An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family.
He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire.They could get by.The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor.
The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work.He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials.
It was an unfortunate way to end his career. When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front door key to the carpenter.
“This is your house，”he said，“My gift to you.”What a shock！What a shame！
If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.
So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best.At important points we do not give the job our best effort.
Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built.
If we had realized that we would have done it differently.Think of yourself as the carpenter.Think about your house.
Each day you hammer a nail, place a board or erect a wall. Build wisely.It is the only life you will ever build.
Even if you live it for day more that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.
The plaque on the wall says，“Life is a do-it-yourself project”. Who could say it more clearly?
Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tommorrow will be the result of your attitudes and choices you make today.
-carpenter [ˈkɑːpəntə（r）]n.木匠
典型例句
The carpenter was busy sawing the logs into planks.
这位木匠正忙着把圆木锯成厚板。
联想记忆
carpentry n.木工工艺；木作
-leisurely [ˈleʒəlɪ]adj.悠闲的；从容的
典型例句
He walked leisurely along the sand.
他沿着沙滩悠闲地走动。
联想记忆
leisure n.空暇；闲暇
-paycheck [ˈpeɪtʃek]n.薪水支票；工资
典型例句
I promise to pay you back on my next paycheck.
我保证下次我一发工资就还钱给你。
联想记忆
salary n.薪水
-resort [rɪˈzɔːt]v.求助，采取某手段或方法
典型例句
If negotiations fail we shall have to resort to strike action.
假若谈判失败，我们就采取罢工行动。
最常用法
resort to sth.采取某手段或方法应急或作为对策
-inspect [ɪnˈspekt]v.检查
典型例句
The customs officer inspected my passport suspiciously.
海关官员颇为怀疑地检查了我的护照。
联想记忆
inspector n.检查员；视察员
-distracted [dɪˈstræktɪd]adj.注意力不集中的；心烦意乱的
典型例句
He was distracted by anxiety.他因忧虑而心烦意乱。
联想记忆
distract v.使某人分心；分散或扰乱某人的注意力
-deserve [dɪˈzɜːv]v.应得；值得
典型例句
The article deserves careful study.
这篇文章值得仔细研究。
-attitude [ˈætɪtjuːd]n.看法；态度
典型例句
She shows a very positive attitude to her work.
她工作态度非常积极。
最常用法
attitude towards sb./sth.对某人/某事物的态度
一位年迈的木匠准备退休了。他告诉他的老板他准备离开建筑业的打算，他说他想和他的妻子过一种更休闲的生活，享受天伦之乐。他还说他会怀念这里的薪水的，但他必须退休了，他的离职他们慢慢就会适应的。老板对他的这位优秀员工的离去感到非常遗憾，于是问他是否可以盖最后一栋房子作为私下里的帮忙。
这位木匠答应了，但显而易见他做事的时候是心不在焉的，他的手工做得毛毛糙糙，用的材料也是次品。
这样结束他的事业是不幸的，当木匠最后完工，老板来看房子时，他把前门的钥匙交给木匠说，
“这是你的房子，是我送给你的礼物。”震惊！羞愧！
如果他早知道他是在盖自己的房子，他肯定会做得截然不同的，现在他不得不住在自己建的糟糕透顶的房子里面。
这个道理同样适合我们，在营造生活时，我们的精力被分散到太多的地方，我们只是被动地适应而不会主动行动，而我们自己也不愿意去尽心尽力地营造我们的生活。
在重要的时刻我们也没能尽自己最大的努力做好工作。然后我们吃惊地看到自己所做的一切：发现自己就处在自己营建的房子里。
如果我们早意识到这一点的话，我们的做法就会完全不同。把你自己当成那个木匠。想想你的房子。
每天你都会钉个钉子，放块木板或砌一面墙。明智地营造你的房子。这是你唯一可以营造的生活。
即使你只可以再活一天，你也要活得优雅、有尊严。
墙上的匾写着，“生活就是一个自己动手的项目”。谁能比这个说得更明白？
你今天的生活就是你过去的生活态度和所做选择的结果。你明天的生活就是你今天的生活态度和所做选择的结果。