On Writing: Good Days and Bad

Today was a great day

My favorite part. Image: Columbia Pictures

There is a scene at the end of The Pursuit of Happyness (2006) that always affects me in a powerful way. Throat tightening, tears of gladness. Stoic tears, mind you. The manliest of tears.

Throughout the film, we watch Chris Gardner (played with aplomb by Will Smith) get repeatedly knocked down. Over and over. He loses his house. His wife leaves. He…