Why You Should Stop Blocking Life’s Pain and Practice These Principles Instead
Lessons from a chronic daydreamer and expert escape artist
I experienced a revelation when I watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty the other day. It all starts with Walter, who works a boring job at an exciting company: LIFE. He processes the photos that cover the front pages of the paper magazines. I used to be compared to Walter by friends who enjoyed the film. And I used to think he was an admirable character until now, after re-watching it. Here’s how Meriam Webster defines his character.
Walter Mitty Syndrome: a commonplace unadventurous person who seeks escape from reality through daydreaming.
Growing up, I endured a dynamic range of environments from being locked away in a small apartment with no sense of personal space, to becoming the red-headed step-child in a step-family of ex-convicts and rowdy ruffians who (emotionally and especially physically) hurt people for their enjoyment.
Unsurprisingly, I grew up harboring an immense imagination that blurred the lines between reality and fiction. Much like how we’re left to question whether certain parts of the movie are happening in Walter Mitty’s head or are truly occurring, I often struggled to decipher where my imagined world ended and the…
