Among self-evident truths and unalienable rights listed in the American Declaration of Independence is the “pursuit of Happiness.” But to the founders, freedom or independence doesn’t involve some hedonistic hunt to possess happiness, as one would pursue and possess some once-in-a-lifetime treasure or asset.
It’s the everyday practice of happiness as one would cultivate a lifelong conscious state of being, like love or hope. That spirit shines through in Chris Gardner’s fearless, deliberate cultivation of competence, confidence, resilience, sacrifice, and excellence, fictionalized in this film based on a true story.
