Lately I have been thinking about the movie Groundhog Day, a 1993 film starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell. I decided to give it a watch again recently, and I found that it holds some relevance to my own experiences.
The story follows the character of Phil Connors (Murray), a TV news reporter who is sent to cover the annual Groundhog Day celebration in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where the groundhog comes out on Feb. 2 to find out if it sees its shadow — and if it does that means six more weeks of winter.
This is Phil’s fourth year in a row covering the event, and his heart just isn’t in it anymore. He’s also rude and self-centered, constantly making snide remarks and having an inflated opinion of himself. It seems that Phil’s life is going nowhere.
The next morning, Phil wakes up to discover it is Groundhog Day again, with everything playing out the exact same way, apart from any changes Phil makes. Every day at 6 a.m., everything resets. No explanation is ever given for how or why this happens.
Over the course of the movie, Phil reacts in a variety of ways to his odd situation, ranging from confusion, to consequence-free debauchery, to suicidal despair, to seeking personal improvement and fulfilment. Along the way, Phil is driven by his twofold quest of escaping the time loop and winning the affection of his co-worker Rita (MacDowell).
Despite having seen it before, the humour in the movie still made me laugh. However, what really appeals to me are the poignant and thought-provoking aspects of the premise.
At times, we can feel like our lives are going in circles; we are unhappy with ourselves, and it can feel like there is no way out. Being stuck in a Groundhog Day loop could be a blessing in some ways since you would have as many do-overs as you need to get things right. On the other hand, waking up at 6 a.m. to an alarm clock radio playing the same song every single day would be utter hell. Yet the question is irrelevant since none of us will have this blessing/curse. Time keeps travelling on, and we always have to live with the consequences of yesterday.
However you choose to explain the time loop, at its core, Groundhog Day is a metaphor about breaking habits and taking charge of your own fate. Despite appearances, we are not doomed to go around in circles forever, and though it may take lots of time and effort, it is possible to get out of the rut you may find yourself in, which is an encouraging thought.
So, with the real Groundhog Day approaching, I recommend giving  Groundhog Day a watch again, or for the first time, as the case may be. We could be in for six more weeks/months/years/however long of winter, yet no matter what, spring comes for all of us eventually.
