Story about stress: How not to carry work related problems home

A contractor that was just hired had a rough first day on the job. When going to work that day, a flat tire made him lose an hour of work, then his electric saw broke down in the middle of his work, and to top it all, his old pick-up truck refused to start after a long day.

Luckily his boss was there and he offered the contractor a ride home. While his boss drove him home the contractor sat in total silence. As the two arrived at the contractor’s home, the contractor invited his boss in to meet his family.

As they walked toward the front door, the contractor paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. After a minute or two they went into the house. And to the bosses amazement after opening the door, the contractor underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. The whole time they were there the boss was fascinated by how the contractor became a different man. So after dinner, the contractor escorted his boss to his car. And while they passed the tree in front of the house the curiosity got the best of the contractors boss and he asked him about the transformation.

The contractor answered “Oh, that’s my problems tree. I know I can’t help having problems on the job, but one thing for sure, problems 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,” the contractor smiled, “when I come out in the morning to pick them up, there aren’t nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before.”