Easy Bake

              I came up with this idea the other day when I heard a friend quote Forest Gump, "Life is like a box of chocolates." I realized that chocolates are great and yummy. The complexity of baking cookies was more accurate for me.   

                   Most people have an idea of where and what they want to be in life. People create a game-plan on how to achieve these goals. They are like recipes for success. Some people have a quick recipe where things are thrown together. Others individuals are more meticulous and measure out each ingredient perfectly. I compare it to making homemade cookies. They have to be homemade. Store bought ones require no effort and are the same, despite the manufacture’s claims.

Every cookie starts out with an idea and recipe. A person must have some idea of what is their perfect cookie. Some people like a simple sugar cookie, others prefer a Mississippi mud recipe, and many try for the fancy biscotti. People have to decide whether they want the grand or the simple version. This ensures they have the right ingredients for life.  Marshmallows only work in certain cookies.

            Like any cook, we set our lives out like the ingredients in a recipe. There is the right school added to community service. Or, there is the hunt mixed with military training. There are endless other combinations that can be combined. Then a touch of compassion or a scoop of greed is added to the bowl. Some slowly whisk it together. Others beat it furiously. Both, trying to get the batter perfect, yet going about it differently. I prefer the electric mixer. You get the best of both approaches without the carpal tunnel syndrome.

            It isn’t time to toss them into the oven yet. Each person has to add a little extra this, or little less of that. No one can leave a recipe alone without tweaking it. The same happens with our trip through life. Despite listening to the advice of others, we have to try it ourselves. Our mistakes are not always bad. The right dash of space can set the batter apart from any other of its type. The wrong pinch can turn life into an inedible mess or something barely palatable. I’ve seen people try and disguise these with frosting and sprinkles. That may hide the ugly, but will not change the taste.

            Finally, everything is ready for the baking.  People will divide the batter out into equal portions, or plop it down in blobs. It is per taste and design. Once each little tidbit is arranged and prepared, into the oven they go. Patients and attentiveness are the keys at this point. Not all bakers have that ability.  Take them out to soon; it’s just a gooey mess. If you get distracted, then they are hard and tough. A timer, or an assistant can keep you on track to getting them just right.

            Then comes the long awaited moment, it is time for the tasting. They aren’t always what you dreamed they would be. The choice may not have been the perfect one for you. It may be too sweet, or bitter. Some are even hard to swallow. A few are too soft and chocolaty. There are those that are just right as well. They put a smile on your face and fill you full of joy. A cookie can be better or worse than you expect. It doesn’t matter. It is a cookie after all. Everyone loves a cookie. There will always be someone that will enjoy it with you. You just have to find the right person that likes that type.