1/30/16: Former businessman Angelo Mastropietro was diagnosed with MS, but he didn’t take his diagnosis lying down.

“I had a lapse which left me paralyzed, which was really the catalyst which made me review where I was at, where I was going, and obviously my lifestyle.” -Angelo Mastropietro

Instead of curling up in a ball and feeling sorry for himself, Mastropietro purchased a 700-year-old abandoned cave in the Wyre Forest, near Kidderminster, England, the region which served as inspiration for Tolkein’s Shire and got to work. He estimates just the breaking up and excavation of the 70-80 tons of rock took him 1000 hours. I don’t know how long his magnificent and inspired design took, but I suspect it was every bit as difficult a process as the rock work.

I can’t imagine any better way to reclaim your sense of self after bad health news than creating your dream home. I applaud Mastropietro for his flawless design, this obvious strength, both of body and character, and his unwillingness to give up. What an inspiration!

You can learn more about Angelo Mastropietro’s amazing rock house on the Rockhouse Retreat website.