Travis’s father died that night. On the anniversary of his death, every year, Travis wakes up early, takes an extra-long shower, plans out his day in careful detail, and then drives to work. He always arrives on time.
I love this story. I became a journalist, in many ways, because I wanted to write things that help people. And for a long time, as a reporter at the New York Times, that meant I focused on big problems. I wrote about companies that take financial advantage of senior citizens, and American and Chinese firms that exploit workers. And I’m proud of those stories - they help get laws passed, and improve people’s lives.
But, with this book, I tried to do something different: Find small lessons and insights that help individuals. Not being able to control your emotions, or get to work on time, or struggling with daily habits isn’t a huge problem akin to financial loss or worker exploitation. But it’s still a problem - and for someone suffering from that problem, it feels incredibly hard and real and sad. And tiny victories - like learning how to show up for work on time - can be life changing. Travis’s life was changed by learning how to control himself. I hope other people find some meaning in hearing his story.
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