The 1993 smash movie hit Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray is comprised of the same day (Groundhog Day) being looped or repeated with no consequences for what happened that day because the next morning begins a “new”/same day regardless of the “previous” day’s actions.
As many of us would probably do, Phil Connors, the weatherman sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania to cover the annual Groundhog Day, misbehaves doing and attempting several wicked actions including binge drinking and suicide. What did Phil have to lose? The next morning all would be erased from the previous day to do over another day.
An opportunity to do good
Ah, and then the moral of the story becomes evident. Phil, a real shit in his past life, realizes he has the opportunity to do good with this repeated day, a microcosm of his future life’s possibilities.
It appears that he is doomed to this looping life, but he vows to make each day count for the good of all. And then, just like the kiss that transformed the frog into a handsome prince, Phil one morning awakes to the girl of his dreams in his bed breaking the spell of the groundhog.
Watch out now; here comes the boomerang!
Have you ever said, “I wish that I could do that over again?” Whether it is an errant drive on the golf course pleading for a mulligan or the realization that you initially chose the wrong career path accumulating debt and angst – no matter. You might say that Phil Connor was lucky to have so many chances to have a do-over. Certainly, we can’t change the past, but like Phil, we can change the future.
A study was done of older people with one of the questions being what do you regret about your life. The analysts were expecting to hear stories of past actions that did not turn out well at all. They were surprised that these seniors overwhelmingly regretted what they had NOT done. Apparently, the expression “don’t cry over spilled milk” was not lost on these people. They knew full well that they could not change the past.
Live a better future
But it’s a new day. What’s on your bucket list? Why wait to have this common regret until it is too late to do something about it? People are living longer, healthier lives nowadays. The only thing that Phil Connors could do about his regretful past life is to live a better future life. It is never too late to make a change that will do you and others good.
Maybe you had hate in your heart for others. Do something about it now. God forgives when we repent and resolve to do better. I love the statement: I am sorry; I made a mistake; I will try not to let it happen again. But why dwell on the past except for the resolution to do better in the future? Our Black and White like You and Me movement allows us to change the future.
Let’s do things over but in the right way. If the despicable Phil Connors could do it, why can’t we?
Photo Credit: Corbis. Punxsutawney, PA, February 2, 1963
