a box of chocolates

mama always said...

if you don't get the reference yet, you've clearly never heard of forrest gump. and if you've never heard forrest gump, well, by golly, you've stumbled upon the right blog!

i happen to have just finished watching forrest gump (starring tom hanks), and, as usual, i'm overwhelmed with hope and warm fuzzy feelings. but for those who are completely lost, here's a little explanation:

forrest gump is a story of a man (who may or may not be mentally challenged, but that's really not the point) who goes through life being a good person. he has a significant impact on everyone he meets, and although he has some trouble wrangling his wayward love and best friend, jenny, things turn up for old forrest after a while.

but this story isn't just about romantic love. it's about truly loving other people and wanting the absolute best for them no matter what. it's about being true to yourself, loving your family, and living your life to its absolute fullest. well, at least, that's what i think it's about.

every time i watch this movie, i get pretty emotional--it's a bit of a roller coaster. but at the end, i always feel so hopeful and ready to go out into the world and spread some love. it's a great feeling. while it's impossible to face life with the same simple wonder and trust forrest has, i think it's possible to open up and love as much as he does. and that's just what i want to do.

and yes, it can be tough to feel this gushy and loving when i roll over to face the bleating alarm clock before the sun comes up or when i walk blocks and blocks across campus in the blistering heat, but after i pull back the covers or step into the shade, things seem peaceful again, and i can smile just like forrest and say, 'hello, world, i love you.'

this is just one of those special films that will stay with me forever. unfortunately, the book isn't as wonderful and heart-warming (this will be the ONLY time in my life i'll ever side with a movie over a book, btw), so i'd definitely watch tom hanks instead of read the book (ugh, i cringe at even writing that. i'm so sorry, books).

if you learn nothing else from forrest, learn this:

life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get. and to take it a step further, chocolates always hold something sweet and unexpected inside, so don't shy away from them--you might just like what you find. and if you don't, well, you've still got the chocolate. :)

p.s. i feel just like doogie howser as i type this post. if only i had a little voice-over and a dinosaur computer...