Will

by Will Smith

I would have never said this out loud, but a truthful answer to “Does it matter to you how I feel?” would have sounded something like this: Not exactly, sweetheart—feelings are seventh on my list. 1. Food 2. Shelter 3. Security 4. Intelligence 5. Strength 6. Productivity First and foremost, I care that you eat … every day. Second, I care that you have somewhere to live; third, I care that you’re safe. Fourth, I care that you are intelligent, and your mind is trained to solve the problems of your life. Fifth, I care that you’re strong, because the world is hard. And sixth, I care that you’re productive—I want you to contribute to the human family. And I believe that if you have all of those things, they will add up to you feeling great. I believe that if I take care of one through six, number seven will take care of itself. This is not something I just apply to you: I don’t even care how I feel. Many of my feelings have been enemies to my dreams and to our prosperity. I don’t feel like running five miles at 5:00 a.m.; I don’t feel like working eighty hours a week; I don’t feel like getting booed onstage, and feces thrown, and M-80s hurled at my head. And I know that if I worry about how I feel, I won’t be able to feed, clothe, house, and protect my family. When I determine a right action for our survival and prosperity, it doesn’t matter to me that I don’t feel like doing it. If it’s obviously an action of supreme benefit, then to hell with my feelings. When people are too ...