Simplify and THRIVE: Forrest Gump and the One Bag Life of a Mental Health Warrior
- Bruce Schutter
- 1 day ago
- 5 min read
The other day, I decided to take a stroll in the park — one of those much-needed moments to clear my head and escape the daily grind. The sun was shining, birds were chirping and everything felt peaceful… until I quite literally ran into Forrest Gump.
Yes — the Forrest Gump. You know, the guy who famously said, “Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.”
As Forrest and I both caught our breath (he had been running across the country, after all), we started talking. I’ve always admired his ability to take life as it comes and focus on what truly matters.
That perspective hit home for me.
For 20 years, I struggled with Bipolar, Alcoholism, Anxiety Disorders and PTSD. Those challenges left me feeling so powerless I tried to end my life. But in that dark time, I discovered something life-changing: mental health is the key to overcoming any challenge.
Armed with that knowledge, I created the Mental Health Warrior Program — a bold new SELF-HELP approach that puts YOU in charge!
So you can take charge of your emotions, triumph over challenges and build the life you truly want.
A New Warrior Mindset
I figured this was the perfect opportunity to share my book, One Bag Life of a Mental Health Warrior, with Forrest.
“Forrest,” I said, handing him a copy, “this book is about embracing a life of Less Stuff, More Experiences. That mindset helped me strengthen my mental health and triumph over challenges every day.”
Forrest nodded, his eyes lighting up with recognition. “I get that,” he said in his slow, deliberate way. “I’ve never been much for stuff. It’s the people I love and the things I do that make me happy.”
Then — true to form — Forrest launched into three lessons, each more heartwarming than the last, showing how living simply and focusing on experiences had shaped his life and the lives of those around him.
Lesson 1: Honoring Emotions
Forrest’s first story was about his best friend, Bubba, and their shrimp boat dream. After Bubba passed away in Vietnam, Forrest was determined to honor his friend’s memory by making that dream a reality. But it wasn’t really about the boat or the money — it was about the journey, the connection and keeping Bubba’s spirit alive.
“When I was out there on the boat,” Forrest said, “it wasn’t the shrimp or the boat that made me feel close to Bubba. It was knowing I was doing something he would’ve loved. Thinking about my friend. Being on the water. That’s what mattered.”
Our Turn:
I learned that it wasn’t things that helped me heal — it was experiences. When I stopped chasing possessions and started choosing moments, my emotions finally had room to breathe.
Instead of pushing feelings down, I let myself feel them — the grief, the joy, the love and sometimes all of it at once. I found healing in experiences that connected me to people, memories and meaning, not stuff.
For me, honoring emotions looks like this:
Visit a place that holds special meaning for you or a loved one.
Engage in an activity they loved as a way to honor their spirit.
Share stories, laughter, and time with people who matter most.
When I live this way, emotions stop feeling overwhelming and start feeling purposeful. That’s how I heal. That’s how I grow. And that’s how I strengthen my mental health — one meaningful experience at a time.
Lesson 2: New Mindset, New Life
Forrest’s next story was about Lieutenant Dan. After losing his legs in the war, Dan struggled with his identity and purpose. He was angry, frustrated, and lost.
But Forrest, in his own steady way, helped Dan find new meaning in life — not with things, but by including him in the shrimping adventure and showing him the beauty of living for the experience, not the loss.
“Lieutenant Dan was angry for a long time,” Forrest said. “But when he finally came out on the boat with me and we weathered that storm together, he found peace. It wasn’t about the money we made — it was about being alive and finding something worth living for.”
Our Turn:
When I’ve struggled with loss or felt disconnected from who I used to be, I’ve learned that I can’t think my way into a new life — I have to experience my way into one.
Trying to replace what I lost never worked. What did work was choosing to stay engaged with life, even when it felt uncomfortable. New experiences gave me purpose when my old identity no longer fit.
For me, that looks like:
Stepping into something new that gives me a sense of progress
Spending time with people and experiences that lift me up instead of isolating
Focusing on the journey, not rushing the outcome
Like Lieutenant Dan, I’ve had storms to weather. But every time I choose engagement over withdrawal, I discover a new version of myself — and that’s how a new mindset slowly builds a new life.
Lesson 3: Happiness in Each Experience
The last story Forrest shared was about Jenny, the love of his life. Jenny’s years had been filled with trauma and hardship, but through it all, Forrest never stopped loving her.
When they were finally together, their happiness wasn’t found in the house they lived in or the things they owned — it was in the time they spent together: the quiet walks, the laughter, the simple moments that became lifelong memories.
“Jenny and I, we didn’t need much,” Forrest reflected. “Just being together, walking and talking — that’s what mattered. That’s where she found happiness.”
Our Turn:
I’ve learned that happiness doesn’t come from what I have — it comes from how I show up.
When I stop focusing on things and start focusing on presence, my relationships deepen and my sense of peace grows. The moments that truly matter aren’t big or flashy — they’re simple and shared.
For me, that looks like:
Putting distractions away and being fully present with the people I care about
Choosing shared moments — a walk, a conversation, quiet time — over busy schedules
Showing support by being there, not trying to fix or impress
Like Forrest and Jenny, I’ve found that happiness lives in the moments we share. A walk. A laugh. A quiet understanding.
Those simple experiences hold the greatest power — and they’re available to us every day.
Wrap Up
As our conversation came to an end, Forrest glanced at his watch, stretched his legs, and did that little bounce runners do when they’re clearly about to jog across the entire country again.
Before he took off, I handed him a copy of One Bag Life of a Mental Health Warrior.
“I like this,” he said with a thoughtful smile. “It’s simple, and it makes sense. Life isn’t about the stuff you have; it’s about the things you do and the people you care about.”
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
As Forrest Gump laced up and prepared to continue his run, he promised to carry the book — and its message — with him, sharing it with the people he met along the way.
So take a page from Forrest’s journey (and my book) and embrace a life of Less Stuff, More Experiences. True wealth isn’t found in what we own — it’s in the moments we create, the people we uplift and the experiences that shape us.
That’s what strengthens us as Mental Health Warriors — and helps us THRIVE every single day!
Bruce Schutter
Every day is a chance to choose strength — because YOU'RE IN CHARGE!
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