I’ve shared this thought before, but it’s one of my most valued beliefs in life: we control our own feelings toward any situation. It’s the one true power I think any individual really has. I’m no emotional guru—in fact, I often forget to follow my own advice—but every now and then, when I do manage to choose the right mindset, it’s worth remembering.
This story is one of those moments.
Last Sunday morning, Anne and I were sitting with our coffee, chatting about the day ahead. It was December 1st, and thoughts of digging out the artificial tree had come up. From time to time, though, we decide to switch things up and get a real tree. Anne said, “I hate putting up that old thing—maybe we should get a real tree this year.”
It just so happened that I’d been talking to my son, Ezdon, the day before, and I knew he and his girlfriend, Maddie, were planning a trip to Sloan’s Christmas Tree Village later that day. Without much ceremony, I gave him a call and rather rudely invited Mom and Dad to tag along. He agreed, and the plan was set. Off we went in Ezdon’s truck, with Mom and Dad riding in the back seat like a couple of kids excited for their big day out.
Now, Sloan’s is known for being more than just a tree farm. They have two “villages” packed with hours of fun for families—train rides, zip lines, horse-drawn wagons, cookie decorating, and countless campfires to enjoy. But we weren’t there for all that—we were there to cut a Christmas tree, right?
As we approached the entrance, expecting directions to the tree lot, we were stopped and told we needed to pay an admission fee: $20 per person, plus $80 for the tree. I was a little stunned—it had been at least 25 years since Anne and I had been to Sloan’s, and I guess things had changed. The four of us exchanged looks, all a bit taken aback at the cost of what was supposed to be a simple trip for a tree. There were, of course, other tree farms we could have gone to without all the activities (or the price tag).
In that moment, we had a choice to make: we could stew about the cost, or we could choose to enjoy the day.
Ezdon looked at me with some concern, but Maddie was clearly excited, and Anne’s energy matched the sunny, crisp afternoon. I could smell the campfires in the air, and after a few fiscally responsible comments from Ezdon, I convinced everyone that we should just pay the fee and commit to having a good time.
And you know what? We did.
We enjoyed some food, took a horse-drawn wagon ride, and spent time around a campfire. The place was packed with families, all smiling and enjoying the day just like we were. Not one more time did any of us think about the lightness of our wallets. We chose to be happy, and the day followed suit.
Sometimes life presents you with situations where you can’t control what’s happening, but you can control how you respond. That day, we could have let frustration over the cost take over, but instead, we chose to focus on the joy of the moment. And looking back, I’m so glad we did.
Farmer Rod
