Silly Groundhog...Shadows are not scary.

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather,

always bring your own sunshine." -Anthony J. D'Angelo

Groundhog Day all centers on a rodent, a hole and how said rodent reacts to seeing its own shadow. 

The coming observation got me to thinking about shadows, even our own shadows, and why they might convince a rodent or a human that we were not done with the worst of the winters of our lives.  What is it in a shadow that can be that dark and scary?  After-all, we know they appear, and especially when there's light around.  But unlike our own clear reflection in a mirror or pond, shadows don't have definition and detail.

They are only the outlines of an image, and if we didn't know where they came from, we might think they are a monster.

I've been thinking that the literal shadow which scares the rodent enough to convince him it's not the time to come out of his hole can be much like the figurative shadows which can haunt us into believing we need to stay 'holed up' as well. Those opaque images that seem to appear whenever we shine the light of consideration of opportunity, or when we drag out an issue too long in the basement of our soul.  Unlike Mr. Punxsutawney Phil, we might decide to descend them for much more than weeks, where they are potentially forever forgotten, and never revealed.  There, they remain only shadows. Not allowed to be drawn out and developed into something more - something real.

So perhaps we should take a tip from Phil, and be more gentle about how we let our shadows emerge.  

Rather than allow some harsh spotlight to blow up the shadow, just rely on the natural light that surrounds you to bring it out.  And rather than see our shadows as a scary, unknown enemies - make friends with your shadows, because they are a reflection of everything you are.

Don't be a silly Rodent and run from what you know.  

Look it in the eye and make shadow puppets instead.

Cheers.