My favorite actor Tom Hanks is often quoted for his role in Forrest Gump with this line: “Momma always said, ‘Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.’” This brilliant philosophy is repeated by millions without any elaboration or question. Life can be successfully compared to just about anything.
I have decided that life is like a gumball machine. I have to give a little to get a little. Most of the time when I put a quarter into a gumball machine, I get a gumball. Some flavors of gum are better than others. Sometimes, if I’m really lucky, I get "money." That is always a truly exhilarating experience until I find out it isn’t even real money. If I want to get a lot, I have to give a lot. One can't expect the world to give him more than he deserves.
If I go to work and save my money I can buy an entire gumball machine. If I buy the gumball machine, I can have any and every flavor I want and I’ll have the light-up, spinny trophy to hold all my gum. But let's face it. One can't even expect the world to give him exactly what he deserves. I might buy a defective gumball machine. It doesn't light up. The gum is old and nasty. The machine used, and it’s falling apart.
Life isn’t always as sweet as a good box of chocolates. You never know when you’re going to pull out a dead mouse.
Yours thoughtfully,
Lauren
