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 only one 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 tomorrow will be the 
 result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

Author Unknown