I hired a carpenter to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job (flat tire made him lose an hour of work, and his electric saw quit), his ancient pickup truck refused to start.

While I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving at his home, he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching tips of the branches with both hands. When he opened the door, he underwent an amazing transformation.  His frustrated face changed to smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a gentil kiss.

Afterward a short visit, he walked me to my car, we passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier with the tree. Oh, that's my "trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children. So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home. Then in the morning I pick them up again. Funny thing is", he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before."