Fifteen-plus years ago I started working professionally as a Forrest Gump impersonator/look-alike/tribute artist. I’ve used the expression ‘gump-like’ thousands of times to describe a person, one of their attributes, or to define an interaction that occurred between myself and another.
Forrest Gump had many admirable and notable character traits. One of those traits was Forrest’s ability to be kind. Being gump-like is having the ability to show consideration, be helpful, and be affectionate and loving.
Gump-like is being kind.
Kind as in being gentle.
Kind as in generous.
Kind as in charitable.
Kind as in desiring to help others.
Kind as in gracious.
Kind as in mild.
Kind as in neighborly.
Kind as in thoughtful.
Forrest was gentle when Jenny collapsed after ‘sometimes there just aren’t enough rocks.’
Forrest was generous when he helped others, e.g., the bumper-sticker slogan – It Happens!
Forrest was charitable when he shared his wealth because ‘there’s only so much fortune a man needs.’
Forrest was helpful to others when he saved his fellow soldiers at his own personal risk.
Forrest was gracious when he apologized for ‘having a fight in the middle of [the] Black Panther party.’
Forrest was mild when he walked onto both the bus to school and the bus to boot camp.
Forrest was neighborly when he visited Bubba’s family and paid his respects to his fallen friend.
Forrest was thoughtful when he shared his box of chocolates.
Being kind means having compassion.
Being kind means being helpful.
Being kind means remaining gracious.
Being kind is being loving.
Being kind is being gump-like.
If someone said, “You are ‘gump-like’!” … would you take it as a compliment? I do.
Are you choosing to live a gump-like life?
Next Blog Title: Being Gump-like (Part 8)
Next Blog Date: January 5, 2012