"Every man casts a shadow; not his body only, but his imperfectly mingled spirit."  
                                              ~ Henry David Thoreau

Shadows play and dance. They stretch and mingle; catching light ~ bouncing laughter. Shadows, to me, resemble a sort of freedom of spirit. Shadows sometimes have a mind of their own. Perhaps this is why i love them so.

Today, in the United States and Canada, we celebrate Groundhog Day. What a quirky little tradition! It's one steeped in folklore. A holiday of childhood mittens and snowboots. A holiday that really is no holiday other than giving communities the chance to gather and talk of weather, hope, and patience during this... the longest winter month. It has always seemed to be a day of playfulness.

As the story goes, a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this very day! If it fails to see its shadow it will leave its home signifying that Spring is just around the corner. If the groundhog sees its shadow; however, it scurries back in its burrow to wait out six more weeks of Winter.

Play along with me today, celebrating shadows on this Groundhog Day. Show me your shadow, whether it will be an early Spring or a long Winter, let your shadow self play and rejoice in the sun today.