Groundhog Day!!!

The plot is simple. A haughty weatherman finds himself stuck in a small town, re-living the same horrendous day over and over again. It is definitely a classic, and Bill Murray is certainly hilarious, but is there more to the tale? Forgive my obsession with hidden messages, but a favored English professor of mine turned it on and I have failed to find the “off” switch. Is Harold Ramis (the director) simply telling an ironic tale of a morose man stuck in his proverbial hell, a quaint town worlds away from the big city celebrity he believes himself to be? Or is this story more representative of the greater population during this time of year? Okay, enough of the rhetorical questions-really, the purpose in discussing this movie was not simply because tomorrow is groundhog’s day, and this frigid country is desperately waiting to see if the groundhog sees his shadow, but rather to address something the vast majority of us are guilty of this time of year: succumbing to the winter blahs…February tends to be, at least for me, the beginning of decreased productivity, and if I am not careful, a time where I fall into the dreaded rut. New Years resolutions have long since faded away, holiday cheer is but a distant memory and Christmas gifts have lost their novelty. The cold weather brings frustration instead of memories and hot chocolate, and we are constantly looking for the first signs of spring. Even this morning my boys, ages 4 and 5, were ready to wear shorts because “it is February now and that means spring is coming!” Not quite. And unlike Phil, (Murray’s character) we don’t have the luxury of a “redo” until we get it right. So how do we keep ourselves on task until spring brings her warmth and beauty? 1. Create a goal. I know; the obvious. But seriously, write it down. Tape it to your mirror, and force yourself to be accountable. If you have a tendency to let things fall through the cracks, start small. Read a chapter a day of a book or walk 2 days a week for a month. Slowly increase these goals. 2. Do something for someone else every day. Even if it is pouring a cup of coffee for your husband or your roommate, it will make them feel good and make you feel good in the process! 3. Eat cleaner. Limit refined carbs and fatty foods and try and eat as fresh and pesticide/additive free as possible. It helps energy levels immensely. 4. Refresh your surroundings. Spring cleaning is typically the time when we get changes in our homes, but you will be pleasantly surprised at the great discounts you can get this time of year. And clean out the clutter! Seriously, get an honest friend to question your stuff. It is hard to hear, and hard to do, but let me tell you-once have completed an overhaul, it is so much easier to keep house! (Clean house is a great inspiration for this too!) 5. Last but not least, find someone who will hold you accountable! A KIND friend will help make this process fun, and more likely that you will be successful through spring. Ok campers, Rise and Shine, and don’t forget your booties because its coooolllddd out there today! (but remember, spring is just around the cornerJ)