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What Makes Your Heart Beat the Loudest?

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1450What makes you hear your heart beat in your ears, feel it pound in your chest, and reverberate through your whole body? For me, it would most certainly be doing something that scares the hell out of me. A few of those things to date:

– Getting lost in the Scottish countryside at night
– Starting a new business (now on my third)
– High speed off-road driving through the Mexican Baja
– Scuba diving down to the ocean floor
– Asking my wife Kristin to marry me
– Learning to fly an airplane
– Exploring a haunted, condemned prison in the wee hours of the morning

All of these experiences scared the you-know-what out of me…but I made the choice to do each of them anyway. There’s probably hundreds of other scenarios I could include on this list. But you know what’s funny? The past is no longer scary. Having done something once, we grow, adapt and gain confidence. At least I know I have. The things that make our hearts pound the loudest can come in a variety of scenarios. What are some of yours?

Most recently, as many people know, Kristin & I decided to sell and donate 98% of our belongings and travel the good ole’ US of A. Talk about hearts beating loudly! But as it turns out, it’s really not all that scary…actually…it’s more awe inspiring that I ever could have imagined.

The scariest part so far has been riding out a hellacious thunderstorm in Missouri. That bad boy was damn close to flipping over the Destination Tree world headquarters and the mighty Ford truck that pulls it. But we survived the storm, fully intact.

That aside, I’m realizing more and more with every soul-lighting sunrise over a new, gorgeous horizon, that what scares the hell out of me and keeps my heart beating loudest……… is the very thing that keeps me alive. Without these challenges in my life, I’m fairly certain that I’d wither away into nothing to become part of the living dead. It’s not redundancy, familiarity and conformity that ignites my desire to live but rather change, uncertainty and a rebellious spirit that does. I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again…it’s good to do things that scare the crap out of you!

If we shackle ourselves to the same fears over and over again, while choosing the same choices day after day, and always do the same comfortable things, then quite literally, we will become stagnant. Never changing. Never growing. Paralyzed. To those that are okay with this kind of existence, I say god speed and good luck, but that’s not the life for me.

All I can say is that life moves at us pretty fast. But if each of us doesn’t stop occasionally to look fear in the face and laugh at it with a heart-pounding smile, then we could miss life and not even know it.

I don’t know what the future holds for us as we travel this great country together, but I do know we’re ready for it. With our hearts a-pounding and adventurous souls on fire, we’re continuing to head down an unfamiliar path in life. Our hopes are to help make this world a more inspiring place through Destination Tree, while we keep our own rebellious spirits challenged.

In the words of Grace Hanson, I leave you with this, “Don’t be afraid your life will end. Be afraid it will never begin.”

So, from the pine covered mountains of Western Montana, cheers and here’s to scaring the hell outta yourself.

Matt

A Tribute to Mother’s Everywhere

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Mother, Mom, Mammy, and MA! She goes by many names,
Regardless of what you call her, she was the first to introduce us to games.

Along with fun she taught us manners, though we did not want to listen,
She held our hand after the fall, as our eyes would tear up and glisten.

“Eat your food and sit up straight, do you want to become a hunchback?
Tie your shoes and wipe your nose, and don’t forget your lunch-pack!”

Rashes and bee stings they were no match, she always had a cure that would work,
She’s patient, and generous, and ever so loving, even when we were a jerk.

We grew up fast and we grew up right with her lessons on life in tow,
What happened to my little one, she says, I didn’t want them to go.

But a new chapter began that wasn’t expected, for this was not the end,
We laugh, talk, and listen to each other now, your child has become your dear friend.

Whether near or far the distance doesn’t matter, you are always in our heart,
We don’t tell you as often as we could, but today’s a fine day to start.

Without our mothers bringing us into this world, we would not be alive,
To be as genuine of a person as you have been, we will always strive.

Mother's Day
Happy Mother’s Day

One day of the year is not nearly enough to say what we really want to say,
Thank you for all that you’ve ever done, and for that HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Dedicated to our mothers, Dorothea and Jean.
Thank you for being our moms.

Cleveland Artists & Entrepreneurs Unite!

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I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. Cleveland is full of extraordinarily talented and unique artists and entrepreneurs. Our entire community supports and celebrates these artists at popular and growing events like The Cleveland Flea and The Cleveland Bazaar. Many of us have websites, and Etsy shops, and social media, and word of mouth support. But what we don’t have is a local, online platform. One in which you can find the unique, handcrafted, special and amazing services your neighbors provide. The neighbors in your own backyard. The neighbors in your own community. The neighbors you had no idea had such incredible talents and skills.

Who are these neighbors? How about the neighbor who’s made every wedding and birthday cake on the block? Or the neighbor who makes the best all-natural, lavender soap you’ve ever smelled? Or the neighbor who takes reclaimed driftwood and crafts it into unique artwork (spoiler, that’s me). But really, imagine if you had a website where you could find all those incredible things your neighbors make, where you could find all the people you never knew existed.

Frekol
Frekol.com

Well, now there is. Welcome, Frekol.com. Frekol? Yep, sounds like freckle. Like the freckle on your face after a little time in the sun. Each freckle is completely unique and unlike any other, just like your neighbors. Frekol.com gives local artists, entrepreneurs and service providers a platform to share their gifts with their community. 24/7. And while Etsy is amazing, and our community events bring together a shared camaraderie and energy that cannot be replaced, Frekol gives us something a little different. It’s a platform to find the amazing things your neighbor makes. A platform to make a connection with each other. To support each other. And to bring our community even closer together.

Frekol is in it’s infancy right now, which is the most exciting time. So, if you’re a local artist like me, go sign up and learn more about adding your services to Frekol.com. And if you’re a local Clevelander, if you Believe in CLE, and if you love supporting the people that make this community the awesome place that it is, check out Frekol.com and stay tuned for the full launch of what promises to be another reason that Cleveland is incredible.

And we must give a big THANK YOU to Trent at Frekol.com for creating this amazing platform, for believing in all the talented neighbors of Clevleand and for giving Destination Tree the opportunity to participate in the video introduction of the Frekol community.

Cheers, to all those who Dream, Dare and Do!

Matt

2015 Handpicked | A Different Kind of Bridal Event

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Every community seems to have a bridal show, if not multiple bridal shows.  Usually the “expo” style show, it has plenty of vendors with lots of services for bride-to-be’s. Nothing against that, but it can be hard to find truly unique and special artists and designers at these type of events.  And if you’re like me, you’ve probably noticed the trend toward supporting local, talented artists and service providers.  Especially here in Cleveland, who doesn’t love The Cleveland Flea, The Cleveland Bazaar and all the other seasonal events and activities that bring our local, talented community together?  In fact, I’m proud to be participating in an upcoming bridal event that promises to be very special.  Just like our community. This one of a kind event is: 2015 Handpicked | a Different Kind of Bridal Event. It’s a Bridal Show – Meets – Styled Shoot Creation by Baci Designer.

2015 Handpicked | A Different Kind of Bridal Event
2015 Handpicked | A Different Kind of Bridal Event

Ever been to MOCA?  That’s the Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland.  MOCA.  Say it out loud.  MO-CA. Jut your chin out on the MO and pull it back on the CA.  I know it sounds silly.  Just do it.  It’s fun.  Anyway, I’m off topic.  Handpicked takes place on Friday, May 1st from 5:30 to 9pm at MOCA (you did the chin jut didn’t you?) and we hope to see you there. We’re proud to have been handpicked to participate in this really unique event, and showcase our inspirational Destination Tree centerpieces, Driftwood Signs and Collages.  My own wedding day was one of the best days of my life. And I’m truly honored I get to create inspirational decor and memorable gifts that contribute to this very special occasion for others.

Cheers,

Matt

 

 

 

 

At the Corner of Forgive and Forget

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No Matter How Hard I Try, I’m Not Perfect.

Neither Are You.

Choose the road less traveled.
Choose the road less traveled.

We’re all human. Which means we are imperfect. We make mistakes. We can be capable of really amazing feats, and yet we’re also quite capable of the opposite. Sometimes our actions hurt each other, whether intentional or not, we end up at a crossroads. A corner where two streets converge, two streets by the name of ‘Forgive’ and ‘Forget’.

The way I see it, there are four directions I can go after someone wrongs me at the crossroads (or conversely four directions they can choose if I have wronged them). But when I really think about it, there’s only one of the four that leads to a better place, one that for many people is a lesser traveled road.  Our choices include:

  • Not Forgive and Not Forget.
    • Ultimately this path will lead us to a dark place, full of spite, untrustworthiness, and toxic grudges, that can spread like a cancer in ones body and can even unfairly affect other relationships unknowingly.  Not a good choice, and never a good path.
  • Not Forgive and Forget.
    • This path arises from a weak mind, one in which a person wants to punish the other but loses heart in the endeavor, as deep down they know people make mistakes and that they’ve probably made some too. Not a good path, and not to be taken, as it will cost you friends, happiness and peace of mind.
  • Forgive and Forget.
    • A dangerous road indeed.  Although a common saying, and well intended, this path leads only to a life of being taken advantage of and perpetual disappointment. This is the path a fool would take. A learning lesson is only a learning lesson the first time, the second time it’s a failure to pay attention.  Not a good choice.
  • Forgive but not Forget.
    • This is the path of the wise. It’s also one that I try my best to stay vigilant in taking. It’s the best path, and of course not the easiest, but it’s the one that more of us need to take, myself included. Forgiveness is healing. Remembering is learning.

I remember a time a few years back when a coworker of mine agreed to pick me up and take me to the office. I had several important meetings that morning. Sadly, he never showed up and I missed every last one of them. It turns out that he simply forgot about our arrangement. Initially, I was beyond frustrated, but I forgave him and we are still good friends today. However, every time I needed a ride to the office after that, I made sure to ask someone else instead.  A simple example, but you get the point. Whether it’s a forgotten promise, a broken heart, hurtful words or deeds, there are plenty of reasons we come upon the crossroads.

In the end, we all hope to grow for the better as people, and to pass those life lessons on to others. So, the next time you find yourself on the corner of Forgive and Forget streets, pause for a minute and think about the destination you really want to get to, rather than the one you’re at. Maybe the late, great Ralph Waldo Emerson really was on to something when he wrote those timeless words, “Two roads diverged in the wood, and I chose the path less traveled by.”

Cheers to us all taking that path less traveled by.

-Matt

What time is it? The answer may surprise you.

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destination tree clock
What is time? The answer may surprise you.

Time is so much more than we realize.

If I asked you what time it is, you’d probably look at your watch, or more likely, your phone, and tell me a few numbers. However, if I removed one tiny, seemingly insignificant word, the entirety of the question would change to one of existential thought provoking propositions. With the word “it” removed, we’re simply left with “what time is?”.  In other words, WHAT IS TIME?”

Interestingly enough, I’ve never held it, seen it, or heard it, yet it is always there with me wherever I go. It would seem like the word time was a kind of name created by man in an attempt to describe the following.

Time is Free, but it’s priceless.

You can’t own it, but you can use it.

You can’t keep it, but you can spend it.

Once you’ve lost it, you can never get it back.

My answer to the question has definitely changed over the years. If I was asked as a young boy what time is, I probably would have stared back at you with a jovial smile, shrugged my shoulders, and said something back like, “I don’t know ….you wanna go play?” For back then time wasn’t relevant. A short period later I’d be in my teens and if asked again, I most likely would have said “it’s how much crazy ridiculous fun I could have in between going to and coming home from school.”  Slightly more relevant but again not taken that seriously. Fast forward just a few years into my mid twenties and then my answer would somehow try to tie together ‘money accumulation with the hours of the working day’. But as I sit now on the border between 36 and 37 years young, I recently found myself asking that very question to the guy in the mirror. Truthfully it hasn’t been until the last couple of years that I’ve come to grasp what time really is.

Brace yourself, because here comes the epiphany!!  Time = Life + Choice.

In other words, time at its very core is our perspective on our biological life and how we choose to live it. In the 1st half of the equation life is the great equalizer of which we have very limited control. And in the 2nd half, what we choose to think, believe, say and do add up to how we spend our existence. Unless you’re a mad scientist capable of building a time machine, then you, me and everyone else only gets one go around in the equation…..and that trip happens pretty damn fast. Not to be mistaken for happening in ‘the blink of an eye’ however.

Now the internet is chalked full of quotes about how life happens in ‘the blink of an eye’. Some funny, some sad, and some even with pictures of people taping their eyes shut so that the blink never ends. Ha! If they only could see the irony in that, with all they’d miss seeing. Yet, I disagree. That all to commonly heard statement puts the emphasis on the wrong part of the equation. Life doesn’t happen in the ‘blink of an eye’, it’s our choices that do. You see life was given to us at birth, and will stay with us until death, and our choices are what fills in the middle. Some are conscious, some are unconscious, and some occur by never occurring at all (i.e.: indecision is still a form of decision making, albeit not a good one).  A great quote by Alice Bloch that I’ve always been fond of sums it up perfectly. “We say we waste time, but that’s impossible.  We waste ourselves.” In essence, we waste not our time, but our choices.

So in the end, that guy in the mirror reminded me that after 36 years of making choices, some smart and some not so smart, I would if given the chance, turn down that ride in the Mad Scientists time machine, because some revelations need many years of living through them in order to truly be comprehended. I wouldn’t want to tell my younger self anything that would alter the time needed to understand what I now know.

All that being said, I feel quite optimistic about the time ahead for my next 3rd of a century. Where I’ll be, I don’t know for sure, but as I shrug my shoulders and smile jovially while writing this, I do know that I’m excited to have a greater understanding of time now and be making better choices along the way.

And by the way, the next time someone asks you, “What time is it?” have a some fun with your answer. “It’s 2:00, time to make better choices.”  After all there’s always time for a little fun!

Cheers and here’s blinking at you my friends.

Matt

Choice not chance determines our destiny

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Heads or Tails. Legend of the Domino Chief

Destination Tree domino
A domino thought leads to questioning a coin toss

In the wise words of Ice Cube, from the 90s cult classic, Boyz N the Hood, “Domino mutha F*&%-er!!!” Call me crazy, but whenever I hear the word “domino” that line instantly pops in my head. Well, recently I had a “domino” thought. The kind where one thought leads to another and another…until you are mentally fixated on something totally different than what initiated the original thought. While walking back to my truck the other day, I spied a coin on the ground. Despite the germ-aphobe in me, I excitedly bent down to pick it up only to realize it was a 1938 nickel. Yahoo! I gave it a quick lucky flip from my thumb in the air. Maybe not as exciting as finding a twenty dollar bill, but I was still excited to acquire this vintage chieftain collectable.

Finding this coin was the catalyst of my domino thought chain. It made me think of the act of flipping a coin. Which led to my curiosity of how many people had flipped this particular coin in it’s 77 years of service. Which led to wondering how many decisions had been made from those seemingly innocent tosses.  How much history had been cast due to the decision of a nickel? How many of us leave our decision making up to a coin toss?

And this ultimately made me wonder, why do people live their life by chance…rather than by the more difficult process of choice? That’s where I landed on the final thought, ‘why toss the coin in the first place’?

I can only think of two reasons why we flip a coin to come upon an outcome for action. Either number one we really don’t care what the outcome is, which means the decision is really irrelevant and the tosser should put the coin away, decide and move on with their day. Or number two, we don’t want to be held accountable for the outcome and therefore transfer all responsibility to the coin itself. Afterall, if it was a bad call, that led to an unfavorable outcome, no sane person is going to go back and start an argument with a coin…but they might a person. In this event, the person doing the flipping probably isn’t the right person for the task and should hand the coin over to someone else who is strong enough to live with the consequences of the outcome, rather than letting the old chieftain take the blame, or get the credit.

Either way you look at it, a decision should be made by a person, not a coin. So when looking at the mental dominoes scattered all around me, my conclusion was this:  In the end, there is a helluva lot of potential for us to grow more confident when making decisions as we carve a path through the history books, because the person those very books put on that coin is done growing…but you’re not. In the wise words of one of history’s great carvers, Winston Churchill, “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.”

Domino my friends!

Cheers,

Matt

Liquid Luck…it isn’t just for Harry Potter.

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Question: Is the glass truly half empty or half full?

Answer: It doesn’t matter. Because you’re the brewer!

Brew your own luck. And your own life.
Brew your own luck. And your own life.

After brewing the first successful batch of beer this year, I have elected to name it “Liquid Luck”. Although, in the Harry Potter film, an elixir of the same name was brewed and used by Harry to aid in defeating the Dark Lord, this is not why I chose to give it the name.

As I started bottling the freshly fermented foreign extra stout, I poured myself the first bit into a glass to savor as I prepared to fill the lineup of bottles. Grabbing the glass in hand, I took a big sip when the age old question suddenly dawned on me…Is the glass now half empty, or half full?

Alone in the beer lab (aka the kitchen) and having only myself to ponder the question, it occurred to me that after 30+ years of hearing that question, I finally realized: the glass represents our life; and it’s contents represent everything IN our lives. The beer is merely a metaphor of our physical possessions, physical conditions, our failures, our triumphs, and in other words, our “luck”.

And then BOOM!!! Like a stadium light being turned on, my brain was flooded with the real answer of half empty or half full. It doesn’t matter!!! I just brewed my own luck, and I can always pour more.

Don’t focus on the glass. Focus on the ability to fill it. The ability to create for ourselves a never-empty-glass. Now I’m not the finest brewer, so I can speak from experience when I say anyone, anyone, can do it. It just takes some discipline and dedication. And literally, everyone can brew a better life for themselves, if they’re willing to get their hands wet in creating it.

Here are two questions to ask yourself:
#1) What am I proud of accomplishing this week that was a worthy challenge?
#2) What challenge will I take on next week that will have a positive impact on my life?

The glass of life is never half empty when you keep the keg of your creation full and flowing.

Happy brewing to you this year!

Cheers,

Matt

The Dreamers. The Darers. The Doers.

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Dream. Dare. Do.
Dream. Dare. Do.

Here’s to the Inspiration Nation.

The outliers, the one-offs, the rebellious few who plant oaken seed dreams without borders or rivals. For an ever growing alliance awakens each day becoming more aware of a life of inspired doing!

Born from every day origins, these revolutionaries are unaffected by the limitations imposed by others.

Gone are the days of play-it-safe, fall-in-line, and don’t-venture-too-far. These Dreamer-Darer-Doer’s actually take risks and are willing to shun titles and personal financial “security” in pursuit of the real greater good. They work hard and smart, ignoring the mind-numbing, deafeningly loud, Lemming chatter all around them. They are rebels…and rebels won’t rest on past accomplishments.

They have ambition and are honest with themselves and those around them. They know they are imperfect and have mortal limits. For this reason, they plant one foot in reality to ground themselves, and let the rest of their spirit and body venture out in pursuit of all that they can experience and accomplish in their short existence.

Led by their DREAMS and gripped tightly by their DARES, they blaze a trail of DOing, and along the way, inspire others to awaken from their DREAMS and DARE to DO it better.

Not a member of this pack? I DARE you to wake up and join.

Dream. Dare. Do….and Live Inspired,

Matt

Storytime With Mr. Rogers

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Ahh, storytime. Remember those Choose Your Own Adventure books?  I loved those as a kid. And as far as storytellers, (the real) Mr. Rogers was always inspirational. I hope you enjoy my funny spin on storytime with this video.  I wanted to highlight some of Destination Tree’s driftwood hanging signs and share some of their inspirational messages.  It’s no Choose Your Own Adventure, but it’s hopefully good for a laugh.

Enjoy, and Live Inspired!

-Matt

P.S. For your reading pleasure, here’s the transcript and pictures of this Destination Tree driftwood story… 🙂

An Angry Koala

What do you do when an angry koala escapes from it’s zoo cage next to you?  BE BRAVE. BE YOU.
BeBraveBeYou1

With a high pitched squeal, you let out a few choice expletives in terror…YOUR SAYING GOES HERE.
YourSayingGoesHere1

Suddenly you remember you have superhero-like powers…DREAM IT. DARE IT. DO IT.
DreamItDareItDoIt1

But then it spots you with it’s cold blank stare. NOW what do you do? CHOICES: FIGHT OR QUIT.
Choices1

It starts crawling next to you..time to run…HOME!
Home

Then you remember your wife and the group you came with are standing by waiting for your reaction. BE BOLD. BE YOU.
BeBoldBeYou1

It’s getting close, time to make your move. This is your chance to be the hero…CARPE DIEM.

CarpeDiem1

It throws it’s arms up inches away from you…FREE HUGS!
Free Hugs1

With a grin on your face and a hearty chuckle, you grab it and bring him in for the big hug. LIVE. LAUGH. LOVE.
Live-Laugh-Love1

A sigh of relief is heard from the onlookers…BE AWESOME. BE YOU.
BeAwesomeBeYou1

You knew all along you hand this handled, cause you’re one of a kind! BE GENUINE. BE YOU.
BeGenuineBeYou1

Get your signs and tell your story at www.DestinationTree.com www.DestinationTree.etsy.com
Destination Tree Driftwood Sign

About Us

At Destination Tree we create handcrafted driftwood signs, collages and centerpieces. Each piece of artwork is completely unique and inspired by your story.

Our Mission

To create handcrafted, meaningful artwork that helps tell the story of your journey, one destination at a time.

Connect With Us

PO Box 156, Petoskey, MI 49770
info@destinationtree.com