Dreamspace Studio

Jane Goodall has always been a presence in the background of my life. From the children’s books I read in elementary school, to the documentaries that played on PBS, she was simply there—kneeling in the grass, hand extended, quietly changing the world one gentle observation at a time.

While I can’t say Jane Goodall shaped my writing style, she absolutely helped shape my love for animals and my sense of what’s possible when you lead with compassion. Watching her move among chimpanzees with patience and respect taught me that animals aren’t just fascinating—they’re beings with stories, personalities, and value of their own.

Her life and work made philanthropy and conservation feel real and necessary, not just for scientists in distant jungles, but for regular people like me. It’s part of what inspired me to work at the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore—yes, even if my expertise kept me in the farmyard with goats, chickens, and the occasional stubborn donkey. Being there, helping kids and families learn to see animals as individuals, always felt like carrying a bit of Jane’s work into the world.

Jane Goodall’s legacy is more than just her research. It’s a call to treat life—every kind of life—with dignity and curiosity. It’s a reminder that gentleness and observation are not passive acts; they can change the whole world.

Today, I’ll remember her by spending a little extra time with my own animals, and by listening more carefully to the wildness around me. Thank you, Jane Goodall, for making the world kinder and wilder all at once. Rest gently.