the pursuit of happiness

I just finished watching The Pursuit of Happyness not too long ago (Kinda old movie, I know).

But it really made me think.

I've been taking so many things for granted, maybe since the day I learned how to talk; i.e. demand for things.

The movie's about this Chris Gardner, portrayed by Will Smith, who's a salesman selling bone density scanners. His marriage is falling apart with his wife wanting to leave him because they don't have enough moolah to cover the rent and all that. She does leave him in the end, leaving him with their 5 year-old son Christopher (shit! ABAL 2! ><).

With no money, and being thrown out of their rented apartment, he's gotta find a way to make ends meet. He passes a job interview to intern at a stock broking company - only to find out that there won't be any salary until he gets hired... IF he gets hired.

I almost bawled my eyes out, seeing the way they had to fight to have a place at a shelter to spend the night, and when they were huddled up in the toilet of a train station to pass the night.

I'm really taking too many things for granted - my allowance, the roof above my head, the bed I get to sleep in every night, yearly holidays overseas when some people haven't even stepped out of Singapore for their entire existence on earth insofar, my education, the family I have around me, and the people who are.

Its really time to start appreciating the things around me, to be thankful for all the things that I have, and to stop whining or complaining about the material things that I want and don't need.

The Pursuit of Happyness.

If you haven't watched it, please do.

Happiness.

Is it out of reach?