It’s Groundhog Day!
February 5, 2009
Yes boys and girls it’s that time of year again. I know it's February 2nd but I had to wait for the outcome to post this. Doesn’t it seem like we just saw our old buddy Punxsutawney Phil looking for his shadow? And yet, here he is again. And guess what, he saw his shadow and it looks like 6 more weeks of winter. Who knew a groundhog was such a prognosticator? Do you suppose there are other animals out there that can predict the future? I believe that animals have a reactionary defense mechanism that allows them to protect themselves from danger, but to be able to tell us how much longer winter is, well that’s pretty impressive. Especially when the poor little guy is in a box and someone drags him out and decides whether the sun is shinning or not. And by-the-way Phil really didn’t want to come out because he bit Mayor Bloomberg in the process. That should have been enough of a clue that winter is dragging on.
Now having said all of that, I really do enjoy the whole ceremonial event of Groundhog Day. I think it’s fun and if I had the opportunity I would go to the festivities. And of course, one of my favorite movies is Groundhog Day. I like it on so many different levels. But perhaps the main reason is I believe it to be an allegory for life.
When this movie first came out I was working in the world of Blue Suits. (Corporate American for those who never had that wonderful experience.) They will forever be known as “BS”. Isn’t it amazing how some things just name themselves? But I digress. Since I worked in the “Creative Department” we were all considered outsiders by the real BS’s. One of my friends had an office across from mine and I’d walk by and ask how she was and she’d simply reply, “It’s Groundhog Day.” And we all knew what she meant; different day, same BS. I always think of her this time of year.
I can’t even guess how many times I’ve seen this movie over the years and every time I watch it I learn something. The lead character Phil (yes like the Groundhog) starts out as an egocentric womanizer. After he is stuck in Groundhog Day he transforms from egocentric to angry to suicidal to enlightenment. Once Phil realizes that he may be stuck there forever he embraces the situation and learns that only his attitude can change. Isn’t that just like life!
How many times do we wake up day after day and do the same thing because it’s what we know or it’s what makes us comfortable? Even if it makes us miserable, it’s Groundhog Day. What I have started doing in these situations is to ask myself, ok, what am I doing wrong and what am I supposed to learn from this situation? Obviously God is trying to teach me something. The really cool thing about God; I never fail a test I just keep taking it until I pass. So I guess how long I live in Groundhog Day depends on how long it takes me to change my attitude. Usually it involves something like, I am wrong God and you are right. So if you feel you’ve been living in Groundhog Day, hmmm or maybe it’s all just BS! Either way there are only 362 days to figure it out.
February 5, 2009
Yes boys and girls it’s that time of year again. I know it's February 2nd but I had to wait for the outcome to post this. Doesn’t it seem like we just saw our old buddy Punxsutawney Phil looking for his shadow? And yet, here he is again. And guess what, he saw his shadow and it looks like 6 more weeks of winter. Who knew a groundhog was such a prognosticator? Do you suppose there are other animals out there that can predict the future? I believe that animals have a reactionary defense mechanism that allows them to protect themselves from danger, but to be able to tell us how much longer winter is, well that’s pretty impressive. Especially when the poor little guy is in a box and someone drags him out and decides whether the sun is shinning or not. And by-the-way Phil really didn’t want to come out because he bit Mayor Bloomberg in the process. That should have been enough of a clue that winter is dragging on.
Now having said all of that, I really do enjoy the whole ceremonial event of Groundhog Day. I think it’s fun and if I had the opportunity I would go to the festivities. And of course, one of my favorite movies is Groundhog Day. I like it on so many different levels. But perhaps the main reason is I believe it to be an allegory for life.
When this movie first came out I was working in the world of Blue Suits. (Corporate American for those who never had that wonderful experience.) They will forever be known as “BS”. Isn’t it amazing how some things just name themselves? But I digress. Since I worked in the “Creative Department” we were all considered outsiders by the real BS’s. One of my friends had an office across from mine and I’d walk by and ask how she was and she’d simply reply, “It’s Groundhog Day.” And we all knew what she meant; different day, same BS. I always think of her this time of year.
I can’t even guess how many times I’ve seen this movie over the years and every time I watch it I learn something. The lead character Phil (yes like the Groundhog) starts out as an egocentric womanizer. After he is stuck in Groundhog Day he transforms from egocentric to angry to suicidal to enlightenment. Once Phil realizes that he may be stuck there forever he embraces the situation and learns that only his attitude can change. Isn’t that just like life!
How many times do we wake up day after day and do the same thing because it’s what we know or it’s what makes us comfortable? Even if it makes us miserable, it’s Groundhog Day. What I have started doing in these situations is to ask myself, ok, what am I doing wrong and what am I supposed to learn from this situation? Obviously God is trying to teach me something. The really cool thing about God; I never fail a test I just keep taking it until I pass. So I guess how long I live in Groundhog Day depends on how long it takes me to change my attitude. Usually it involves something like, I am wrong God and you are right. So if you feel you’ve been living in Groundhog Day, hmmm or maybe it’s all just BS! Either way there are only 362 days to figure it out.
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