Destination Tree

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Cold Blooded Monster in Ohio…

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Be Bold. Be Brave.
Be Bold. Be Brave.

An Ohio Snow Python?

Finish this sentence: “It’s all fun and games until…”

I’m pretty sure we can all think of a funny one liner to finish that sentence. I’d be willing to bet news meteorologists come up with lively ways to finish it and fool us every morning, eating their Trix cereal, while evilly tapping their fingers Mr. Burns style.

Case in point, last Tuesday it was 60 degrees and sunny out as I raked leaves in my shorts. No less than 40 hours later, we were getting buried in 8 inches of snow in Chardon. Thanks for the heads up weather guys and gals! Luckily, the trusty Craftsman snow-eater was on standby. She gobbles up snow and throws it at my dogs with a voracious appetite. Dogs love snow blowers!

As I was clearing my last path, I was suddenly frozen with fear when I noticed a 20 foot snake lunging at me with incredible speed through the snow. Holy EXPLETIVE, I thought. A snow python! I saw it from 15 feet out, uncoiling itself as fast as it could as it cut through the snow diving under the blower towards me. BOOM!!!! Just like that this cold blooded monster froze up the blades and killed my engine. Confused, and with tremulous fear, I walked around the front of the now silent machine to see the damage the mighty serpent made. And that’s when it occurred to me, to finish my own sentence…It’s all fun and games until…you run over the garden hose with the snow blower!

Laugh Often and Live Inspired!
Matt

PS…this incident inspired the Destination Tree Driftwood Sign: “Be Brave. Be You.” By the way, I was much braver once I discovered the snow python was a garden hose, but still a good reminder none the less. 🙂

The Forgotten Holiday

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Thanksgiving needs more marketing.
Thanksgiving needs more marketing.

The Forgotten Holiday

It wasn’t too long ago we had a holiday between Halloween and Christmas. What was it called again? Oh yeah, Thanksgiving. In a world dominated by consumer marketing, we watch shelves of candy corn and costumes swiftly get replaced with Christmas trees and giant inflatable candy canes. What the heck happened to Thanksgiving?! Where did it go?

Thanksgiving needs more marketing.

I’m not talking about giant inflatable cornucopias. I’m talking about all of us being Thanksgiving “marketers” and encouraging ourselves and each other to put more focus and attention on thankfulness.  There is always, always, always, something to be thankful for. Hell, there’s even reason to be thankful for the bad things in life, because they open up our eyes to be even more appreciative of the good things we weren’t paying enough attention to before.

In honor of this one-day-holiday (that we should really celebrate every day of the year), I wanted to share the six things I’m most grateful for:

  1. I’m thankful for everybody in my life. Good and bad. Past and present. Because they have helped make me who I am today.
  2. I’m thankful for my struggles in life as they have helped forged me become a stronger man.
  3. I’m thankful for my health, for without it, I’m nothing but fertilizer.
  4. I’m thankful to live in a country where I have freedom to choose, think and speak for myself.
  5. I’m thankful for all that I have as well as all that I don’t have.
  6. I’m thankful for my best friend and wife, Kristin.

Although we may not see Thanksgiving plastered across the shelves of retail stores, let’s not overlook it’s importance. Let’s remember this day of thanks, today and every single day of the year. And let’s spread the attitude of gratitude to everyone around us.

Give Thanks & Live Inspired,

Matt

I Like Smiling, Smiling’s My Favorite

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did-you-smile-today “I Like Smiling, Smiling’s My Favorite.”

You also know what I’m talking about if you too have memorized the lines from the movie Elf, starring Will Ferrell, however that had to be my mantra this past week when I went to the post office. I thought an episode of The Walking Dead was being filmed. Not one person was smiling, and unless my eyes were playing tricks on me, they were eying my flesh.

I had spent all morning bandaging and re-bandaging my dog’s leg as he was fascinated by his 21 stitches, which topped the chart as his #1 chew toy every time I left the room. So after wrapping up an impenetrable mummy cast, on the 6th attempt, I decided to make the commitment to turn my frustrations into smiles by deciding to smile at everyone I purposely locked eyes with for the remainder of the day. I’m not just talking about a smirk, but a great big ear to ear grin.

Let me tell you, I got some amazing responses from that scientific social experiment. Roughly half the people I encountered smiled back. Which made me feel good, because I feel in some small way I made their day a little better. That’s fitting, because on MY Destination Tree, I pledge to do something every day to make at least one stranger smile. The other 50% was a smattering of angry stares, annoyed looks, lifeless glances and one old woman who wanted to fight me.

So the moral of the story, is be so happy that when others look at you, they become happy too.

I hope you have an amazing week, and thank you all for the great ideas and feedback on Destination Tree so far. Wow is all I can say. What an incredible first week. Cheers!

Live Inspired,
Matt

Maybe I’m Crazy, Maybe I’m Inspired

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Some people think you’re crazy when you leave a well established career. Others think you are dying. For me, I was excitedly following my passions when I exited my career towards the next chapter in the book of my life.

I spent many years inspiring others to not be afraid to follow their dreams, to not settle for being average in life, and to make their story one worth reading about. In August of 2014 it was time for me to make the next step in living out that example for myself and others. As it happens, I am inspired by adventure, travel and making amazing memories with others along the way.

There’s no doubt that life gives us limitless things to be inspired by, or as I like to think of them as “signs”. We just need to turn on our fearless, “What if I…” mode more often than we turn on our fearful, “I can’t…” way of thinking, so that we can recognize these signs and make the most of them.

I’m a firm believer that our signs inspire our lives. What inspires you? What would you do if you weren’t afraid? Who would come along with you on your adventures? What will your legacy be and will it be a story worth telling one day? However you want to answer these questions, I challenge you to challenge yourself and make YOUR story extraordinary.

I have a long way to go on my Destination Trek, and many more signs to add along the way. So here’s to the past and cheers to the future! I wish you an incredible journey.

Live Inspired,
Matt

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