Sometimes, it takes something unexpected to awaken us. Routine can be a quiet enemy – if life is reasonably comfortable, where’s the real incentive to change? We’re all guilty of coasting at times, taking the path of least resistance as we meander through our days. But over time, that complacency changes us. We become less curious, less adventurous, until something reminds us there’s more out there, not just to dream about, but to experience.
For us, that wake-up call came from an unlikely place: a Friday night film. We’ve always been drawn to cinema, often opting for a movie over a book, even if it’s one we’re not particularly excited about (that ‘path of least resistance’ thing at work again). The Secret Life of Walter Mitty was one of those casual choices – a “let’s give it a go” film that ended up punching well above its weight, leaving a lasting impact.
Based on James Thurber’s classic short story, the film follows Walter, a mild-mannered magazine photo editor who spends his days lost in elaborate daydreams, working at LIFE magazine while secretly longing for adventure. It’s a feeling many of us can relate to – stuck in jobs that are comfortable but perhaps uninspiring, telling ourselves we’ll travel ‘one day’ when the timing is right. The story is a reminder that the right time never just appears, and that change begins the moment you stop hesitating and start saying ‘yes’ to the unknown.
Many people dream of travelling but think they’ve missed their chance. The truth is, whatever age you are there’s always an opportunity to redefine your life. It isn’t just for fresh-faced university graduates on a gap year, or for retirees with financial security free from the constraints of employment – it’s for anyone willing to take the leap.
To us, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty was more than just a movie – it was a call to action. It encouraged us to stop living in our heads and instead plan to experience the world firsthand. We’re fortunate that our work only requires a laptop and an internet connection, technically making location unimportant, but then we realised that if we can work from anywhere, why don’t we?
So if you’ve been waiting for a sign to book that trip, start that remote career, or take a leap into the unknown – perhaps this is it. For us, it starts in Spain. Where will it start for you?
“To see the world, things dangerous to come to, to see behind walls, draw closer, to find each other and to feel. That is the purpose of life.”
James Thurber, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
If reinvention were a sport, I’d have a gold medal. Former chef / hotel manager, now designing websites and taking the odd photograph. Currently plotting a grand escape as a digital nomad.
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