Hello , my fellow brave human

What happens when brilliant people create something from nothing?

Something beautiful happened at Carrifran Wildwood at the weekend.

We stood in a car park surrounded by a canopy of trees that didn’t exist 25 years ago. Donald McPhillimy, who planted the first trees on day one, shared stories of when this was just bare hillside and an impossible dream. Thank you Donald.

As we walked up through what is now a living forest - surrounded by birds, a huge yellow and black striped dragonfly doing a very odd pogo dance, wildflowers carpeting the ground - the contrast was stark. 

Driving through the surrounding bare hills, looking at the recently scarred opposite slope where Sitka spruce had been ripped out, and you see the difference between a vision of thrumming nature and… nothingness.

Though of course, there’s never truly nothing. There’s always something. But sometimes nature needs a helping hand. Sometimes a vision needs people brave enough to start planting before they can see the forest.

The theme was “creating something out of nothing” - and there we were, standing inside proof that impossible things become inevitable when the right people gather around a clear, meaningful vision.

Ten minutes from the car park, we reached the viewpoint. And it took my breath away: living nature stretching to just below the summit, trees now regenerating themselves, a complete ecosystem. 

The conversations that day? Brilliant minds connecting, powerful thoughts crystallising, probable actions emerging. The kind of magic that happens when you bring together people who won’t accept that “this is just how things are.”

What struck me most: this forest will never be “finished.” It’s regenerating itself now, creating something that will outlive us all. 

Just like the impact you’re capable of making when you allow yourself to dream, remember the possibilities, and what can happen when you take those brave first steps. 

If you’ve been wondering whether it’s too late to start something significant, whether your best contributions are behind you, whether there’s still time to create something meaningful from what feels like nothing…

Come to the next Breathe: Walk & Talk. Details to come soon.

or

Join me on a 1:1 journey for my new programme Brilliant & Brave™ - where you can have the permission to dream, and then do. Without recklessness, just doing brave safely.

Here’s to your brilliance,

Kirsty x

P.S. Holly travelled all the way from Lincolnshire to photograph the day. When the images are ready, I’ll share them - I can’t wait!

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