Who am I? That question is not easily answered. One is tempted to reply with the usual list—job, relationships, education, age, and other worldly identifiers. Or we might swing to the opposite extreme and claim that we are pure spirit and love. But to look more deeply is to ask: What is the essence that animates my life as a unique expression of consciousness in human form? What are the underlying values and beliefs that have served as recurring refrains through my life? What enduring touchstones have guided me through both the thick and thin of experience?
Now that I am in my eighth decade, I can look back and see that the quest to find the deepest truth—a truth that endures like a rudder through life’s storms—has been a recurring theme for me. Yet, this journey has never been about reaching a final destination. I don’t expect to discover a single, all-encompassing answer, even at the end of my life. For me, truth is something that continually grows and evolves. I have become more like a cultivator of a semi-wild garden I call “seeking truth”—organic, unpredictable, and always surprising. Sometimes I prune here, add there, or welcome the involuntary growths that appear, blown in as seeds on the wind.
I deeply value sharing this quest with others. I love discovering what exotic plants of truth they are tending in their own gardens—the variety is truly infinite. I try always to share these discoveries in return. At times, my own questioning lies fallow in the cold of winter; at other times, it bursts forth like wildflowers blooming in a mountain meadow come spring.
Staying curious and living in wonder are the qualities I hold most dear. For over five decades, these values have served me well as I’ve produced global dialogues with some of the world’s most thought-provoking leaders and visionaries. I feel like a child in a candy store whenever a new idea pops into view or when an ancient truth is unearthed and brought into the bright sunlight of the 21st century. These moments enliven my spirit, nourish my soul, and keep me optimistic about humanity and our capacity to imagine a better future for all forms of life on this planet.
Above all, I am committed to being part of the solution, rather than part of the problem.
