A carpenter

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business to live a more leisurely life with his wife and enjoy his extended family. He would miss the paycheck each week, but he wanted to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go & asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but over 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, his employer came to inspect the house. Then he handed the front-door key to the carpenter and said, "This is your house... 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 would do it much differently. But, you cannot go back. You are the carpenter, and every day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Someone once said, "Life is a do-it-yourself project." Your attitude, and the choices you make today, help build the "house" you will live in tomorrow. Therefore, Build wisely!

~Copied from a forwarded mail~

表面与底面

很多朋友认为我是一个很开心的人，时常嘻嘻哈哈的。看到我呢，就感觉到我的生活是充满欢乐的。

世间上的事，往往是与你眼看到的相反。表面上坚强的人，内心可能是不堪一击。就因为他知道自己是不堪一击，所以他要把自己武装起来，保护自己。表面上的我是嘻嘻哈哈，底面下的我是多愁善感的。我多愁善感的一面，你可是难以想象的。我会因为一部电影的一幕哭得唏沥哗啦。我会为了一篇文章而落泪，眼泪就像一串断了线的珍珠链(哗，我已好久没用此描写法！)。我乐于感受与被感动。我喜欢感受泪水慢慢覆盖我的视线的感觉。我喜欢泪盈满眶的感觉。当泪水终於落下时，那种感觉是难以形容的。别以为我是一个爱哭的人，我只是爱上落泪。现实世界里的我，是很少落泪的。我很少会为了压力或难题哭，它们就是没那能耐能令我落泪。如你想看我的眼泪，给我一篇细腻的文章还来得容易。

我很喜欢一首歌。当我第一次从电台听到这首歌时，我落泪了。在此与你分享。

<哭> 词曲 陈庆祥 阿牛

以前我看到朋友哭 我很羡慕
可是我怎么逗我自己 怎么弄我自己 我的眼泪都流不出
总觉得能够哭的朋友都很幸福
能够把满腔的无奈 满腔的痛苦 让泪水带走
最苦是泪水哽在心头流不出 就象要爱却不懂怎么去爱
自己哭过后才明白
流过泪的眼睛将生命看得更清楚
只有真正懂得付出的人才懂得何为哭 为何哭
再坚强的心偶尔也会脆弱 心会痛 心也会感动
只有曾经懂得付出的人才懂得何为哭 为何哭
泪水要记得为真心保留
眼泪别白白的流

就是因为我知道我不应该有那么多的想法、烦恼，所以我告诉自己，我必须开开心心。别人的烦恼已够多了，我不应把我的烦恼也传染出去，我应以我独有的笑容来感染别人。我实在感谢父母给了我那么一样独特的东西。你呢？别把它藏起来了！！

~木目心 笔~

危险级人物

有些人一直很想遇到一个可以了解他的人。如果你遇到一个很了解你的性格、喜好、心情，甚至於你的快乐与忧愁的人，你会感到开心与庆幸吗？

我是一个很想了解别人的人。我对每个人都有好奇心与求知欲。我相信每个人都是特别的，每个人一定有他们独特之处，只在於我们有没有去发觉与发掘。我很想去探索与感受。

每当看到朋友脸上有忧愁时，我会对他说，如你需要一双耳朵，我的耳朵是随时候命。如他不曾提出那话题，我是绝不过问。我一直坚信，如他想说或者认为我可以分享他的忧愁，他会告诉我，我不必问。如他不想说，我根本没有提问的必要。我的提问，可能只会增加他的烦恼。你可能不赞成我的做法。你可能会说，朋友不是应该互相照应吗？ 他不开心，你就应该去了解他的情况，然后提出意见，帮助他啊。 我是曾建议过自己那样做，但我觉得那不是一个好办法。为什么呢？可能是我潜意识里不希望别人也如此对我吧。

其实，很多时候，人都知道他自己的情况，他都知道与清楚他自己应该怎么做，如何是好。在那一刻，他需要的，可能不是意见，不是劝告，不是好言规劝，甚至言语上的关心，他需要的只是一个宣泄的管道。那可能是一双耳朵，一个肩膀，一张纸巾(有可能是几张，甚至一盒)，又或者是一个宁静的空间。

我很想去了解别人，但我想，我是不希望被了解的，又或者可以说我是还未遇到一个可以真正令我打开心房的人吧。我不想有人硬硬的敲我的心房，硬硬要闯入我的空间，无论是朋友还是情人。

我应该是自我保护意识很强的人吧，习惯独立的人通常都有此意识。我不想麻烦别人，不想别人听我诉苦。所以，我通常都是自个儿在想事情，自己的问题、不开心与烦恼。当我生气或是不开心时，我不希望有人来了解我，因为我知道那不是一个适用于我的方法。 我需要的是一个人独处、冷静，让心情沉淀。我的生气是我的短暂发疯，不应由别人来承担。少许了解我的人，会给我一个宁静的空间，而不是千方百计的要撬开我的嘴与心房。我是一个直肠子的人。我想说的话我会说，要不，无人须浪费任何力气。

破门而入的强盗，不会有被欢迎与接纳的一秒。

~木目心~

不能是朋友

你听过这么一句话吗？做不成情侣的男女不能做朋友。你怎么看这句话？我是赞成那说法，但也不完全赞成。我说，做不成情侣的男女不能是朋友。

当一对男女不是身在同一的频道，没有相等的心意与步伐，没有共同的目标时，是做不成情侣的。他们不是不能做朋友，他们不能是朋友。

男孩想爱，女孩不想。女孩拒绝了男孩。男孩说，那我们做朋友吧。女孩说，当然，我们是朋友。

我们不是朋友吗？
我把你当成朋友呀。。。
你是这样对你的朋友吗？
你会这样对你的朋友吗？男孩问。

当男孩如此说时，他认为他是在扮演她的朋友的角色，他的身份是朋友，他真的把她当成朋友，他希望他能像朋友般留在她的身边。

人的直觉是天赐的，这很难解释，但它却存在，而且，可信度蛮高。他是不是朋友，她是知道的。他是不是只当她是朋友，她是感觉得到的。他所做的，他对她的好，他对她的关心，他所期望得到的，不是身为朋友所给和想要的。

他们不是不能做朋友，只是不能是朋友。她和他不能是朋友。因为她不能是他所认为的‘朋友’。

能是朋友吗？

她已作出决定，只等他。如他下不了决定，真的做朋友，只做朋友，只能是朋友，那么，多谢他投我一票。 做不成情侣的男女不能是朋友。

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

只有在他和她都认定大家是朋友时，做不成情侣的男女才能是朋友。

我相信，做不成情侣的男女能是朋友。需要的是一个决定与时间。

~木目心~

不放弃的两面

锲而不舍，就是形容不放弃，一直坚持追求目标。自古以来，人们相信，只要我们锲而不舍的一直走，我们一定会到达目的地，做人与做事都应有如此的意念。我们会赞赏、欣赏与佩服这种情操。

广东人有一句话-- 人要胆大、心细、脸皮厚。虽然这句话通常用于追求女孩子，但，意思与锲而不舍大致相通，说的也是不放弃，一直坚持追求目标。 当一个男孩锲而不舍、全心全意甚至千方百计去追求一个女孩时，那应该是值得赞赏的。但，如果那女孩始终没能对他有所感觉或接受他时，那锲而不舍会变成死缠烂打。

锲而不舍变成死缠烂打。赞赏、欣赏与佩服变成厌恶、压力与负担。

两者说的都是不放弃，但所引发的效应却是决然不同，是两个极端。

在现今这城市里，那形式的不放弃已不是可行的策略。当那女孩已清楚地表明立场说那是没有发展的空间，而他也曾努力尝试过，那么，就需要一个句号，只需一个句号。那也算是一个终点。

~木目心~

想家了

近这几天，想家的感觉终於再度降临了。上一次想家的时候是在一年前。

出国留学将快两年了。每当朋友问起我上一次回国是几月时，我的答案总会引领另一道问题。你不想家吗?老实说，我的答案总会令我自己觉得我好像是一个没感情的人。我真的不常想家。想家的次数可能只是一年一次，那就是暑假，因为身边的朋友都陆续回国度假了。那份思念，大概。。。可能只维持几个小时。

再回想一下，在过去的五年里，我在家的时间应该是少过半年。我从中五毕业后，就开始离家出外念书。回想起当时的我，的确有够恨的，说要就要，也不管爸妈的反对，就去办入学手续。当然，最后也是需要爸爸点头付学费。我爸还是最好的，虽然有时他的脾气实在是难以容忍。爸，我不是在说您的坏话，虽然我相信家里的人会举手脚赞成我所说的。

就从那时开始，我就成为了一个‘浪女’，一年才回家那两三次，每次不超过三星期。在那段时间里，我也有想家，但也是属於少数。 当我感到厌倦于课业与烦人的事时，我会有想冲回家的感觉。家始终是最安全、最好的避风港。这话听起来有少许自私，但我相信我爸会一直支持我。就如他说的，年轻时就应多出外看看这世界。我实在很庆幸他是我的爸爸，因为他不认为女生不必受高等教育，因为他相信我。我离家这么久，他从不问我如何花钱，而且每次我打电话回家时，他第一个问题就是钱还够用吗? 那不是因为我家有钱，那只是因为他相信我，他疼我。

离家后，我才真正的懂得珍惜与体谅爸妈的心情与辛苦。妹妹常对我投诉说留在家里很苦，爸妈常骂她。我听后，就会向她分析爸妈的原意，也希望她能体谅他们是因为辛苦才会如此。你可能会说，你当然说得轻松，因为不是你被骂。抚心自问，当我还在家时，我的确不懂也不会去体谅他们，我只知道跟他们顶嘴，和他们斗骂。但，就是在离家后，才发现当初的自己是多么伤他们的心。现在的我，可是家里的乖乖女，家里的沟通桥梁，因为只有我不会跟爸妈对骂，因为我只跟他们说道理。我的说服力还蛮强的。呵呵。。。

话说回头，就算我回国回家后，我肯定会再出外，我不会安定的留在家。家乡的生活实在是太平静了。我还想多看外面的世界，还想在外面闯，去感受生命与生活。我的心还是很‘野’的，我始终是一个有野心的人。

距离的确可以让人把事情看得更清楚。我在弟弟身上也看到了那转变(我弟弟也步入我的后尘，他也离家念书了)。我回国后，一定会找机会丢妹妹在外，让她体验那种心情。希望爸妈不会说我是‘鬼头’，都把弟妹带出去了。哈哈。。。

~木目心~

Say it before it's too late

Peter and Tina are sitting in the park doing nothing, but just gazing into the sky, while all their friends are having fun with their beloved half.
Tina: I'm so bored. Just wish I have a boyfriend now to spend time with.
Peter: I guess we're the only leftovers. We're the only person who isn't with a date now. (both sigh n silence for a while)
Tina: I think I have a good idea. Lets play a game
Peter: Eh? What game?
Tina: Eem..It's quite simple. You be my boyfriend for 100 days and I'll be your girlfriend for 100 days. what do you think?
Peter: Oookay..Anyway I don't have any plan for the next few months.
Tina: You sound like you aren't looking forward to it at all. Cheer up. Today will be our first day and our first date. Where should we go?
Peter: What about a movie? I heard that there is a really great movie in theater now.
Tina: Seems like I don't have any better idea than this. Lets move. (went to watch their movies and sent each other home)
Day 2:
Peter and Tina went to a concert together, and Peter bought Tina a keychain with a star.
Day 3:
They went shopping together for a friend's birthday present. Share an ice-cream together and hugged each other for the first time.
Day 7:
Peter drove Tina up onto a mountain and they watch the sunset together. When the night came and the moon glowed, they said sat on the grass gazing at the stars together. A meteor passed by. Tina mumbled something.
Day 25:
Spend time at a themepark and got onto rollercoasters, and ate hotdogs and cotton candy. Peter and Tina got in the haunted house and Tina grabbed someone's hand instead of Peter's hand by accident. They laughed together for a while.
Day 67:
They drove pass a circus and decided to get in to watch the show. The midget asked Tina to play a part as his assistant in the magic show. Went around to see other entertainments around after the show. Came to a fortune teller and she just said "Treasure every moment from now on" and a tear rolled down the fortune teller's cheek.
Day 84:
Tina suggested that they go to the beach. The beach wasn't so crowded that day. They have their first kiss with each other just as the sun is setting.
Day 99:
They decided to have a simple day and is deciding to have a walk around the city. They sits down onto a bench.
1:23 pm
Tina: I'm thirsty. Lets rest for a while first.
Peter: Wait here while I go buy some drinks. What would you like?
Tina: Eem...Apple juice will be just fine.
1:43 pm
Tina waiting for about 20 minutes and Peter havent return. Then someone walked up to her.
Stranger: Is your name Tina?
Tina: Yes, and may I help you?
Stranger: Justnow down there on the street a drunk driver has crashed into a guy. I think its your friend.
Tina ran over to the spot with the stranger and sees Peter lying on the floor with blood over his face and her apple juice still in his hands. The ambulance came and she went to the hospital with Peter. Tina sat outside the emergency room for five and a half hours. The doctor came out, and he sigh.
11:51 pm
Doctor: I'm sorry, but we did the best we could. He is still breathing now but God would take him away from us very soon. We found this letter inside his pocket. The doctor hands over the letter to Tina and she goes into the room to see Peter. He look weak but peaceful. Tina read the letter and then she burst into tears. Here is what the letter said.
Tina, our 100 days is almost over. I had fun with you during all these days. Although you may be greedy sometimes and less thoughtful, but these all brought happiness into my life. I have realize that you are a really cute girl and blamed myself for never taken the time to knowing that. I have nothing much to ask for, but I just wish that we can extend the day. I want to be your boyfriend forever and wish that you can be beside me all the time. Tina, I love you.
11:58

Tina: (sobbing) Peter. Did you know what was the wish I made on the night there was a meteor. I asked God to let us last forever. We were suppose to last 100 days so Peter! You can't leave me! I LOVE YOU, but can you come back to me now? I love you Peter. I LOVE YOU. As the clock struck twelve, Peter's heart stopped beating. It was 100 days.

NOTE*
Tell the guy or girl that you love them before its too late. You never know whats going to happen tomorrow. You never know who will be leaving you and never return.

~Copied from an forwarded mail~