This is one of my favorite scenes (of which there are plenty) from this great moving by Will Smith, Pursuit of Happyness.
Although I’m typically one to fall for all the emotional music and dramatic pauses accompanying a director’s desire to bring the audience to tears, this one strikes a different emotion of tears.
It is subtle in its efficacy to bring me to a state of gratitude, to appreciate the present.
Let’s see if you can spot it:
For what he does is analyze every small detail of his work day, every small process, every action. He essentially does a time and motion study on himself. And still…still that’s not enough
So what does he do, he decides to take a chance. He takes a risk.
And that chance, that risk pays off
To me, it is an exhilarating feeling watching as he works tirelessly and in a desperate attempt is actually rewarded, rewarded by luck.
To me, his reward is my reward.
I’m filled with gratitude as I experience the greatness of preparation meeting serendipity.