An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor¹ of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurel life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week ,but he wanted to retire. They could get by.

有个老木匠准备退休，他告诉老板，说要离开建造行业，回家与妻子儿女享受天伦之乐。虽然老板给他的工资很高，可是，他更想享受退休生活。生活总能维持下去。

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 over time it was easy to see that his heart was not materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated² career.

老板很不舍得他的好工人离开，问他是否能帮忙再建一座房子。老木匠答应了。但是大家后来都看得出来，他的心已不在工作上，他使用的是次料，做工也很粗糙。这真是一种令人遗憾的结束自己全心全意所从事的事业的方式。

When the carpenter finished his work ,his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said,"This is your house. . . my gift to you. "

房子建好的时候，老板前来视察，然后把大门的钥匙递给他，说道：“这是你的房子……是我送给你的礼物。”

The carpenter was shocked!

老木匠惊呆了!

What a shame!If he had only known he was building his own house,he would have done it all so differently.

真是丢脸啊!如果他早知道是在给自己建房子，他一定不会这么应付了事的。

So it is with us . We build our lives, a day at a time,often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock;we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over,we would do it much differently.

我们又何尝不是这样。我们漫不经心地“建造”自己的生活，不是积极行动，而是消极应付，凡事不肯精益求精，在关键时刻不能尽最大努力。等我们惊觉自己的处境，早已深困在自己建造的“房子”里了。如果能够重新来过，我们一定不会这么做。

But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter,and everyday you hammer a nail,place a board ,or erect³ a wall,Someone once said,"Life is a do-it-yourself project. "Your attitude and the choices you made today,help build the "house"you will live in tomorrow. Therefore,build wisely!

但是，你永远也无法回到过去。你就是那个木匠，在建造“生活”这所房子，每天敲进去一颗钉，加上去一块板，或者砌起一面墙。有人曾经说过：“生活就是一项DIY的工程”。你今天的态度与选择决定了你明天会住在什么样的“房子”里。因此，用你的智慧去建造你的"房子"吧!