Landing Page for all things The Three Trees 

UPDATED March 2, 2025

Front Cover

 

Back Cover

 

 

THE THREE TREES

CURT ILES

 

There are three trees on the front cover, and each has a story to tell.

“The small longleaf pine in the foreground has spent most of its young life in a grassy stage with little visible growth. However, it has steadily grown a strong and deep tap root. At some point, when conditions are right, it will begin its long skyward journey.

“Behind it is a majestic mature longleaf pine. This native Louisiana tree can live for over 150 years. It’s the Father Tree for most of the surrounding younger pines, which have come from the big pine’s cones and seeds. 

“I’d like to think I’m at that tall, mature longleaf stage. I know there’s plenty of sap in me as well as a deep tap root. I plan to be around for a while.

“There’s a third tree on the cover.  It’s the thin skeleton of a dead red oak, ready to be toppled by the next storm. The dead oak has completed its job by passing on acorns resulting in a stand of healthy red oaks along the fencerow. 

“This blackened tree reminds me of my Dry Creek ancestors and mentors who passed on their common sense wisdom. They’re gone, but I’m here to pass on what they modeled. It’s a deep calling that compels me to speak, write, and share.

I want to speak to those grassy-stage pines. I believe I have some stories that will help them on their journey.

The Three Trees contain stories of values and habits a young person needs to know as they step out into life.

It’s also a valuable guide for leaders of all ages who want to maintain their priorities and follow their inner moral compass. The Three Trees contains stories that transcend age, gender, culture,  and background.

Written in the warm, engaging style loved by his readers, Iles takes READERS on a journey through the memorable people, stories, culture, and values of the Louisiana Pineywoods.

Stories such as:

The Law of Eye Contact: 10-4-2.

Always be kinder than necessary.

Stay curious and be amazed.

Always expect the best from yourself and others.

The Happiest Sled dog.

Go to the funeral.

Live the gratitude-filled life.

Shake hands like a man.

The power of a personal hand-written note.

The generous life: giving and accepting gifts

Dream stealers and joy killers

Shut that gate behind you.

The burned-but-blessed-life.

If you borrow it, bring it back.

When are you gonna write your book?

Don’t forget where you came from.

Finish strong, but leave behind some unfinished work.

A strong word called Integrity

 

 AUTHOR PHOTO

 

Curt Iles is the author of fifteen books, all of which were written in his hometown of Dry Creek, Louisiana. He and his wife, DeDe, live in Alexandria, Louisiana, near their three sons and nine grandchildren.

Learn more at www.creekbank.net.

 

Table of Contents

Author’s Note: There will be 51 Chapters after edits

Contents
1. FILE NAME “10.0 THE THREE TREESMANUSCRIPT27 FEB”
1
2. THE THREE TREES 3
3. PROLOGUE 4
4. THE THREE TREES 5
5. Chapter 5 6
6. LEGACY 8
7. THE VIEW FROM 30,000 FEET 10
8. Chapter 8 11
9. Chapter 9 14
10. HAVEA LIFE STATEMENT 15
11. LEGACY #2 18
12. Chapter 12 19
13. JUST SHOW UP 21
14. THE HAPPIEST SLED DOG 23
15. GRACIOUS SOUTHERN SPEECH 24
16. The Passionate Life 26
17. Stay Curious/Be Amazed/Share Moving Stories. 27
18. The Power of a HandwrittenNote 32
19. WHAT IS A MANIFESTO?A PINEYWOOD MANIFESTO
36
20. HIGH EXPECTATIONS 38
21. How’s Your Walk? 40
22. IF YOU BORROW IT 42
23. In the Word 43
24. INTEGRITY 45
25. WHAT ORDER? 47
26. GRIT 48
27. PERSEVERANCE 49
28. CHOOSE YOUR HILLS CAREFULLY 53
29. FAILURE IS NOT FATAL. 56
30. IT’S NOT FINAL 57
31. WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE BROKEN 58
32. The 10-4-2 Rule 61
33. EYE TO EYE: 63
34. Shake like a Man 66
35. Chapter 35 68
36. Chapter 36 69
37. EMOTIONSanger 70
38. Go to the Funeral 74
39. Chapter 39 75
40. ENCOURAGEMENT 78
41. Chapter 41 80
42. EPILOGUE: WHY I WRITE 81
43. Chapter 43 82
44. ue: Why I Write: 85
45. Epilogue: WHY I WROTE THIS BOOK 88
46. FIND YOUR JETHRO 93
47. SHUT THAT GATE 97
48. THE BALANCED LIFE 101
49. DREAM STEALERS AND JOY KILLERS 102
50. SILENCE, LISTENING, AND CONFIDENTIALITY
105
51. The Learned Art of Listening 107
52. TRADEOFFS 111
53. JUST SAY NO 117
54. EMOTIONS 119
55. COASTINGin a Rut 120
56. FALLING OUTS 123
57. Chapter 57 124
58. A MAN OF HIS WORD 129
59. INTEGRITY:DO THE RIGHT THING. 131
60. Chapter 60 132
61. I’M SORRY 136
62. T.O.B. 140
63. TRANSFER OF BLAME 141
64. No Whining Allowed 144
65. Chapter 65 147
66. The Unobenda…le Woman 148
67. GRATITUDE 152
68. Chapter 68 154
69. TOUGH OR HARD 159
70. Burned, Yet Blessed, …y the FireZ 164
71. cFINISH STRONG 168
72. SAIL OUT 170
73. REPEAT THE EMOTIONS OF A
FULL-THROATED LIFE
172
74. COMBINEEMOTION 173
75. REPEATANGER 174
76. Don’t fear tears 178
77. Chapter 77 179
78. ONE STEP AT A TIME 180
79. ROME WEREN’T BUILT IN A DAY 183
80. FRIENDS AND ENEMIES 185
81. KINDNESSCOMPASSION 188
82. LIFTING THE BARNCOMBINE WITH GIVE
AND GO
193
83. COMBINE WITH JOURNAL 196
84. Live a Good Story 197
85. Take a Knee 199
86. On My Knees 200
87. ReGeive a GiftCompliments 205
88. LEADERS EAT LAST 208
89. Repeat RECEIVING/GIVING 211
90. Relationships 212
91. GENE ORTIS ON GENEROSITY 217
92. The 5 a.m. Clu… 218
93. AN HONEST DAY’S WORK 219
94. Chapter 94 221
95. FINISHING STRONG:TedWilliams 222
96. Chapter 96 223
97. BETTER OR BITTER 225
98. FRIEND-COLLECTING 226
99. Chapter 99 228
100. DON’T FORGET WHERE YOU CAME FROM 230
101. WHY HAVEN’T YOU WRITTEN THAT BOOK? 234
102. LEAVE SOME unHnished work …ehind 235
103. Chapter 103 236
104. BE A READER 239
105. KEEP YOUR FEET ON THE GROUND 241
106. Chapter 10