THE LIFE WE CHOOSE

Have you ever asked yourself what brings about your present status? Have you taken time to ponder on why life is the way it is or you just follow the belief of the majority who attribute all to chance and don't even bother to ask why? Well whichever category you may belong, the next few paragraphs will of no doubt give you a clearer and finer picture of life. Please relax and enjoy.... So many people attribute success and failure to luck. They claim to have accepted the predestined future written in their horoscope or stars. They believe that regardless of their effort, what will be will be. Hence they resign themselves to their fate and complacency becomes a way of life, forgetting that it takes preparation and actions rather than waiting and wishing. It is one's choice that determines one's future. This story will show you exactly how: THE HOUSE WE'LL LIVE IN Sometimes back there was a highly skillful, diligent and committed carpenter who works for a construction company that specializes in timber buildings. The excellence of this young carpenter was soon noticed by his colleagues at work. In fact his boss could not but to compensate him on several occasions for job well done. As days turned weeks to months and weeks turned months to years, this carpenter soon noticed that age was catching up with him. To that, he thought to himself : "it's high time I resigned" He decided to intimate his employer of his decision to resign. To this his employer felt unhappy realizing the loss his retirement may cause the firm. The employer tried to talk him out his decision but he insisted that he needed more to spend with his family. At last, his employer agreed with him "but on one condition" the employer said, "you will help me build the last structure and when you're done, you are done" Reluctantly, this old carpenter concurred but this time he chose not to put in his best. He made use of inferior materials and got in poor laborers, employing the worst method he could think of. After some time, the building was completed. The carpenter called in his employer as usual for the project commissioning. Of course, they all gathered for the commissioning but to the old carpenter's dismay, the employer handed him the entrance key to the building saying 'this is your house.' For your many years of service, the company had deem it fit to reward you with this'. He broke into tears regretting the choices of Labour, materials and method he had made in building the house he will live in. I hope you'll agree with me that we are all like a carpenter, and with everyday, we are nailing one attitude or the other to our lives, we saw(cut) out some relationships, we smoothen up some characters (all based on our choices) only to one day be handed the key to the house (destiny) we might have built. That is the house (life) we'll live in. Oh, before I go let me give you some materials you can make a choice on in building your future : Getting up or Giving up Peace or Strife Standing out or Blending in Taking risk or Seeking security Getting better or Getting bitter Determination or Discouragement Accountability Irresponsibility Progress or drift Work or Luck Making choices or Taking chances Permit me to say that however you're building yours today is your choice but whether or not to live in it, won't be choice, it's by force!