"Okay campers rise and shine! And don't forget your booties 'cause it's COOOOLD out there!!"
To be honest, I didn't know what greater enlightenment I would attain by paying any closer attention to today, Groundhog Day, over any other day of the year. Nevertheless, I diligently set my alarm for 6 am regretting only that I did not have an "I've got you babe" song to wake to. This was after a night spent catching up on homework and catching up with my sister into the wee hours of the morning. I am very sleep-deprived as I write this on what is.....now....the day AFTER Groundhog Day.
My day started rather mundanely. I followed my usual routine, even putting on a movie while I got ready for school. I had decided to simply observe, and to let the day go where it will, rather than try to force some grand realization. So I went about my normal routine with only the flashes of recollection as to the Groundhog Day significance underlying everything I did. I went to printmaking where we learned a new print process. I met friends for lunch. I drew for 4 hours in my drawing class. Then my plans changed. I had planned on attending another life drawing session (talk about the eternal return...I actually wanted to repeat the last four hours of drawing) after my first class had disbanded. Instead, a friend of mine convinced me to go to my little sisters orchestra concert. Today was a day where everything fell within the same time frame....my class, my sisters concert, a movie invitation, another movie watching invitation. Everyone planned for 7. If I was Bill Murray, and I was forced to repeat today over and over, I wonder if this would be the choice I would have to make again and again. Who do I devote my time to? Wherein lies the greatest experience? How do I live a well-rounded.....profoundly vivid....life?
Now that I reflect upon my day, I can honestly and without question state that it was a beautifully full day. Every second of consciousness, I was moving; I was productive; I had a purpose....even if that purpose was the simple appreciation of another's company. The reason we (or Bill Murray) have to repeat the same action over and over, is to learn from that action. We learn how to be the fullest version of ourselves that we possibly can be, and that person is able to transcend the cycle and move on towards even greater development. If I were compelled to repeat today, it would be that ultimate choice of who to spend my time with that I would be forced to repetitively address. Today's choices seem the best, for they led to a complete and purposeful, moreover, an
enjoyable day. Perhaps my ultimate realization, if you can call it one is that, it is the people that we see and the way we interact with them that changes the day.
