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Every year, when the weather gets cold, bears hibernate, heating bills skyrocket, and we all wait in anticipation for one particular animal to tell us our climate-based fate for the rest of February and the month of March – the groundhog.  If the prized groundhog doesn’t see his own shadow, springtime is near and one thinks about unpacking the Bermuda shorts from the cellar. If the groundhog sees his shadow, we are doomed to six more weeks of arctic conditions. Through universal superstition, we have hinged our seasonal happiness on the reaction of an animal.
 
Well, this year, he saw his shadow, and that means I need to keep my hoodies on heavy rotation. The best part about Groundhog Day is not the actual day, nor is it the groundhog, but the reminder of the great movie classic starring Bill Murray, aptly titled “Groundhog Day.” In this movie, Bill Murray gets caught up in supernatural phenomena where he ends up restlessly reliving the same day, Groundhog Day, over and over again. Considering that Bill Murray is one of my favorite actors, I have seen this movie many times. But every time I watch it, I wonder to myself, ‘If I had to relive one day over and over again, what day would I pick?’
 
After much self analysis and deep thought, I’ve come to the conclusion that the only day in which perpetual repetition would be tolerable is Super Bowl Sunday.  What better way to spend the rest of one’s life than an eternity full of hoagie sandwiches, chicken wings, nacho parties, the most coveted event from the world’s greatest sport, and awesome commercials. The downside would hinge on the fact that I would literally watch the same game over and over again, but I can always change my actions each day. 
 
The first day, watch the great game with my friends. The next day, watch it with my family. The third day, watch it with complete strangers. The fourth day, drive to the Super Bowl and try to sneak in – no need driving back, I would just wake up back in my bed the next morning for the next adventure. My neurotic mind hasn’t worked out the particulars, and there are many questions to consider.  Will I gain weight from days of football food?  Do I go broke due to never working, considering the day is a Sunday? But, I guess I’ll always have a place to live, since rent will never be due.
 
Reliving the same day could actually be educational. Maybe it could teach us to cherish the days of the week we dread. I am pretty sure there would come a point in the mania of repetition when I would long for the dreaded Monday morning and all its workday drudgery.
 
Instead of having to go through a “Groundhog Day” experience, we can stop living for the weekend and start cherishing any day in the week. Honestly, any day that ends with a “y” in which I rise out of bed is a great day, no matter what the circumstance.