Oct 2, 2026 · 10 min · 7 segments
**What if life isn't like a box of chocolates?** Maybe life is like a box of choices. Choose wisely. Today I'm recording from CitiesAlive, the Green Roofs for Healthy Cities conference in New York…
Andy HumphreyHost
And I don't really know where this came from, but I had written a note, and sometimes when I need an inspiration for a podcast like this, I take notes, put it in my Evernote, save it for later.

And I don't know why, it's kinda cheesy, but there's this line from Forrest Gump that I think you know, and if you don't know, when I say it, you'll probably be reminded of it, and it goes like this: "Life is like a box of chocolates.

And for some reason the other day, that line just popped into my head, and I made an, uh, uh, association with it.

You never know what you're gonna get." There's something about it I don't agree with because that makes life sound like something you reach into, something y- you, you pull out.

And I think to me that feels way too passive in terms of, "No, I'm in charge of my life.

Life is not like a box of chocolates where you never know what you're gonna get.

No, I know exactly what I'm gonna get because if it's meant to be, it's up to me.

I choose this life, and I choose irrigation." And it makes it sound like life just happens to us, but that's not true.

And I'm sure there are absolutely things that happen to us that are-- that we don't control, are out of our control, but I don't think that's the same thing as saying we don't have choices.

And I don't really know where this came from, but I had written a note, and sometimes when I need an inspiration for a podcast like this, I take notes, put it in my Evernote, save it for later.

And I don't know why, it's kinda cheesy, but there's this line from Forrest Gump that I think you know, and if you don't know, when I say it, you'll probably be reminded of it, and it goes like this: "Life is like a box of chocolates.

And for some reason the other day, that line just popped into my head, and I made an, uh, uh, association with it.

You never know what you're gonna get." There's something about it I don't agree with because that makes life sound like something you reach into, something y- you, you pull out.

And I think to me that feels way too passive in terms of, "No, I'm in charge of my life.

Life is not like a box of chocolates where you never know what you're gonna get.

No, I know exactly what I'm gonna get because if it's meant to be, it's up to me.

I choose this life, and I choose irrigation." And it makes it sound like life just happens to us, but that's not true.

And I'm sure there are absolutely things that happen to us that are-- that we don't control, are out of our control, but I don't think that's the same thing as saying we don't have choices.
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