Karl's Blog: In Praise of Miss Potter

Are we born to greatness?

Or do we achieve greatness through sheer hard work and determination?

When you look at the works and achievements of some of our greatest scientists, artists and writers, you can't help but ponder.

I tend to believe that we all have gifts and it's what we do with these gifts that will determine our potential for greatness.

People can achieve greatness and become cherished for the pleasure that their work gives and for the fact that what they give is from the heart.

In my opinion, Beatrix Potter is one such person.

For those of you not familiar with Miss Potter (which is also the title of the film starring Renne Zellweger), she became a best-selling children's author with her beautifully illustrated tales based on her animal friends.

Through the early 1900s, Beatrix Potter wrote 23 books. Some of the most popular include The Tale of Peter Rabbit, The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin.

Though brought up comfortably in a middle class family, Beatrix had little social contact with other children and often disappeared into a world of her own creating animal stories. She had a strong interest for natural history and the land, and spent hours drawing wildlife.

Fiercely independent, Beatrix shunned her parents' plans for her marriage and decided that she would make her own living writing books. Something that was unheard of at the time because of her gender. She did fall in love though but the man she hoped to spend her life with tragically died following a brief illness.

Heartbroken, Beatrix moved to the Lake District. There, she purchased Hill Top Farm in Sawry where she lived for the rest of her life, devoting her time to wildlife and conservation of Lakeland farms. From the proceeds of her books, she was able to buy and save many working farms. Finally, when she died, she left over 4000 acres to the National Trust, a legacy which helped ensure the future of the Lake District.

I'm sure you'll agree ... what an inspirational lady!

And her books still sell by the thousands to this day!