I Met Dr. Jane Goodall: Celebrating the Legendary Aries on Her 91st Birthday
Happy 91st Birthday to this badass legend! May we all follow her courage to listen to our inner compass and do for our earth.
Jane had a message for us today: “honor Jane’s 91st birthday by joining #GoodAllDay. Take a positive action—whether big or small—that makes the world a little better for people, other animals, and the planet we all share.”
Dr. Jane Goodall and her wax figure at the Musée Grévin in Paris, at the opening of an exhibit honoring her groundbreaking work with animals and conservation, highlighting her legacy as a legendary Aries. Her figure is her shadow lol.
I watched Dr. Jane Goodall challenge the status quo in real time and it was *chef’s kiss*.
It actually doesn’t take much to be considered a difficult woman. That’s why there are so many of us. – Jane Goodall
My take on Jane: Meeting A Moment That Changed Everything
Jane Goodall is absolutely ferocious. When I met her I had one takeaway: she is ferocious. A beast. Those eyes were awesome in their power, like a lion. She sees. She sees more than what’s in the visible world though she sees that too. She knows people. She cannot be bullshit. She is all love and power and heart. Absolutely inspiring. Behind those fierce eyes and kind demeanor she is on a mission. She’s done things, obviously, and to a legend status. But she’s not done. She’s been to the mountaintop, several times, having endured challenges we will never know that made her strong in all the places. The things we do know about her humble us. Her spirit and strength bowl one over. She knows how she appears now and plays with it. She’s funny and light.
“Jane Goodall is what she is, and always has been. When she began observing chimpanzees in Tanzania in 1960, she outraged the scientific community by giving her subjects names to distinguish one from the other. Her attribution of personality and emotions was seen as naive. When she later submitted a thesis on her findings, the genders of her chimps were crossed out, with “he” and “she” replaced by “it”. Goodall wrote the pronouns back in.” – Syndey Morning Herald, 2009
Aries at its Ultime.
Jane Goodall and her wax figure at the Musée Grévin in Paris, showcasing the renowned primatologist in an exhibit celebrating her legacy.
Aries at Its Ultimate: The Power of Jane Goodall’s Unwavering Energy
As a journalist and in my life I’ve met many famous and successful and powerful people, but only a few changed me. Like, in the moment an energy shift happens and you know you will be different after meeting them. That was meeting Jane. You’re brought to attention by the invisible forces and you know that you are in the presence of greatness and are to pay attention.
Jane Goodall is one of those few. If you get the chance to be around her, do.
Her energy is unwavering. She is completely who she is, an inner knowing and strength that is instructive. It’s as if her nature challenges you to be your best, whatever that is for you. Like she is the most Jane, I felt pushed to be my most Leah. Just being around her.
“The least I can do is speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves.” – Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall: A Force of Nature Who Challenges the Status Quo – I Saw it in Real Time
Jane Goodall and her wax figure at the Musée Grévin in Paris, showcasing the renowned primatologist in an exhibit celebrating her legacy.
In December 2023, Paris’ esteemed Musée Grévin was unveiling a wax figure of the legend and she was there for its release presentation and party. (OMG the buffet was amazing amazing vegetarian – cuz Jane!) We had a press preview with my press club, The Anglo-American Press Association, with her and the figure before the event, where all were given a copy of her 1988 book (in French), My Life with the Chimpanzees.
I think wax figures are creepy lol, but the Euros really love them, and anyway I’d go anywhere to see Jane Goodall, right? As we waited for Jane in the room that would feature her display, a journalist mentioned that this was actually the first such wax honor for Goodall, as England’s famous Madame Tussaud’s didn’t have one of her. We found it strange for an English legend of her stature was missing from there…but then we considered. She’s been challenging the elites and their lifestyle and way of being for her whole Africa living and loving life, so yeah, it actually wasn’t surprising, we all settled on in silence.
When Jane entered for our brief time with her the air changed. Her slight frame moved slowly with the sea of people parting for her. I could only see a soft shawl draped over her shoulders at first, but noted she moved like water. A calm flow. Even though everyone around her was buzzing with her appearance, she was the calm. She looked around at the faces standing honestly too close to her lol. Clearly used to people staring at her, she seemed to be looking for something in the crowd, not sure what, but her scan ended on me with a slight smile. I was the only brown face in the crowd of journalists and PR staff. I am used to that, its been my life, but I was not used to someone white recognizing it and acknowledging it. That subtle eye dap from a legend in the group took me by surprise. OMG Jane Goodall knows I exist I smiled and screamed inside (you guys don’t worry I was cool.)
“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” – Jane Goodall.
Jane Goodall always repping Africa. Ally for real.
Jane’s Presence Then Became The Stuff Of Legends: A Legacy of Power, Wisdom, and Compassion
Jane’s first comments included how white people need to be quiet and listen to what Black communities need and then help. Full stop. She had no qualifiers and said it with her whole chest. She continued on in said manor for the rest of her words with us. I couldn’t stop smiling.
She has that power that doesn’t require volume to pierce peoples hearts and false notions. And with that everyone was in Jane Goodall school. I. Was. Here. For. It.
She spoke of how whites have ruined so much in Africa and need to step back, let locals decide what to do, and then support and help. Full stop.
I. Have. Never!
She silenced a room of legacy journalists, many retired, most far too comfortable in their whiteness and position to rock the boats required to help the planet urgently as needed. She was not team them and their comfort. Their legacy work that has kept the status quo plummeting as the earth and all its living things suffer more greatly. She was not to be taken anything other than literally and knew they heard her. Our planet needs saving. She repeated that kids on the front lines doing much of the work need support, and you are either doing that or not.
The simplicity of Jane, indeed. A brilliance to watch in real time. Honored. Humbled.
Team Jane for life. Here’s to continuing her courageous legacy of being for others.
“My mission is to create a world where we can live in harmony with nature.” – Jane Goodall
Wants to know. Has some questions. Very Sag. Always up for pizza. Planning several trips. Big fan of joy. Wants to talk about it. All of them. Is sure we can figure out this whole living thing. Is rooting for you.
