It almost fell on our house!

White Lake Press is based in Sylva, North Carolina and the HQ is our family home, nestled in the Smoky Mountains.

The modest property surrounding the home is a breathtaking, mature forest with gorgeous, towering trees. I love my trees! They are delightful to look at, their shade is a gift, and if they fall down unexpectedly, there are major consequences.

Unfortunately, a slew of our finest oak, pine, and maple were right off the back porch. And to make matters worse, a particularly beautiful maple was leaning. Leaning towards our house. At over 100 feet tall, it posed a formidable risk.

Our incredible tree guy is a true professional. He geared up and climbed the tree to begin cutting it down, but didn’t make it past 6 feet before realizing that the tree was rotten on the inside. He declared that a crane would be needed to safely remove it, and referred us to a guy with a crane. We made an appointment.

As luck would have it, on the day of our appointment, a historic, unprecedented, violent hurricane made landfall in our community. By a miracle, the rotten tree of doom didn’t fall! But, the crane guy didn’t come, and didn’t come, and didn't come. Long story short– he never came.

And I lay awake each night, terrified that the tree would decide to fall, crushing us in our sleep. True story!

So, our valiant tree guy made a new plan involving cables, a truck, and cutting down three other large trees.

Here’s the thing– I liked those other trees. The other trees were perfectly healthy, beautiful, and beloved. I didn’t want to see them cut down.

But I knew that the risk of menacing maple needed to be eliminated, so I agreed. And this week, down they all came! Our tree guy and his team expertly cut each colossal tree down. It was incredible to behold, and the thud when each hit the ground was epic!

After the sawdust had cleared, I looked out the back window at all the carnage. My beloved trees were gone, but my heart didn’t ache as much as I thought. Their absence opened up the land, exposed stunning mountain views, and best of all, I slept like a baby!

Since those trees came down, I have found myself more capable of creativity, more productive, and more relaxed. The very trees I was holding onto in my heart, were actually holding me back!

It’s the new year, and you’ve likely set some goals, as we have here at White Lake Press. Make this the year that you meet every single one, by taking time now to cut out anything that isn’t a true priority– anything that is holding you back.

It may hurt at first, but when the dust settles, you’ll love the result!

Warm regards,
Miriam Monette
Founder, White Lake Press

P.S. If one of your resolutions is to read more, we’ve got you covered! Click here for really great books!