Run Forrest Run

 I sat and watched “Forrest Gump” this afternoon.I can’t remember when I had watched it the first time-must have been donkey years back!! Anyways, I think I watched the movie in a different light today.I must have emptied a box of tissues crying ,the emotional buffoon that I am! When I reached the part when he starts "running on empty",I was practically inconsolable.Thank heavens, I was watching the movie alone,  in my room, on my laptop!!

I am smitten by Forrest Gump’s running. Can you really outrun your emotions? Can you run till you shed all your sorrows, till you are too tired to be happy or sad or to hold on to your grudges? Can you? I cannot imagine anything better really. Just ‘decide to go for a run for no particular reason’ and end of the run (however long the run may be), come back sans the baggage that weighs you down!!

 Running on empty

“Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
Looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields
In sixty-five I was seventeen and running up one-o-one
I don't know where I'm running now, I'm just running on

Running on - running on empty
Running on - running blind
Running on - running into the sun
But I'm running behind

Gotta do what you can just to keep your love alive
Trying not to confuse it with what you do to survive
In sixty-nine I was twenty-one and I called the road my own
I don't know when that road turned onto the road I'm on

Running on - running on empty
Running on - running blind                                      
Running on - running into the sun
But I'm running behind

Everyone I know, everywhere I go
People need some reason to believe
I don't know about anyone but me
If it takes all night, that'll be all right
If I can get you to smile before I leave

Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
I don't know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels
I look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through
Looking into their eyes I see them running too

Running on - running on empty
Running on - running blind
Running on - running into the sun
But I'm running behind

Honey you really tempt me
You know the way you look so kind
I'd love to stick around but I'm running behind
You know I don't even know what I'm hoping to find
Running into the sun but I'm running behind.”

I think Forrest finds a solution to his problems for just one reason-he thinks simple!

Life really isn't so complicated. Just listen to the people who love you, love the people you love (even if they don’t love you back always!), keep your promises, do not be a fair weather friend, be truthful, do good without expecting anything in return. And if despite all that , things get a li’l too tough and out of hand, just go for a really really long run!!!

 Only if your conscience is clear are you really sorted. But it’s a big deal mind you- having a clear conscience. You can lie to the whole world, but you can’t lie to yourself ! It’s the little things in life that tide you over finally, tide you over really tough situations sometimes!

Maybe one needs to be stupid (like Forrest) to be smart enough to learn to be simple and sorted and happy. Like Ernest Hemmingway says “Happiness in intelligent people is one of the rarest things I know”!

Forrest is supposedly stupid and it’s a blessing in disguise for him. He knows people think he is stupid and wants to be smart like everyone else too. He feels as much as any intelligent fool. It’s just that he doesn’t have any qualms in admitting that he feels lonely ,that he feels scared many times, that he misses the people he misses. He thinks a lot too. He hasn’t got anything figured either, he doesn’t know anything about hope and big time life lessons! But he follows his heart!

You need gumption to follow your heart ; just do your thing even if the world thinks it’s stupid. It’s easy to join the bandwagon, merge with the crowd and live according to the laid down rules.

You have to put the past behind before you can move on. Or else you can run all you want, run till you die-to no avail!

Even if you are not worldly wise (read smart),it doesn’t take much to love and live. All you need  is a good sound heart (naah, not just medically!)

I am inspired by someone (thing) or the other all the time. For today, its Forrest’s simplicity. I want to uncomplicate. I need to revive my faith in goodness once more. Goodness exists and is all around us. It’s not a fairy tale thing. It’s just that I have to learn to find and see it more often! The guest appearances don’t suffice anymore!

Thank you Forrest!