An old carpenter was ready to retire. He told his boss about his plans to leave.
His boss was sorry to see his worker go. He asked if he could build him just one more house as a favor . The carpenter said yes, but he was not really interested. He used poor materials and didn't work as hard as before.
When the carpenter finished his work, his boss came to see the new house. He 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 .
Sometimes we do not give the job our best effort . Then we find that we must live in the houses we have built for ourselves.
Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you are building it. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live in it for only one day, that day should be lived with dignity . Your life today is the result of your attitudes and choices in the past. Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and choices today.
-carpenter ［'kɑ:pəntə(r) ］ n. 木匠
-favor ［'feɪvə(r) ］ n. 恩惠，善行
-differently ［'dɪfrəntli ］ adv. 不同地，有区别地，有差异地
-effort ［'efət ］ n. 力气，精力；努力
-dignity ［'dɪgnəti ］ n. 尊严，体面
-attitude ［'ætɪtju:d ］ n. 态度
be ready to 乐意；准备
1. An old carpenter was ready to retire. 一个老木匠准备退休了。
We are ready to face the challenge. 我们已准备好面对挑战。
We have to be ready to do anything. You hear me?
我们得做好准备，应对一切。你听懂了吗？
2. Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and choices today.
你明日的生活是你今天的态度与选择的结果。
The situation may be the result of lack of control.
这种现象可能是缺乏管制的结果。
The failure is the result of our lack of foresight.
这次失败是我们缺乏远见造成的。
自始至终竭尽全力
一个老木匠要退休了，于是他把自己的离职计划告诉他的老板。
看到自己的员工要离开了，老板感到很遗憾。老板问老木匠能否帮忙再给他修建一幢房屋。老木匠答应了，但他实在不感兴趣。他使用劣等材料，也不像以前那样努力干活。
木匠完成了任务，老板来看新房屋。他把正门的钥匙交给木匠，说道：“这幢房子是你的了，当作我送给你的礼物吧。”
木匠震惊不已，遗憾万分！如果他早知道是给自己建房子，他一定不会做这种傻事。
有时，我们没有竭尽全力把工作做好，然后发现我们不得不自食其果。
设想你自己是木匠，想一想你的屋子。每天你都在建造屋子。这其实是在“营造”你仅有的生活。即便你在那屋里只住一天，那一天也要过得不失体面。你今日的生活是你过去的态度与选择的结果，你明日的生活是你今天的态度与选择的结果。