Two of the most inspirational places I've ever visited are the Lost Gardens of Heligan and The Eden Project. The first brough sometthing that had been lost back into being, and the second created something wonderful out of somewhere that had been abandoned.
What they have in common is Sir Tim Smit, a remarkable, determined maverick of a man, who developed two approaches when he learned to stop "busking" - getting by alright - and committing to something.
Firstly, "Tinkerbell theory". The idea that, like the famous fairy, things that matter to us only exist if we really believe in them. Secondly, his "Last Man Standing' approach which is taking awkward and turning it into an art form.
There's an excellent account of his work in "Eden", from which this quote is taken:
"No one has a monopoly on dreams, but only a rare few discover the alchemists art of making them real. Making things real demands a commitment that goes beyond what a "busker" can give; it requires a sin…
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