The first time I viewed “Forrest Gump” and heard the line, “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re going to get,” I thought how true that statement is. Of course, I was working at the time and depending upon the day, the cup was either half full or half empty.
Upon retirement, I revisited “Forrest Gump” and realized that life is not like a box of chocolates. In fact, anyone of us can choose the type of chocolates we wish to eat. I then began to reflect on that one statement and came to the conclusion that the older I get, the more I want a specific kind of chocolate so that I am assured there are no surprises.
What’s the point? Even before you retire, you make plans for that wonderful day when you will no longer have to work, and can indulge yourself in just about anything that suits your fancy. The chocolate analogy can be utilized in this way: One day you feel like a box of caramels and another day you fill like a box of peanut clusters. The point is you choose the type of chocolate you have a specific craving for.
Sure, you might decide to buy a box of mixed chocolates and certainly you might not know what is in the first piece you’ve chosen. But here’s the rub; the best box of chocolate has information that details what chocolates are in the box and their location. So there really is no surprise.
Choosing an ideal place to retire can also be analogous to chocolates. You can research the different boxes and decide which one is most appealing. While some may have more caramels than others, you may find the butter crunch just as delicious.
As a retired baby boomer, I was under the assumption that life was like a box of chocolates. Today, I have come to the realization that although life is sweet; it is I who will make the ultimate decision whether I want all caramels, all peanut clusters, or go for the mixed box. Life is like that.
When you’re young; the world is yours to explore and there is little need to pay attention to the future. When you reach 40, you begin to think about the future for about five minutes. When you near retirement, however, you suddenly realize that you should have planned and saved for any eventuality. Like the box of chocolates, you really don’t know what you’re life is going to be like post-retirement.
The purpose of this article is two-fold: one, save for your retirement once you begin working and, two; sometimes choosing a mixed box of chocolates over a box of caramels may not be the safest thing to do, but it sure is exciting not knowing what you may get.
