Ground Hog Day

Whenever I see that date on a calendar, I think of the movie of the same name, Ground Hog Day, and it reminds me of my own life. In the movie, Bill Murray, the actor, kept living the same day over and over and over again. Every time he woke up, he was living the same day again. The concept is pretty funny—-except when it happens in real life.

I don't know about you, but I tend to make many of the same mistakes again and again, and again. It's not that I'm unaware of them, but our patterns are so hard to change. I have gone to groups, done a lot of soul searching, read self help books, and REALLY worked hard at changing some of the things I do. And some of it has worked, but sometimes, more often than I like, I find myself doing the same unconstructive thing again, let people get away with things they shouldn't, being too cowardly (myself) to speak up when someone is standing squarely on my toes, or just doing the same things myself. I don't want to. I'm aware, but our old habits die hard, and sometimes I hear my own voice and think, OH NO!!! Not that again. I guess life will be a work in progress til the end.

I suppose we need to be compassionate with ourselves and others, for repeating the same mistakes. (No, a husband who beats you up repeatedly is not suffering from Ground Hog Day, he's a sick person who needs help and you need to get away from. But your allowing him to do so, again and again, and not leaving him, although complicated and due to your own history—-there's a little bit of Ground Hog Day to that).

I'd so much rather make new mistakes, than do the same stupid things again. We probably all do it. But I really don't want to ride into the sunset one day, or be l00 years old, and still be doing the same dumb stuff I did at 20. Personally, I think we should cancel Ground Hog Day. I want a fresh slate, wiped clean of the old mistakes, so I don't repeat them again!!! Today is a new day.  I hope you have a great one!