What can we look to during these fraught times to keep our hope alive? Fred Rogers reminded us to “look for the helpers,” and there are four particular people who come to mind who fit that definition. They have contributed so much to our world for nearly a century, and they have no plans to stop anytime soon. As vital programs and cultural institutions are being eliminated throughout the country, much like the superheroes during the climax of “Avengers: Infinity War,” it is more important for me than ever to elevate people who understand the value in embracing humanity.
One is Deborah Szekely, the Godmother of Health and Wellness, and the co-founder of the health resorts Rancho La Puerta and the Golden Door. I have often sung her praises, and I recently had an opportunity to do it again on her 103rd birthday, this past Saturday, May 3. The indomitable spirit she exuded was no different from what I observed from her on the day she turned 100. Or indeed the indomitable spirit I observed forty years ago when I first met her, when she was 60+ years old! In between, she has done so much, including starting a philanthropic organization to help give back to the town of Tecate, Mexico, from which she said she has received so much. Her get-up-and-go is so inspiring to me.
When I asked what her plans were for the week ahead, she told me that she was planning on returning to her spa to give one of her endlessly insightful lectures. “Optimism against all odds is how things get done in this topsy-turvy world,” she told me on her 100th birthday, and I couldn’t agree more.
Buddy Guy said that he is almost 90 years old and that he isn’t ready to hang up his guitar yet. That is indeed good news.
Blues music has meant so much to the culture for many years; it inspires empathy. Empathy is not an enemy of society, as some high-profile pundits have recently suggested, but one of our greatest tools in preserving the future of our species. I have hope that all that has been removed over the first months of 2025 will return just as our heroes did in “Avengers: Endgame.” And I am beyond grateful, in the meantime, to bask in the wisdom of sages like Warren Buffett, Deborah Szekely, and Buddy Guy, who are pointing the way toward a better and brighter future.
And of course I would be remiss if I didn’t add a nod to one of the biggest proponents of Empathy and Compassion—Pope Francis. He made his last trip among the people in Rome on Easter Day, before he passed away quietly in his sleep at the age of 88. Today, May 7, is the convening of the Papal Conclave to elect his successor. All of the major television stations are airing the gathering of the Cardinals before they go into seclusion. The question is whether the Conclave will elect someone like Pope Francis who revered Mother Mary, washed the feet of prisoners, ministered to those on the margins of society, preached a gospel of inclusion and empathy, lived a life of simplicity and adherence to his faith, and opened the Church to more roles for women (though not yet in the top role).
Or will they elect a more conservative and traditional successor who will be a “course correction,” as some call it. Will we have the first American Pope, the first African Pope, or the first Pope from the Philippines? All of the speculation is at a fever pitch, even exemplified by betting sites where one can place a bet on the next Pope. One of the most interesting parts of this is that the TV announcers are also debating in earnest about the qualities one hopes to find in a Pope. And we don’t hear enough about principles of what makes a good person or a good leader. That is refreshing. And continuing the theme of inspiring elders in our society, the Papal process is one where a person 60 years old is considered too young!
