“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'Wow! What a Ride!’” ~ Hunter S. Thompson
In the 2013 film “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty,” a seemingly ordinary man finds extraordinary inspiration in a simple motto: “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.” This quote, adopted by the fictional LIFE magazine, serves as a guiding star for Walter Mitty, and it offers a powerful message for us all.
Let’s peel back the layers of this cinematic onion and see what truths it reveals about the human condition.
First off, “to see the world.” It’s not about racking up passport stamps or Instagram-worthy moments. It’s about expanding the borders of your mind, pushing past the comfortable confines of your daily routine. When was the last time you truly saw your world? Not just looked at it, but really saw it? The barista’s genuine smile, the intricate dance of leaves in the wind, the unspoken depths of love in a mother’s eyes?
But life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, is it? That’s where “things dangerous to come to” enters the picture. It’s acknowledging that growth often wears the mask of discomfort. It’s that presentation that makes your palms sweat, the conversation you’ve been avoiding, the new idea you’ve been reluctant to explore. What dangerous thing are you circling, knowing deep down it’s exactly where you need to go?
“To see behind walls” challenges us to look beyond surface appearances and easy assumptions. It’s an invitation to seek deeper truths and hidden perspectives, to question what we think we know. In a world of clickbait headlines and surface-level interactions, it’s a call to dig deeper, to question, to understand. What walls have you accepted in your life without ever peeking behind them?
Now, “draw closer, to find each other”—that’s where the real magic happens. In an age where we’re more connected yet lonelier than ever, these words remind us of our fundamental need for genuine human connection. It’s not about accumulating followers; it’s about fostering relationships that matter. When was the last time you truly allowed someone to see you, flaws and all?
And finally, “to feel.” In a world that often prioritizes logic and rationality, this is a powerful reminder of our true nature. Life isn’t simply about thinking and doing; it’s about feeling. Joy, pain, love, fear—the whole messy, beautiful spectrum of human emotion. Are you allowing yourself to fully feel, or are you numbing yourself to avoid discomfort?
This isn’t just a movie quote; it’s a wake-up call. It’s challenging us to stop sleepwalking through life, to burst out of our cocoons of comfort and routine. It’s urging us to embrace the full spectrum of human experience—the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
So, what’s it going to be? Will you continue to watch life pass by from the sidelines, or will you heed this call to adventure? Will you settle for a life half-lived, or will you embrace the challenge to see, to seek, to connect, and to feel?
Remember, life isn’t a spectator sport. It’s not about finding yourself; it’s about creating yourself. So go ahead, take that leap. See the world with fresh eyes. Face your fears. Look beyond the obvious. Connect deeply. Feel intensely.
After all, isn’t that the purpose of life?
Stay passionate!
Yup! And sometimes it’s challenging to do so in context of an emerging relationship if the other party isn’t ready or interested in participating in that exploration
Wow! My fave blog yet! Sharing for sure!