The Pursuit of Happyness

I enjoyed watching movies that inspire me to reach for my dreams. The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) is one of those movies that showed how a man's passion to reach his dreams enabled him to overcome many obstacles and become successful in the end.

Directed by Gabriel Muccino, it is based on the true story of a self-made millionaire Christopher Gardner. Will Smith, who plays the lead actor in the movie, is a family man making a living as a salesman of bone density scanners. However no one wants to buy it because of its steep price and impracticality. This resulted to his wife leaving him and losing his bank savings. Left to care for his only son (played by Will Smith's real son, Jaden Smith), and make both ends meet, Chris comes upon an opportunity to be a stockbroker. Working and studying very hard, he finally earned the financial success and stability he had longed for.

Here are the quotes that inspired me and my short reflections on them:

Christopher Gardner (talking to his son): Hey. Don't ever let somebody tell you... You can't do something. Not even me. All right? ...You got a dream... You gotta protect it. People can't do somethin' themselves, they wanna tell you you can't do it. If you want somethin', go get it. Period.

Two important points to highlight here: One is continue dreaming because it gives your life direction. Dreams give you a sense of purpose and make you passionate about life. Second is do not listen to people who try to put you down because they themselves either have no dreams or have given up on their own dreams. Because dreams are worth pursuing and dreams do come true to those who make them happen.

Christopher Jr. (telling a story to his dad): Hey dad, you wanna hear something funny? There was a man who was drowning, and a boat came, and the man on the boat said "Do you need help?" and the man said "God will save me". Then another boat came and he tried to help him, but he said "God will save me", then he drowned and went to Heaven. Then the man told God, "God, why didn't you save me?" and God said "I sent you two boats, you dummy!"

Truly God's wisdom is spoken through the little ones. I believe that in these lines, when we asked God's help to make our dreams come true, His resources will flow abundantly to our lives. As always and in all ways, God provides. =)