When Mama Gump says, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are gonna get," she could not be more accurate. One's life is a forever changing timeline of new people and new moments, but for me, in my "box of chocolates," there is always a few pieces of "chocolate" I know will be the same.

As I have grown up, a lot of the chocolates in my box changed, and will continue to throughout my life. I made new friends, got rid of some old ones, changed schools a few times, lost some family members and even gained some new ones. But, there are the constant pieces in the box of chocolates that is my life, that will always taste as good and as sweet as they did the time before.

When I first watched Forrest Gump in the 6th grade, a lot of the historical references went right over my head, but the beauty of the story between Forrest and Jenny is what really captured my heart. I craved watching it, almost as much as I crave chocolate (which happens more than I wish it did). It became a ritual for me to watch the movie, and understand a bit more each time I watched it. There was even a point in time, where for about a year, I watched the movie once a month.

Because of this love and adoration for Forrest Gump, and the fact that it will always be my absolute favorite movie, that is a constant chocolate in my box of chocolates. No matter what else is going on in my life, whether that being a family member passing away, or my parents divorce, Forrest Gump never faltered. It never was a missing piece of chocolate.

Another piece of chocolate, or rather two pieces of chocolates, are my two best friends since I was the age of 3, Samantha and Darci. They have been there for me through thick and thin and no matter how much one of us has going on in our lives, we still manage to be there for each other. They are my Bubba and Lieutenant Dan. They are my favorite kind of chocolates to pick out of the box.

Chocolate also means more to me than just the reference to Forrest Gump. When I hear the world chocolate, the first thing that pops into my head is my mother; a complete choco-holic some might say. Not only is she a choco-holic, but she is the best mother a girl can ask for, and someone I am so lucky to have as a constant support and love in my life, and a constant piece of chocolate to pick out of my box of chocolate.

Even though they are more constants than those few I have stated, like my wonderful father and sister and my entire family and friends that I love and appreciate more every day, there are also the pieces of chocolate that disappear or I never want to taste again.

There are people and places I never want to see again. There is anxiety I never want to feel again. There is pain I never want to endure again. And some day, there probably be a love so great and wonderful, that I will lose and will no longer be in my box of chocolates.

Each box of chocolates for each individual is different. Each person has their own set of taste buds. We all get one chance to enjoy our ever changing box of chocolates, but it is always important to make sure you try each piece, because without it, there would be no way of experiencing new things; and I have Mama Gump to thank for showing me, "that you never know what you are gonna get."