Page 190 - SpontaneousSuccessFINAL6

NICHOLAS BOOTHMAN
promised her that one day I’d ask you to tell us how you
became so smart."
Thomas laughed. "Smart? Me? I'm not smart; I
just...Okay, fine. Maybe I've learned a thing or two. But
most of what I learned was too complicated for me to
remember, which is why I wrote it down.
"Come on, Thomas!" I joined in. "You're always
saying profound stuff and knowing exactly what to do.
How did you get so wise?"
"I'm not wise! I've just lived a long life, and I've made
a lot of mistakes. I learned to embrace simplicity and let
go of complexity.”
"But Grandpa, you're always telling us to embrace
the unknown and share our stories. Isn't it time you
practiced what you preach?"
Thomas chuckled. "I hope I don't preach. Here,
hand me that."
Paul passed the journal to Thomas.
"Well, my boy," he began, "I'll do my best to keep it
short and sweet." As he flipped through the pages, his
eyes scanned the notes. Pausing, he stroked a page with
a smile, then rose from his seat"
“It was 1959, and I was 23. I was making a bit of a
name for myself as a crime reporter in London. One day
I got an assignment to report on the Chinese famine
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