A stream of consciousness for Groundhog Day
What would you love if you weren't afraid?
Tomorrow, err today
the day that this post goes live
it’s Groundhog Day
When we learn if we’re getting early spring or six more weekends
based on whether a groundhog could or could not see its shadow
a groundhog named Phil
full name Punxsatawney Phill
(wow that’s a mouthful)
I remember in college seeing ads for a show coming soon to Broadway
Groundhog Day
It had one dude looking smug
and he’s repeated all over the poster in layers
in all these different colors
and a woman in a winter puffer jacket, jeans, and fluffy looking ugg boots
in all these different colors
and not a single groundhog in sight
I didn’t get it
I eventually got a ticket
and wow
that story rocked me
Seeing this obnoxious, cocky weather man so miffed seeing locals get excited over
whether a groundhog
could or could not see its shadow
And then getting stuck on that day
waking up having to relive it on repeat
first pissed at his predicament
then bored enough he starts just letting whatever happens happen
living up every incantation and permutation his life can take in that town
and at some point
he starts changing
seeing people for people
taking the time to hear their stories and starting to want to do things
not because it needs to be one way
but because it makes someone happy
makes people happy
he starts to see how
if he had his time again
he’d do things differently
how he’d see people differently
see people differently
and cherish every moment of it.
I left that theater in awe
and started telling everyone they needed to see that show
and I remember my confusion when someone asked “Is that based on the movie with Bill Murray?”
and I had no clue
apparently it’s a really famous movie too
I wouldn’t know
I still haven’t watched it
But I did see the musical version of it three times
and once in London
(worth it)
Telling a story can feel so hard.
(and it is)
Writing a new post is a work of mental fortitude
trying to tame the negative voice in the back of your mind
taunting you
urging you to take a break.
Why force out a thought when you could get a quick dopamine hit
from the bright hues and dances and memes that can roar to life in a millisecond from the bright, light-emitting blobs of our phones.
The voice taunting you to break out of flow
instead of writing what you think
trying to push you to write what you know
what you know will sound polished
and proper
and wrapped in a perfect bow
in hopes of heaps and heaps of external praise
and validation
But sometimes you need to just write
and refuse to let yourself stop
and let what gets created come into being
to breath in and let that prose roar to life
with its baggage and all in tow
It can be pretty beautiful.
Yesterday I saw a new show
I Love You So Much I Could Die
and I as looked at its poster
all I could first joke to myself was
did they intentionally set the design so the word “OUCHIE” would appear in the corner?
haha
(I really hope it was intentional)
After I laughed I started to really think about the title
like really think about it
about what that sensation must feel like
to love that deeply
and to take one’s inner fears and love and showcase it to the world
so brightly and openly
it sounds scary as fuck
fuck
I think it’s one of the most beautiful things you can do
to love so fervently
so deeply
so openly
and bring it to the world
and deepen your connection to it at the same time
As we listened to Microsoft David retell a story from the show
on a bare set
bathed in the stage lights
that slowly went to rest
and set
leaving us
a community of individuals
in the darkness
watching someone share their love and loss
under the single light of a table lamp by her side
telling her stories
not story
stories
in the form that made the most sense of them
with the aid of a text-to-speech generator and guitar
bravely putting to words and voice their meaning
sharing her love
a love worth dying for.
I really enjoy teading!!
Bravo Will! Me gusta mucho leer lo que escribes