As it seems life most often does when one is “in flow,” last week’s Goldman Prize Ceremony came at a perfect time in my life. Things have been a bit crazy ever since the story about the EcoMom Alliance appeared on the front page of the NY Times (gratefully overwhelming is what I’ve been saying), but that night I really needed a little connection and inspiration. As the guest of social butterfly and green builder John Shurtz the evening was just what the doctor ordered. The story of each of the prize recipients tells an amazing story and and I felt privileged to bear witness to their being honored in such a global arena. Ignace Schops, who led the effort to succesfully establish Belgium’s first National Park, finished his acceptance speech with, “We must think globally, act locally, and change individually,” and this seems perfect for tomorrow’s Earth Day celebrations that will be happening around the world.

I was particularly touched by Feliciano dos Santos, of Mozambique, whose work in sustainable development uses the power of music to promote the importance of water and sanitation. In his acceptance speech he shared of turning to Mother Nature when looking for answers and inspiration. His words brought tears to my eyes as I thought of my own experiences on Vision Quest, and how I pray that Corbin - and all the world’s children - will also have nature to turn to as they seek meaning and guidance in their lives. It is what keeps me going and gives me strength every day. As dos Santos stated so eloquently, “By loving the natural environment as we would a child, the environment will love and serve our children, producing food and clean water for future generations.”