Life is Like a Box of Chocolates
”Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” (Forrest Gump)
I have a sweet tooth and I am a lover of all things chocolate. As a matter of fact, chocolate brown is even my favorite color. I have a sign that hangs in my kitchen that says, “Life is not worth living if you do not have chocolate.” For better or for worse, I have passed that philosophy on to my daughters. Chocolate has medicinal qualities in our house when someone is having a bad day. And, it is the perfect way to celebrate the sweetest moments that life has to bring. The cupboards are never without some type of chocolate confection. We enjoy them in moderation, and every now and again with gluttonous indulgence.
If life is truly like a box of chocolates, than life on the spectrum offers its own unique variety of flavors. Some are worth savoring, and others you simply have to choke down, and then there are those flavors that fall somewhere in the middle. The featured flavors change from day to day when you journey on the spectrum. It’s only after you take that first bite, that you truly know what you’re in for. So I offer up this chocolate sampling to you; a box that contains the many flavors that I have tasted along the way.
Dark & Bittersweet ~ I think the name pretty much says it all. It may be hard to find the sweet notes in such a bold, dark flavor. But if you let it linger on your palate long enough, those hints of sweetness will come through. You just have to be patient.
Silky Smooth Milk Chocolate~ The sweetest of flavors found on the spectrum, you’ll want to savor and indulge in this one. It may not be featured as often as you’d like, but just a small tasting every now and again, will truly fill you up.
Chock Full of Nuts~ When life on the spectrum leaves you feeling all cracked up & a little nutty.
Caramel~ When autism brings with it a whole lot of ooey gooey sticky situations that leave you feeling like a hot mess when all is said & done.
Rocky Road~Yeah, this one’s pretty self-explanatory.
Unsweetened~The darkest & most bitter of all the flavors, when you can’t seem to find a single moment of sweetness to savor in your day. When eating this flavor, it is best to swallow it down, go straight to bed & pull the covers over your head. Tomorrow is a new day & a new flavor awaits.
Coconut~ One bite of this and you’ll be ready for those moments when you must simply grit your teeth and bear what life on the spectrum brings your way.
Espresso ~ The flavor that will leave you feeling rejuvenated, with an extra surge of energy. After you’ve eaten one of these, you’re ready to tackle anything that autism brings your way. Be mindful however~ if you eat too many of these, you’ll find yourself lying awake at night with visions of autism dancing in your head, and that is never a good thing.
Mint~A cool & refreshing flavor. To maximize the experience, just close your eyes, take a bite, breathe in, breathe out and repeat.
Cayenne~ These have a little kick to them. Where they kick you and how hard, you won’t know until you take that first bite. The kick may slow you down or it may be just what you need to keep on going forward.
Chocolate Covered Pretzel~The perfect blend of sweet & salty, when life on the spectrum makes you laugh a little & cry a little.
Chocolate Covered Banana~ The flavor you crave when you are about to go apes#%it on somebody for messing with your kid! Come on now, don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about here, cause I know you do!
Chocolate Stout & Bourbon Balls~ Okay, come on now, do you really need any further explanation of these?! For those days when liquor or chocolate alone simply won’t do…
Chocolate Rice Krispie Treats~ The “go to” treat for those days when you’ve taken on the schools, the insurance companies or some well meaning, but insensitive & ignorant human being and you truly feel like you’re going to “snap, crackle & pop.”
Chocolate Covered Marshmallow~ For all the moments when you have to put on a hard outer shell to go and advocate for your child, but inside you are truly just a mush at heart trying to do right by your kid.
Chocolate Kisses~ Little bundles of sweet goodness all wrapped up in a pretty little package. Just to remind you how much love you have in your life. They even come with hugs now too!
If you don’t see your own flavors featured in this box, feel free to add your suggestions. The selection is always changing and we are always encountering new & interesting flavors here on the spectrum.
All you really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt (Lucy Van Pelt from The Peanuts)
