We are in the midst of what hubby has been referring to as an old fashioned winter. The kind of harsh winters that were pretty much standard while we were growing up, but scarcer as we’ve aged. Perhaps we’ve gone soft, because this winter is getting to me and feeling very much like Phil Connors forecast: “it’s gonna be cold, it’s gonna be gray, and it’s going to last you the rest of your life.” 😲

I can’t possibly be the only one who receives perpetual wisdom from the movie Groundhog Day, can I? I’ve written of it here , here, and here, and it appears that it’s still got more to offer me, because in the midst of my bituva crisis wondering what gets me out of bed each day and why it even matters that I keep on keeping on, I was reminded of another workable life lesson from a film that I picked up from watching Phil living Groundhog Day on a loop:

There may be some things you can’t change. But when you make up your mind to step up and take ownership of and responsibility for the things you CAN change, things WILL change.

-workable life lesson from a film learned by LA Holmberg through the movie Groundhog Day

In a nutshell, when Phil begins to take in hand the matters that he has full control of changing (learning new skills, showing interest in and connecting with others, opening his heart and mind in areas he’d long kept closed, looking for the bigger picture, and basically just summoning the courage to look inside himself, that he may see outside of himself) the world around him begins its subtle shift, gradually reshaping itself and evolving into a new day.

While Phil could not change Groundhog Day into a new day simply by willing it, in bending his perception, interpretation, and expectation of himself, he would eventually bend himself- allowing the day to change on its own. (longtime readers know I will always get a Matrix spoon bending analogy in where I can!)

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been in dire need of this reminder; the kindly thwack from the universe that bending the spoon is impossible.

Only ourselves can we bend.

And while we may sometimes find ourselves essentially in hibernation mode rather than a place of mental preparedness to step up and take action when our personal groundhog day first shows itself, past experience has shown me repeatedly that “winter” is a temporary state of being.

The day will come when we each stand up, shake the snow off our rested bodies, and blaze another trail.

Exactly when we’re meant to.

Happy trails, Phil.