Jack Delaney

Earlier this year, I got hooked on the idea of finding the tallest tree in the world.

Hyperion is a coast redwood and towers at 380 ft (115m) tall. Out of all 3 trillion trees on the planet, Hyperion is the tallest. I spent half a year researching, road tripping, and bushwhacking through the dense forest just to try and find this tree. Its location has been kept secret for a decade by the arborists who discovered it for fear of it being harmed. After six months of searching, I finally found it. The last photograph is my proof.

Wanna know what the best part was? Feeling guiltlessly like a kid again on a giant adventure. There are so many parts of adulthood that suppress our inner sense of wonder and awe. Don’t listen to them. Chasing your dreams and the things that intrigue you - no matter how silly they may sound - is the most important thing you can do in life. Get out there and find your tree.

David Brooks examines what we really talk about when we talk about “inspiration” and how it relates to the “deliberate practice” model of genius. 

Complement with artist Agnes Martin on inspiration and T.S. Eliot on the mystical quality of creativity.