This trailer always gives goosebumps, both because of the soundtrack (“Dirty Paws” by Of Monsters and Men) and because of Walter’s slow development from office dreamer to world adventurer.  The instant I first saw this trailer that The Secret Life of Walter Mitty would either become one of my favorite movies or else be a total flop in which only the good bits made it to the trailer.  Happily, the movie was the former!  I’ve seen it twice now, and both times I turned to the person watching with me so we could stare at each other with swimmy eyes and say, “Oh my–that was–let’s go somewhere or do something.”

“Life is about courage and going into the unknown.”

What makes the movie especially wonderful is that while it exults in travel and adventure, it never denigrates a working life.  In fact, it is only by country-hopping that Walter learns satisfaction in his normal life.  If life is about courage and going into the unknown, that applies to jumping out of helicopters or standing up to your jerk boss or telling someone you love them.  Seeing a new world is a beautiful experience, and sometimes what it reveals is the beauty of our current space.

Love love love.  I cannot recommend The Secret Life of Walter Mitty highly enough.

Although my passion is primarily about traveling outside of the United States, HeyUSA–an internet series in which Grace Helbig and Mamrie Hart travel around ‘Murica–may have changed my mind.  They are two of the funniest people I’ve ever had the pleasure to experience, and I’ll be honest–I could do with more travel shows making me choke on my own laughter.  The two besties travel through Alaska, Louisville, Texas, New Orleans, Provincetown, Arizona, Portland, and Los Angeles, showing off the best, the worst, and the weird in each place.  I’m hard pressed to think of anything that better conveys the joy of traveling better than Grace and Mamrie.