In pursuit of Happyness

Wrong spelling? Perhaps, but I say, No. It is because for the first time in my life, I realized that happiness and being happy is the only two words in the dictionary that can be misspelled but have the same meaning, impact and influence over our lives, no matter how complex it is or simple. I say this after I and my wife watched the film top-billed by Will Smith and his son, Jaden Christopher entitled, “The pursuit of Happyness”. The film is the true story adaptation of the life and travails of American multi-millionaire Chris Gardner.

The morale of the story is that no matter how great the obstacles in your career, no matter how great is your marital problem, no matter how poorly you are performing in school, no matter how shabbily your business is performing, there is always an end to all of it and the search for genuine happiness starts within, taking the confidence back to make your lives and our lives around amidst the squall of uncertainty. It revolved around the story of a brilliant and talented but marginally employed salesman who struggles to make ends meet and providing for his son. He relied on nothing but his perseverance and his common sense has sustained him, much more; he relied heavily on the trust of his son. The only thing that touched us so deeply was the compelling desire to learn and acquire skills that will secure his future and that of his son. He did not bother if they have to sleep at the CR of a subway terminal or in shelters for a night, what he is concerned is to search for the right job.

Similarly, all of us are given talents and skills by our only beloved Heavenly Father. All of us are equal in the eyes of God and in all opportunities that have passed through this earth, all of us are deem equal but you can not stop asking yourself the perennial question, why am I not as rich as the man next to me? Why am I working like a dead carabao and worse, I am underpaid? Why am I in this situation while my friends are not? We, as humans have so many why’s to ask but we never realized that if we only seized the moment that have come our way and turn it to our advantage, it will be a great difference. I said many times to friends and students that our lives today are the result of our decisions yesterday. It may not be literally, but true. If we decide not to pursue education, then we will have nothing to count on, especially in seeking employment. If we decide not to look for work, then we will have nothing to feed our children and our families. If we decide not to seek for wisdom, then we will not be enlightened. I have certainly felt the essence of the film that encapsulates our desire to improve- that is-believe that you can achieve your dream and don’t lose hold of it.

In our lives, we may have all problems that are varying in significance but are the same, we are bombarded by so many challenges-financial, emotional, psychological, work-related, healths, future and others, but have we counted our talents and skills, our capacities and our intellect to discern what the right course of action to address our problems. As I observed, we Filipinos are resilient from problems compared to our Asian brothers and sisters, but we are also the ones who are usually left behind in terms of grabbing opportunities. They said that we are too happy to know the difference. But I argue that we have been resilient for so long however, we have not grabbed the right opportunity, at the right time and at the right place.

Our country and people are inherently blessed with abundant supply of resources and talents but why are we lagging behind other economies? Is our yardstick for happiness measured by money alone? Is money making us feel more confident? Is money making us powerful over others? The film that I had been telling you said otherwise. Chris Gardner believes in making life’s dream into a reality, everyday. He continued to aspire because he has a dream. He dreamed more because he has the vision. He envisions more because he cared for his son and the future that will hold for them because of what they have gone through. And I said that with it, come great opportunities that are both rewarding and sustaining.

Our life as it is lived everyday is a journey that is continually in pursuit of happiness. We are constantly in search of deeper meaning and purpose. We are searching for the right moment but have we mustered our self-confidence and zeal to really reclaim our lives to the fullest? This film posed reflective questions at me and I hope my article opens the possibility for you, as well as I and my wife, to search for the right answers to the complex questions of our lives. We may be in doubt but hope gives the light- it provides the path, we just have to believe and start walking.