How Many Lives Would You Live?
I just finished a re-watch of the Stargate SG1 episode "Window of Opportunity", and it got me to thinking about stories where a person relives a single day over and over...
Most of us have imagined living an ideal day—or even an ideal life. Chances are, you've at least once or twice wondered what your ideal day or life would look like, envisioning what you would do, who you'd be, and how it would feel.
But what if we actually had the chance to do it over—to repeat the same day endlessly until we got everything right? Or to relive our lives, or live entirely new ones?
These thoughts go beyond a playful "what if"; they make us consider our choices, our potential, and the meaning we give to our everyday lives. We see this idea explored in various ways: from the “time loops” in Groundhog Day and episodes of shows like Stargate SG-1 and Star Trek, to reincarnation in some spiritual traditions, to modern role-playing games and immersive virtual worlds.
Whether it’s re-living the same day or exploring different lives, each example invites us to ask: If we could do it all over, what would we choose to do differently? And more importantly, how might that change how we live today?
Re-Living the Same Day: Groundhog Day and Stargate's "Window of Opportunity"
The film Groundhog Day has become one of the most iconic explorations of living the same day repeatedly. It still holds up pretty well for a movie that’s over 30 years old.
In the film, Phil Connors (played by Bill Murray), a cynical and self-absorbed weatherman, finds himself trapped in a time loop, reliving the same day in Punxsutawney over and over (the famed location of the Groundhog Day celebrations in Pennsylvania is about a 4 hour drive from where I grew up!).
At first bewildered from the experience of the time loop, Phil soon takes advantage of his unique situation, using his knowledge of each day's events for selfish pursuits. But as time wears on, he discovers that true satisfaction lies beyond self-gratification. Only when he begins to improve himself and bring joy to others does he find fulfillment, mastering skills like playing the piano, deepening his empathy, becoming a charismatic speaker, and developing genuine love for those around him.
We’re never told how many days Phil relives, but we can assume that he spends thousands—or perhaps many tens of thousands—of days learning to appreciate both life’s complexity and the value of connection.
A similar journey unfolds in the Stargate SG-1 episode "Window of Opportunity" (even if you’ve never watched the show, this one episode stands on its own fairly well and is a super fun watch).
In this episode, two characters, Teal'c and Jack O'Neill (played by Christoher Judge and Richard Dean Anderson, respectively), find themselves in a time loop. Like Phil in Groundhog Day, they begin with frustration but soon discover that they can use the repetitive days to develop skills and connect more deeply with others. Eventually, they realize the time loop itself was created by a grieving man who wanted to relive moments with his deceased wife. Teal'c, Jack, and their team help the grieving man to understand that real peace comes from letting go and living in the present.
There are certainly many other great examples of “time loops” being used as a device in writing about concepts of opportunity, reliving a day, and the choices we make. The film Edge of Tomorrow, the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode Cause and Effect, and the film Source Code all come to mind for me, but there are many others.
These stories suggest that while having multiple "do-overs" may seem attractive, it’s ultimately the process of growth, empathy, and connection that brings true transformation. And while it’s fun to think about what we might do if there were no consequences for our actions, the true value of life comes from our relationships and choices in the here and now.
Reincarnation: Repeating Lives and Evolving Souls
The belief in reincarnation presents a similar view on reliving experiences.
This philosophy holds that each lifetime is an opportunity to grow and evolve, often with the goal of moving closer to enlightenment. In some Hindu and Buddhist traditions, reincarnation is the soul’s journey through many lives, each a step toward wisdom, compassion, and self-awareness. While the cycle can feel endless, the ultimate aim is to reach a state of spiritual fulfillment.
This perspective also includes the concept of karma—whereby one’s actions in life shape the quality of future experiences. This parallels the way Phil Connors learns that selfish actions only lead to dissatisfaction, while actions motivated by kindness bring greater peace.
Interestingly, reincarnation bears some resemblance to the ideas of heaven and hell in the Abrahamic religions. Both envision an existence beyond this life where the soul either moves toward a state of harmony or one of suffering, often as a result of moral actions in the present life. While these beliefs vary, they share the idea that every life (or every day, as in Groundhog Day) holds lessons, and that by realizing our interconnectedness, we can find peace and purpose.
Of course, the question remains: do beliefs in life-after-death or reincarnation encourage people to focus on an idealized future rather than the present? Some might say so. But these beliefs can also inspire us to live better now, knowing that each choice matters, shaping our lives and the lives of those around us.
Storytelling, Role-Playing, and Virtual Realities: Exploring Choices and Meaning
Stories themselves often invite us to imagine what we would do if we were someone else, or in different situations. Novels and films expand our empathy, deepening our understanding of what it means to be human. Stories invite us to make connections between our lives and the characters' lives, helping us to see ourselves from new perspectives.
Video games, especially role-playing games (RPGs), offer a modern twist on reliving experiences. In these digital worlds, players have the freedom to try different paths, make alternative decisions, and observe the results. Whether they choose to help a character in need or face a tough enemy, players learn from each choice and gain insight into the kind of person they want to be. This "digital reincarnation" allows for exploration without permanent consequences, yet the most meaningful choices often stem from empathy, courage, and resilience.
Games like Red Dead Redemption 2 allow players to live deeply with a character, experiencing not only the actions but also the consequences of each choice.
Even with the freedom to experiment, players often choose to reflect their own moral frameworks in-game, illustrating that our choices, whether real or virtual, reveal our values and shape our sense of self (I personally tend to play games with the characters mostly making morally good choices—but it can be fun to experiment and see what bad choices do to the character).
With advancements in virtual reality, immersive experiences will soon bring these "re-play" scenarios even closer to real life.
Imagine a VR world where you could relive moments, change decisions, and experiment with different versions of yourself. I could honestly see a near future reality where an AI assistant could practically program a VR experience that would literally let you relive your entire day—perhaps you want to see what it might have been like if you had spoken up, defended yourself, acted in a certain moment, or taken a different path in the day.
We are very close to a much different level of interaction with games, VR environments, and the stories we tell. And these future experiences may also serve to remind us of what truly matters in the real world: the way we treat others, the values we hold, and the growth we achieve along the way.
Living Our Best Lives, Now
Reflecting on the idea of "reliving" our lives, we might just reach a powerful conclusion: instead of waiting for a second chance, why not choose to live the most ideal version of our lives today?
If given the chance to relive a single day, what would you do? Would you finally pursue a passion, reach out to a loved one, or take steps toward a more meaningful purpose? Instead of waiting for an external reset, we can seize each day as a new opportunity to be the person we aspire to be. The "best day" we envision can start now, with actions that bring growth, kindness, and purpose. Or even honestly just a bit more playfulness and excitement, to see where our days take us.
Drawing inspiration from stories, philosophies, and even the virtual worlds of tomorrow, we can realize the possibility of change that lies within us—today and every day.
Our ancestors have pondered these same questions, exploring what it means to become our best selves, whether in this life or the next. As Joseph Campbell, the famed mythologist, said, “We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.”
Each day is a chance to learn, to grow, and to make a meaningful difference.
Our lives, as they are, hold limitless potential for transformation—not by reliving them, but by fully choosing them.