Stuck

Groundhog Day is a special movie because you can keep coming back to it when you are stuck in those ruts and feeling numb to the world. Although cliche, people are creatures habit, and the more we think things change, the more things do in fact stay the same. We get into the same habits, make the same promises, react the same way to situations, always say this will be the time we change and this will be the turning point.

While we neatly see in 100 minutes the transformation of Phil Connors from a selfish and egotistical person seeking a life of pleasure to a generous and caring person who cultivates moral and intellectual virtues- our lives are not so simple. We have plenty of excuses not to change, not to make that step, and we fill our lives with unimportant and obscure activities in order to avoid the realities which are occurring around us. We do have those wake up calls, but it only is a matter of time before we forget those calls to greatness. While Phil is stuck in the same place and he sees his attitude and life change, we are free to go anywhere we want but see our attitudes and lives stay the same. Of course factors in our life change, friends, events, age, what we know, but our attitudes and habits seem to remain unchangeable.

I continue to use the word "we", but perhaps "I" is more appropriate, as I can't guarantee this is true for everyone, but it seems to be typical in my experience. Corporate America can do that, same desk, same people, same problems, same time, same route home, same everything. While my experience has been limited so far, I can't imagine working at the same desk for decades doing the same thing. Perhaps it is just the inner George Bailey talking, saying I'm going to "See the World", and not wanting to work in that shabby little office known as the Bailey Building and Loan.

Although it seems we are reliving the same day over and over, change is achievable even if it is abbreviated. The trick seems to be turning our temporary desire to improving ourselves to the "good Phil" into a constant desire for improvement.

Quote of the day
Phil: What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was exactly the same and nothing you did mattered?
Ralph: That about sums it up for me

This quote is VERY funny, but also gives the viewer an opportunity to see it is not just Phil Conners that experiences this feeling, but all of us do.