Along with being a beloved movie, the Forrest Gump lessons to live by adds to its legacy. A heartwarming tale with a wholesome message that will never become irrelevant, Forrest Gump is the perfect movie to watch when audiences are in the mood for a little soul-searching. The story about one man’s incredible and unexpected life journey is as significant now as it was when the film was first released in 1994. But it is the Forrest Gump lessons that show the power of the story.
While Forrest Gump is not a real person, he makes his mark in American history, and though he is not the smartest man alive, his experiences teach the audience a lot just by taking them on this journey. No matter what stage of life someone is in, everyone can take away something meaningful from Gump’s story. People can learn a lot when they see the world through his eyes. From dealing with the loss of a loved one to the attitude with which to approach a new situation, are several valuable lessons from Forrest Gump the audiences can hold onto.
Forrest Gump never did anything that he didn’t want to do even if it was for a friend like when he opened up the business Bubba Gump Shrimp because it was his friend’s dream. Forrest didn’t think through everything he did because he didn’t really need to; he followed his gut and he did what he loved.
He loved his friend, so he opened Bubba Gump Shrimp. He loved to run so he ran as far as he could, and he loved Jenny so he did whatever he could to help her and make her happy.
While some might see him as aimless, the truth is that he followed his heart in every instance. People wanted to be more like Forrest in the movie as he ran, not understanding why. However, this was just Gump doing what he loved until he was tired and ready to do something different.
Forrest Gump tells his story and has insight into his own slice-of-life story and a perspective that no one else would be able to have. Forrest’s simple way of looking at things allows him to see them in a way few people do.
Everyone has an insightful perspective that they should be able to share, even if it’s not expertly articulated. Everyone can have wisdom and a unique perspective no matter their vocabulary or intelligence, and that’s worth listening to.
No one should be afraid to share what they think as long as they’re not hurting anyone. Forrest Gump was a simple man, but he knew that it was okay to be open and let people inside his head, even if he wasn’t sure how it could help others. He had so many insightful comments that he influenced many people throughout the years without even knowing it.
Forrest Gump was never insecure about trying something new and wasn’t afraid of failure, which is a great lesson. No one is perfect, especially when they’re first trying something, but sometimes they can surprise themselves by being good at it or even just enjoying a new hobby.
Forrest meets several people throughout his journey and isn’t afraid to start a conversation with them whether it’s famous musician John Lennon or President Kennedy. He’s also happy to try new hobbies like running or ping-pong and doesn’t sweat it if it doesn’t work out.
From starting a shrimp company with Captain Dan to investing in an Internet company when no one else knew what that was, Forrest Gump did things that most people could only dream of. The only reason he did it and others didn’t was because he wasn’t scared to try something new.
In his quotes, Forrest Gump shows he doesn’t take himself too seriously and is not afraid of making a fool of himself, whether it’s saying he has to pee in front of the President of the United States or telling his life story to a stranger on a bench. Forrest is always himself and isn’t afraid of what other people think of him. It’s a nice life lesson to remind everyone to be humble and remember that everyone makes mistakes.
No one is perfect, and there’s no point in taking things too seriously. That kind of self-assurance is something most people would love to have. For Forrest Gump, he is a simple man and has no reason to ever feel embarrassed by what he does.
However, if everyone acted like that, and opened up to people around them honestly, it would free them to be themselves and not have to hide who they are. For Forrest, that was as a man who just wanted to be happy and content.
Throughout the entire movie, Forrest Gump is relentlessly optimistic. Even when things are tough, Forrest looks on the bright side of life even if other characters around him hate it, particularly Lieutenant Dan. It’s difficult to be upset when someone else is so optimistic — a contagious feeling that’s bound to help friends be more optimistic too.
Forrest Gump wasn’t worried about terrible things that were happening because he knew he would always be able to figure it out. One of the ways Forrest influences history is through his carefree attitude as he inspired the popular bumper sticker “S*** Happens.”
While Forrest could have easily given up, he refused to and set out to do anything he wanted when he wanted to do it, and he believed it would work out for the best. This includes his experiences in romance with Jenny, business, the military, and everything in between. No one could tell Forrest he couldn’t do something.
One of the clearest messages that can be taken from Forrest Gump is that it’s important to appreciate life while living it. Gump’s story shows that people never know what’s going to happen in the future, and that also includes not knowing when someone’s time will be up or if their life is ever going to be compromised. Gump’s friend Bubba, for example, dies when he’s still in his youth.
Although Gump suffers in a number of ways, he appreciates the life that he has while he has it. In one of the best Forrest Gump quotes, he says, “Mama always said dying was a part of life. I sure wish it wasn’t.” While Bubba died, Forrest valued his friendship with the man by starting a company in his name.
Forrest also loved Jenny more than anything in life, and he lost her as well, but his memories of her remain strong through his stories. Forrest made his time with the people he loved count, and that is something everyone should consider.