Spring is Coming

Photo by macieklew

Yesterday was February 2nd – Groundhog Day. And spring is coming — sooner or later. Hey, there was frost on the car this morning.

In an earlier post, I said that Peter Paul & Mary’s 1988 Holiday Concert is a favorite holiday tradition for me. Similarly, I like to watch the Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell film Groundhog Day on Groundhog Day. And I did.

The film is about a man who finds himself – about a new beginning. Yesterday, February 2nd, 2008, Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, just as the rodent did – many times – in the film. In the film, it was up to Phil Connors to make his own spring. And he did.

It’s like another of my favorite films, Shipping News. Here, Quoyle (of no given name) must rebuild himself. Another new beginning. Another man who must make his own spring.

In both films, spring is used as a metaphor for a fresh start.

That’s what I’m working to do. I need to make my own spring.

I started three blogs recently – this one among them. Then I encountered a period when I had difficulty finding time to work on them.

I have a very good friend who is dealing with dementia issues. As well, a doctor determined that he had basal cell carcinoma on the side of his nose – just near the corner of his right eye. This discovery precipitated a series of doctor visits, including Mohs surgery, and cosmetic repair surgery, and follow up visits.

Some of those visits were difficult – waiting for hours can be excruciating. But the surgery site is now healing nicely – and quickly.

With my friend’s healing under way, I need to get back to making my own spring. I need to get back to the resolutions I made at the New Year.

Leo Babauta, in his new blog, Write to Done, in a post titled “10 Steps to Create the Habit of Writing,” observes: “If you struggle to get in enough time for writing, or keep putting it off, or can never seem to write when you planned to write [...]“

The man is spying on me! I … I … I … I am appalled! (I’m trying to evoke Hermione Gingold in Music Man – when she was confronting Marian, the librarian, about her “smutty books.”)

Actually, this “time for writing” issue is common among writers – perhaps nearly all writers – and Leo is a writer. Without using spy techniques or equipment, the man knows exactly what I’m dealing with.

So this spring – and spring must be when I make it – I am going to work to recommit myself to following, as best I can, Leo’s counsel – and his excellent role model – and to creating, as best I can, the “Habit of Writing.”