In Pursuit of Passion: Change Starts at Home Over Dinner

Laurie David is the author of the book 'The Family Dinner'

I first met Laurie David 20 years ago when she was living in New York City.  Since then she  has become a force for change.  As part of my series on passion, I interviewed Laurie to learn more about her source of energy.

Q: What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about so many things that this in and of itself is a problem!

I think my passion for the environment was part of my DNA…otherwise how would you explain that by age 8 I was obsessed with the problem of littering! But I have had many mentors over the years who have taught me so much and I am incredibly grateful to them, including:  John Adams, Frances Beinecke, Bobby Kennedy, Arianna Huffington and Dr. Harvey Karp.

About a decade ago, one of my mentors gave me some great advice which was to narrow my focus and pick one thing to work on. As an advocate, I am solution oriented.  I don’t just want to complain; I want to change things. So his advice was sage. At that time I put all my energies into the issue of global warming which was, in my view, the mother of all issues.

Q: What inspired you to follow your current path?

I recently narrowed my focus – -thanks to a crazy epiphany I had sitting at my kitchen table.  I am now concentrating on food issues, which to me is just another way into the issue of climate.  How and what we eat, what we waste and what we grow are all environmental issues.  They are also health issues and I am excited to find new ways to bring people into the issues of the environment, even if they would never label themselves environmentalists. After all, we all have to eat and so many of the problems we are facing today actually cross the dinner plate.

Over dinner with friends or family explore the idea of passion. Share your conversation with us and to thank you for joining the conversation, we’ll send a copy of  Laurie’s book to 5 lucky recipients.

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Published: February 24, 2011