“My Momma always told me life was like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get…”

Choices.

The other day on Face Book I posted the question, “How do you get the chocolate you want when you have an entire box to choose from?”

I mean how do you choose?

If life is like a box of chocolates, it’s because there are so many good options but not all of them equally GREAT. So many options in life and yet all vary in impact, effect and outcome…

I love when Forrest asks his mother, “What’s my destiny”

“You’re going to have to figure that out for yourself, Forrest.” She answers.

Have you ever just wanted someone to say, “Go this away!” Or better yet, “Don’t pick that one, it will ooze all over you!” I mean who wouldn’t like the operating manual, the one with all the correct answers in the midst of lives most difficult and treacherous intersections? Who wouldn’t like a few more ‘perfect’ decisions, choices?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a freedom junkie but sometimes even I grow weary when the choices before me are unlimited… Matter of fact, too many choices feels similar to staring at 30 slivers of velvety chocolate all whispering, “Pick me, Pick me.”

Vetting out possibilities in light of many, many good options can be difficult.

My Facebook friends shared how they get the chocolate they want;

Bill Niegemann” Light chocolate, rectangular, firm. with nuts. Stay away from dark, circular, with goo in the middle.”

Diana Hopkins” Know your chocolates! I can pick a carmel from 100 yards away!”

Bruce W. Burns “Buy See’s…the ones with the schematic that tells you what’s what!”

Loma Gregg “I cut them in half until I find what I want! If it doesn’t squirt liquid cherry or some goo out – its a hit!”

Chris Hornbeck “Come on you guys who hasn’t taken a little nibble out of each corner to see what was in there. When I was little I didn’t think about the other guy, I just wanted to find the coconut one.”

Teresa Wenta “I just keep going until I find it. If I take a bite of one and it’s not what I wanted, I toss it, then go on to the next. Eventually I’ll find it!”

From nibbling, to scratching the corner with a fingernail, to cutting the buggers in half, to search and rescue coconut mission my friends were all quite clear. If you’re going to find what you want you’re going to have to sift through a lot of what you don’t!

Trial and error. It is true in finding your favorite chocolate and it’s true for choosing your way through life.

I wasn’t surprised that no one responded that when they’re unable to decide they just stare at the chocolates and decide against trying any.

Of course we choose.

The key is to accept the fact that you may error, you may go in the wrong direction, you might end up with the pink in the middle chocolate when what you were really after was the deep carmel nugget. Mostly we learn from what doesn’t work, fit, taste just right or turn out quite like we expected.

Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get.

There are a myriad of possibilities for you. Which ones are best? What is the path that will take you exactly where you want to go?Who knows and chances are- you won’t till you choose one and see what happens.

And don’t worry- if at first you don’t succeed just do as my friends do- try another and another until you find the carmel, coconut, rectangular dark chocolate you’re dreaming of.

Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get and who knows you might find something you never expected so dig in.

Eat up. Experience. Live

And to celebrate.

Maestro- the Forrest Gump song track!

Pam Hoelzle

Because Life is like a box of chocolates!

pam @ pam hoelzle. com