Gail Nordheim finds it as surprising as anyone that she is spending her retirement years working with the people of Vietnam. But in reviewing her life, her past work and what she wanted to continue doing, an international adventure emerged.
In this Kitchen Table Talk, Mary Helen and Carol talk with Gail about her amazing work and her thoughts on finding your way to contribute to the world.
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What an inspirational interview! Thanks Gail for your story and your thoughts on contribution! I really liked that you spoke not only to trying to change the world on a grand scale, but also how we as individuals do change the world on a very local, personal level. Whenever I feel as if I’m not making a difference and am feeling down, I rent “It’s a Wonderful Life” or “You can’t take it with you” and get reminded of how we change the world with every human life that we touch. The real issue is whether we change the world in a positive or negative way – such thoughts are meant to keep one on one’s toes! And I remind myself that often, the changes you’ve made will not become apparent while you’re alive. Only in death did many artists reach the masses and gather the acclaim of society. Only in death did Aldo Leopold become the revered “Father of Wildlife Ecology.” The list goes on and on. The important thing is to do what you can to positively change the world, and that is at any age, in any realm, at any scale.
Thanks for all you do, Gail!
I am a beneficiary of Gail’s support and I can tell you that she knows what she is doing. She helped the not-for-profit that I work with to overcome some daunting challenges related to growth exceeding capacity. Her ability to listen well, to respect diversity and communicate clearly gave us the confidence and clarity to make important changes to our management structure and practices. We were so lucky to have had the opportunity to meet and work with Gail!