| Volume 2 #8 | May 2007                          

Things I Learned From Forrest Gump

Some time ago, I watched again one of my very favorite movies, "Forrest Gump." I thought the main reason I loved this movie was because it was a "period piece" with most of the action set in my era, the 60's...a history lesson, with the soundtrack to go with it, of course.

But this time, I was moved in such a different way by it. A "simple man" was teaching me lessons we all can learn:

1) Don't be afraid to try. Forrest became a football hero, Purple Heart soldier in Vietnam, a shrimp boat captain, a ping pong champion, and a marathon walker. In all these instances, he just seemed to go and do it. He wasn't attached to outcome, or fear of failure. He just did it because it was the right thing for him at the time.

2) Maintain your loyalties and keep your promises. Forrest never forgot about the girl he loved, Jenny, even though she went off in a different direction. In the end when she most needed it, he was there to take care of her. Forrest also stuck by Lieutenant Dan, even when Dan was embittered toward Forrest for not letting him die in the jungles of Vietnam instead of emerging alive but disabled. When Forrest got that shrimp boat that he promised his friend Bubba he would get, he brought Lieutenant Dan on board with him. Eventually, Dan became a changed man. Simple, unconditional love and encouragement changes people.

3) "Life is like a box of chocolates--you never know what you're gonna get." The obvious one I had to get in there. How many of us crack them open first to see if they're a kind we want, or do we just go for it and pick one and see what we get?

Of course, we can't always pick what we get in life. But we can choose how to react and try to find something positive in our circumstances. 

If you've never seen "Forrest Gump", I hope you'll check it out on TV or on video. You'll get brilliant performances by Tom Hanks and Gary Sinise in the aforementioned roles, a great soundtrack, a modern history lesson or two...and some inspiring life lessons.

Be an encourager...and be encouraged!

---Wendy V

Welcome and thanks to all new and continuing readers! I hope you are inspired by what you read. In the past year, I've watched people achieve goals and dreams they haven't thought possible, thanks to the magic of coaching. Do you have something burning in your heart you'd like to accomplish, but are feeling a little stuck? Why not try a sample session!  If you take a sample session with me during April or May, then sign on for regular half-hour sessions, your first one will be FREE! Send an e-mail with "sample session" in the subject line if you're interested.

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All original written material ©2005-2007 Wendy Vickers. All Rights Reserved.

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