Life Is a do-it-yourself Project
Guidance for Reciting
It is not aptitude，but attitude that determines your altitude.
An elderly carpenter was ready to retire and to live a more leisurely life. His employer was sorry to see this good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes，while，resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. When the carpenter finished his work，surprisingly，the employer handed the front-door key to him. 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. Think of yourself as the carpenter. As a saying goes，“Life is a do-it-yourself project.”Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.
Notes
1.resort [ri5zR：t] to 常去（诉诸，求助于，依赖）
2.shoddy [5FRdi] a. 劣质的
3.distracted [dis5trAktid] a. 心烦意乱的
生活是一项为自己打造的工程
诵读导言
是态度，而非资质决定着你所能到达的高度。
一位上了年纪的木工准备退休，去过一种更悠闲自得的生活。眼看这位优秀的木工就要离去，老板很遗憾。他问木工可否帮忙再建一所房子。木工虽然答应了，但是做出的活儿技艺粗糙，用的料也没那么讲究了。房子建好后，老板出人意料地把前门钥匙交给了木匠。多么让人羞愧啊！假如他知道在为自己造房，他会做得大不一样。现在他不得不住在自己建造的那所粗制滥造的房子里了。
我们又何尝不是如此呢？我们心浮气躁地打造生活，不是主动工作而是被动应付，能省事就省事。关键的时候也没尽心尽力。就当你自己就是那位木工吧。正如有句格言这样说道：“生活就是一项为自己打造的工程。”明日的生活之果，孕育于你今天的态度和抉择之树上。
读后札记：
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