Reading Chris Garner’s story will change your life. Few times in my life, have I ever read an autobiography that has so drastically challenged and changed my worldview.
The Pursuit of Happyness is the story of a man who grew up dirt poor, on the streets of Milwaukee. For most of his life, he never knew his father, and the only father figure he had beat him, his mother, and terrorized the entire family. It was not an Ozzie and Harriet household.
Gardner, played by Will Smith in the film adaptation, is an amazing man. His life, the ups and downs, weave an intricate tapestry of a man who stayed true to his values and rarely veered from his core beliefs. Chris Gardner is no saint, but he does acknowledge how his upbringing did involve God, but it is not a major theme in the book. Be prepared for some difficult situations regarding sex and drugs, Garner is no saint, but he is honest, often brutally.
When you look around at current events, you begin to see the need for men and women like Chris Gardner. He has become a hero of mine, and I hope that he will become a hero of yours. When people are losing their homes at an astonishing rate, we need to be reminded that we can not only survive, but we can thrive, even in the worst economy in years.
Garder reminds us that. “it’s not our net worth, it about our self-worth.” God’s hand can be seen all throughout of The Pursuit of Happyness. Gardner refers to a will deep inside of himself, or a drive and desire that enables him to focus better than most people around him. In my opinion, God has positioned Gardner to be in a place where his influence and leadership can be leveraged to help (save) our society in America.
I would suggest you go out and buy, go to a library, or borrow The Pursuit of Happyness as soon as you can. Read it, ingest it, and let it change you in ways that you may never expect. It’s THAT STRONG of a story, it’s compelling and gripping, and I pray that one day, you too will be empowered and challenged to pursue your happyness.
QUOTABLES
- “I am healthy, have raised two children as a single parent… that have become outstanding young people, and I’m in a position to do work that reflects my values. That’s my definition of wealth.”
- “Wealth can also be that attitude of gratitude with which to remind ourselves everyday to count our blessings.”
- “The cavalry ain’t coming. You’ve got to do this yourself.”
- “I was Chris Gardner, father of a son who deserved better than what my daddy could do for me, son of Betty Jean Gardner who said that if I wanted to win I could win.”
