The expression "groundhog day" is now used quite often to describe a life in which one day almost exactly resembles another, with very few new events and faces. This is a life dominated by routine and which seems to have stopped - it is so boring and monotonous.
Where does the expression "groundhog day" come from?
This strange, at first glance, phrase appeared in everyday life after the release in 1993 of the American comedy of the same name directed by Harold Ramis with Andie MacDowell and Bill Murray in the lead roles. The hero of the film "Groundhog Day", TV journalist Phil Connors, with cameraman and assistant Rita, goes to shoot a report in the small town of Punxsutawney in Pennsylvania.
The reportage should be dedicated to the national holiday - Groundhog Day, which really exists and is celebrated in the United States annually on February 2. According to popular belief, on this day the marmot comes out of its burrow and, if the weather is sunny, he sees the shadow it casts. It is believed that this frightens the marmot, and he again hides in a hole - in this case, the winter will last another six weeks. If the weather is cloudy, then the marmot does not see the shadow, and this means that spring will come soon. In honor of the meteorological marmot, it is customary to arrange folk festivals, the so-called festivals.
Such a local holiday was to be filmed by the arrogant and narcissistic Phil Connors. With all his appearance, he shows how he is sickened by this insignificant task, is rude to the film crew, local residents, wants to make a report as soon as possible and leave a small provincial town.
But fate surprises him! Heavy snowfall keeps Phil at Punxsutawney overnight, and when he wakes up the next morning, it's … February 2nd again. This day repeats itself for Phil over and over again. He knows the events of February 2 minute by minute, tries different ways to break out of this temporary ring - everything is useless. The unfortunate journalist cannot even kill himself - after several attempts, he wakes up again and again in his bed and begins to once again live Groundhog Day.
Phil's torment ends only when he changes internally, when he realizes: in order to change your life, you need to change yourself.
How to end Groundhog Day
Actually, this lesson would be nice to learn for those who complain about the eternal "Groundhog Day" in their lives. Reality presents a lot of amazing events every day, but not always a person has enough mental vigilance to discern them behind the whirlwind of routine affairs.
You can stop feeling locked in a loop of time, like the hero of a film, if you learn to find joy in simple everyday things, enjoy good relationships and, most importantly, do not put your problems and ambitions above the needs of others.
If you understand that there are people around who need help, attention and just a positive attitude, life itself will change. It will become brighter, more varied and more enjoyable. It is this idea that the filmmakers of Groundhog Day tried to convey to the audience.
