Groundhog Day... new meaning

I don't watch a lot of TV, but yesterday I watched the classic comedy "Groundhog Day" with Bill Murray and I hadn't watched that movie in a long time...

What struck me is that I finally got it! I mean I got something about the movie I didn't get when I was 18.

For those who don't know, the idea is that this arrogant and egocentric weatherman gets stuck in a small town for "Groundhog Day" and relives the same day over and over again. It becomes a nightmare as every day is the same, but he also eventually realizes he can do anything he wants because there is "no tomorrow."

When finally he wakes up to a new day, there's one thing that changed. I mean there's one thing that he did that changed his life and made him awaken to a new day instead of reliving the same day over and over again.

What he did is that he started giving and being of service, and became disillusioned with trying to get things for himself, which got him nowhere (being stuck in this boring town and reliving the same day over and over again).

So what I got from the movie is just basically the hidden moral behind this comedy. How many people are living the same days over and over? Every year is basically the same old story, right?

Same complaints, same problems in relationships, same whining of this "poor me"... reliving the same boring crap over and over.

Being centered on what you want gets you to places sometimes... but it's not to transformation and not to living a "new day" and a "new life."

Giving and caring for others and being of service is ultimately what serves the individual.

And even though Jesus said it and great leaders said it in their own words, you can find that hidden meaning in all sorts of stories, even the not-so-serious movie "Groundhog Day."

So watch the movie again and tell me how that resonates with you...

Comments

[Shayla]

Fred,

I just love that movie. I have pointed out the same thing to my children on more than one occasion. The lesson learned is that when we give service to others we are filled with joy and new life filled with hope. Our scope of vision widens from the myopic to a broader view.

When you serve there are many blessing that flow back to you. However, that isn't the reason to serve. We serve because it is the right thing to do, because we care for others and because the Savior set the example for us to follow.

This last weekend our family and 10 other families cleaned up a back yard for a family who is experiencing great hardship, their dad is in a nursing home and it doesn’t look favorable for a recovery. They have been so consumed with his illness, the mom trying to work and pay the bill, care for her husband, the kids etc. they are just overwhelmed. So with the work crew of volunteers my husband put together we reclaimed her back yard and now it is manageable, livable and beautiful.

Our family motto is “Happy to Serve”. What a great legacy my children will pass on to their children. Joy is contagious, spread it around!

Shayla

[Roger Haeske]

Hi Fred,

Great post. I love Groundhog Day and have seen it many times myself.

I've actually written a personal development article called "The Groundhog Day Technique. Maybe you and your readers would be interested in putting it into use your lives.

http://www.superbeing.com/groundhogday.htm

Roger