Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day. The day my parents got married and the day they would have celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary. I just read a friends blog about the meaning of Groundhog Day and the notion of do-overs. I loved the idea of exploring do-overs—especially on such a personally special day.

I wonder if my dad is deep in thought of all the things he would have done over with my mom now that she is gone. We've all had our "do-over" thoughts, whether the people who are apart of our new script are alive or not.

The good news is life is full of do-overs. It's just a matter of how willing we are to opening our hearts and minds to it.

I personally get a do-over every day. Each time I wield my brush and bring it to canvas I am given the gift of my intentions. Is this my truest expression or is the painting evolving the way I had hoped? Does the piece convey my deepest expression? If not, I simply give myself of a do-over. The rewards can be quiet fulfilling—even if I'm on my 100th take!

I'd like to think my parents celebrated each anniversary with the same approach—a do-over for all that may or may not have gone the way they had hoped from the year prior. I hope that's true anyway. Do-overs should be like little post-it notes we hand out when the situation merits it. "Oh, I'm so sorry I didn't mean to offend. Here take my do-over post-it." Now we both feel better.