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
a dedicated career.
When the carpenter finished his work the employer came to inspect the house.
He handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said,
"my gift to you." The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known
he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. 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'd do it much differently. But we cannot go
back.
You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a
wall.
"Life is a do-it-yourself project," someone has said. Your attitudes and the
choices you make today, build the "house" you live in tomorrow. Build wisely!
Remember... Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching. "To the world
you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world."
ANONYMOUS
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