For those of you that have watched Goodall's PBS series, her videos, seen her in person on her lecture circuit or consumed the passion and compassion in her writing, you have been touched by the hearts and souls of the chimpanzees of Gombe and have applauded Goodall's causes.  For those of you that haven't, you're in for a treat!  Goodall professes and lives a wonderful blend of compassion for the earth, animals and people inspiring us to do the same.  REASON FOR HOPE had "spiritually fit" written all over it and we are so thrilled to launch our second year by featuring Dr. Jane Goodall in this issue!

The excerpts for this issue provide a good introduction to who Jane is and what a powerful impact family provides through supporting childhood loves and curiousities in The Child as Naturalist.  We also meet JoJo and are called to make a difference to save these sad chimpanzees from their unfortunate fates in Saint Francis is Weeping.

We loved REASON FOR HOPE and were also deeply moved and inspired when listening to Jane's lecture tour.  If you enjoyed these excerpts, support Jane's cause through your book purchase and/or make a donation the Jane Goodall Institute via her web site.  It is an honor to feature Dr. Jane Goodall in the first issue of our second year!      

WAYNE MULLER:  Simple wisdom and heartfelt stories is what Wayne Muller delivers in his heartfelt publications.  Taking time out to nourish our souls (The Sabbath) and reflecting on and doing what we love (Love and Language) are the messages Wayne gives us through the excerpts we've brought to you.  What could be simpler?    

Muller is incredibly positive giving hope and perspective to AIDS patients and struggling peoples.  In his stories, Muller asks poignant questions facilitating the reader to find the answers from within.   Our excerpts are just a sliver of Muller's writings where he frequently refers to spirituality experienced through nature and music.  He was an obvious fit for SpirituallyFit.com!  

Muller founded Bread for the Journey which is an outreach program reaching less fortunate people around the world.   We are all travelling on this journey of life and are thankful for Muller who provides us the strength and inspiration to continue through his words and acts of compassion.

ALFREDO QUARTO:  Conviction and perseverance describe this journalist/activist fighting to save mangrove forests all over the world.     Quarto teaches us about the impact to a delicate ecology and to the people living and struggling to survive near shrimp-farmed mangrove swamps in The Rise and Fall of the Blue Evolution.  He makes us think twice about our food supply and the consequences of raising a commodity at the cost of damaging our planet.  Quarto has much to share about the Mangrove Action Project which he co-founded. 

TIM MCNULTY:  McNulty brings us another sweet portrait of walking gently and reverently on this earth through Three Poem of Deer.   McNulty makes us think about the paths we take, who we share them with and how many of them are leading us to the same place.  Or are they?  Thank you Tim for your way with words and your gentle spirit.  Namaste.

PATTIANN ROGERS:  Rogers continues to delight us with her syncopation and soulful imagery through her environmentally-rich poetry (Immortal Soul).  We are thrilled to continue bringing her educational poems to you in our second year!  Learn about animals, plants, and mammals by curling up with one of Rogers' books with your dictionary or encyclopedia.  Unless you're already a learned naturalist, you will find Rogers' poetry very educational through her use of many creatures and things not necessarily common to the city-dweller or untrained nature lover.  If you're not familiar with one of Rogers' "creatures" in her poems, take the time to research the habitat, history, personality, and physicality of each one to truly grasp the fullness of Rogers' writing.  Learn about nature, become intellectually stimualted, enjoy good writing.   What could be better? 

As with all of our published authors, we encourage you to purchase their publications.  EATING BREAD FOR HONEY is just one of Rogers' many publications.  Enjoy! 

AL HARRIS: Well, here we are in 2001 (the "real milennium"?) and we are grateful for Harris' continued contribution of stories about spiritual fitness through music, imagination and in this issue he shares a light muse in Spiritually Fit or Fat?   Thank you Al for your support, your volunteer editing and being part of the second year of SpirituallyFit.com!