Why We Need To Take More Risks (Thanks, Walter Mitty)

I saw The Secret Life of Walter Mitty in the theater last night, and walked out lighter than air. There’s something about a movie (or any story, really) where the protagonist overcomes fear by way of ridiculous risk that makes my heart soar. I know what it’s like to be scared of risk.

But I’m not always the best at looking at risk head on and saying, “Alright. It’s go time.” I tend to turn around and bury myself somewhere safe—making tacos, letting the kids watch another cartoon, writing a post no one could disagree with, watching Friends reruns.

This year, I want to get better at staring risk in the face and jumping regardless into the unknown.

There’s a pivotal scene where Walter Mitty declines a ride with a drunk helicopter pilot, but then imagines his love interest serenading him with “Ground control to Major Tom…” This gives him the kick in the pants he needs to jump on the already-airborne aircraft.

After that moment, Walter becomes a bit braver—he skateboards towards a volcano, climbs the Himalayas, and ultimately tells off a jerk-wad of a boss. His willingness to risk failure ultimately completes his story, makes it a story worth telling. It makes for a good movie, anyway.

I’m honestly a bit tired of my excuses for not taking risks.

I’m ready to deal with the consequences of not everyone liking everything I do. I’m willing to try something new and open myself up to admitting defeat if it doesn’t pan out. A good, memorable story is supposed to be polarizing—if everyone agreed with every word of it, saying, “Oh yeah, me too; been there, done that…”—well, what makes it remarkable?

There are seasons when remarkable needs to look like washing dishes and changing diapers, or putting in time at the office and paying off debt. Totally legit.

But there are times when that plotline is playing it too safe, it’s avoiding risk. Storyline Blog