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An elderly carpenter1 was ready to retire. He told his employer2 of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more comfortable life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck， but he needed to retire. They could get by.
The employer 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 resorted3 to shoddy4 workmanship and use bad 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 employer 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.
Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer5 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 only one day more， that day deserves6 to be lived graciously7 and with dignity8. The plaque on the wall says， “Life is a do-it-yourself project.”
（譯文）
一位老木匠打算退休了。他向自己所在的建筑公司雇主请辞，表示想要和自己的老伴以及大家庭去过一种更加舒适的生活。他会想念领薪水的日子，但他还是该退休了，他想日子总是能过下去的。
老板很舍不得自己的好员工离开，他询问木匠是否能建最后一座房子，就算是帮他个忙。木匠答应了，但很快就能明显看出他的心思已经不在工作上了。他用拙劣的技巧和劣质的材料建这座房子，用这种状态来结束他的职业生涯其实是一种遗憾。
木匠完成了他的工作，负责人来验收房屋，老板将这座房屋的前门钥匙递到了木匠手上，说：“这房子现在归你了，作为我给你的礼物。”
木匠顿时感到很震惊。多可惜啊！如果他知道是在为自己修建这座房子的话，他会完全以另一种态度来对待。而现在他不得不住在这座自己胡乱修建的房子里了。
想象一下你就是这个木匠，想象你正在建造这座房子，你每天钉进一颗钉子，安装一块板子或者筑起一面墙。请用心对待吧，这是你唯一能打造的生活。即使你只在里面住上一天，这一天也要活得有光彩、有尊严。正如格言所说：“生活是一个只有靠自己才能完成的项目。”
1. carpenter [?kɑ?p?nt?（r）] n. 木匠，木工
2. employer [?m?pl???（r）] n. 雇主；老板
3. resort [r??z??t] v. 采取某手段或方法
4. shoddy [???di] adj. 假冒的；劣质的；卑劣的
5. hammer [?h?m?（r）] v. 锤击；敲打
6. deserves [d??z??v] v. 应受，应得
7. graciously [?ɡre???sli] adv. 雅致地，有风度地
8. dignity [?d?ɡn?ti] n. 尊严；高贵
The employer 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 resorted3 to shoddy4 workmanship and use bad 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 employer 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.
Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer5 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 only one day more， that day deserves6 to be lived graciously7 and with dignity8. The plaque on the wall says， “Life is a do-it-yourself project.”
（譯文）
一位老木匠打算退休了。他向自己所在的建筑公司雇主请辞，表示想要和自己的老伴以及大家庭去过一种更加舒适的生活。他会想念领薪水的日子，但他还是该退休了，他想日子总是能过下去的。
老板很舍不得自己的好员工离开，他询问木匠是否能建最后一座房子，就算是帮他个忙。木匠答应了，但很快就能明显看出他的心思已经不在工作上了。他用拙劣的技巧和劣质的材料建这座房子，用这种状态来结束他的职业生涯其实是一种遗憾。
木匠完成了他的工作，负责人来验收房屋，老板将这座房屋的前门钥匙递到了木匠手上，说：“这房子现在归你了，作为我给你的礼物。”
木匠顿时感到很震惊。多可惜啊！如果他知道是在为自己修建这座房子的话，他会完全以另一种态度来对待。而现在他不得不住在这座自己胡乱修建的房子里了。
想象一下你就是这个木匠，想象你正在建造这座房子，你每天钉进一颗钉子，安装一块板子或者筑起一面墙。请用心对待吧，这是你唯一能打造的生活。即使你只在里面住上一天，这一天也要活得有光彩、有尊严。正如格言所说：“生活是一个只有靠自己才能完成的项目。”
1. carpenter [?kɑ?p?nt?（r）] n. 木匠，木工
2. employer [?m?pl???（r）] n. 雇主；老板
3. resort [r??z??t] v. 采取某手段或方法
4. shoddy [???di] adj. 假冒的；劣质的；卑劣的
5. hammer [?h?m?（r）] v. 锤击；敲打
6. deserves [d??z??v] v. 应受，应得
7. graciously [?ɡre???sli] adv. 雅致地，有风度地
8. dignity [?d?ɡn?ti] n. 尊严；高贵