Life sometimes feels like the movie Groundhog Day. I hang in there and hope for the best. However, until I change something, the same scene plays again and again.
Albert Einstein called it insanity, doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.
Like when both our teens started driving within a month of each other. I reminded them several times each day to drive carefully, told stories about reckless driving and losing their licenses, and warned them about speed traps and congested traffic.
After weeks of insanity, I did something different. Each morning when I heard them pull out of our driveway, I’d say what a friend suggested, “What’s going to happen is going to happen anyway.” This reminder gave me peace of mind, as well as permission to feel less responsible for their choices on the road.
When my family of origin went crazy deliberating over whose fault it was, “it” being an issue in the household , I tried to figure it out myself, interpreted, and refereed. That was, until I had a dream where I saw myself calmly walk out of a courtroom, close the tall wooden doors behind me, and leave them to decide.
During waking hours, I did something different. I practiced walking away when discussions escalated, which distanced me from the debates.
And when I recently mulled over a possible negative outcome that’s happened before, I remembered a line from a Robert Frost poem, “Our very life depends on everything’s recurring till we answer from within.”
Putting worry aside, I did something different. I thought about the good that might come from the outcome, and how to take care of myself and others if it happens.
What keeps repeating in your life? Any idea what you can do differently?
WRite wHere I’m supposed to be – When we want different results, we have to practice different actions.
On the lighter side: Author and friend Kristi Butler gave permission to share her groundhog photo. She’s written Gracie’s Groundhog Day Surprise and Grover Groundhog Is Not Hibernating This Christmas! Check out Kristi’s website @ Gracie’s Grounds.
You amaze me! My thoughts certainly do not go to Robert Frost poems as I am doing yard work. But I won\’t share what my mind goes to either. Not pretty!
: ) Yeah, I can\’t share all my yard work thoughts … just that one.
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Sue Clifton Stayton one of our all time favorite movies!!!! It makes such a statement of how we should live.
15 hours ago · Like
Kim Henson Doesn\’t it though? Maybe I need to watch it daily.
15 hours ago · Like
Rita Nein Kim, I love this~I relate well, I think I will watch the movie again. I remember saying this a few weeks ago, that I feel like my life is like the Ground hod day movie…LOL…
13 hours ago · Like
Kim Henson Hey Rita, I think I need to watch it again also. Maybe that would help me to keep from doing the same thing over and over and over …13 hours ago · Like
Linda Saelg Calvanico reminds of the Albert Einstein quote: \”Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results\”
9 hours ago · Like
Kim Henson Linda, I love that quote.
9 hours ago · Like
I loved your article. It made me smile and think – at the same time. Can\’t wait to read more.
Thanks, Cynthia.
Kim, I love your post! I think we all have our own Groundhog Day scenarios. And hopefully we learn from them and grow. Thanks for sharing some groundhoggy love!!
Thanks YOU for sharing groundhog love, Kristi. It\’s a pleasure to have you and your books on Well-Written Days.