The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013), portrayed and directed by Ben Stiller and an update of the old Danny Kaye version (inspired by James Thurber’s 1941 book of the same title), delivered a timeless message. Is the life we want to live only alive in our imagination and do we escape to our ‘what if’, never-to-be-fulfilled exciting adventure just while day dreaming? For many the fantasy is often better than the reality and the grass is always greener, but for some, the fantasy is all that there is, and that is the place we find Walter. There indeed, until he is inspired to step out of his box and accidentally travel far and wide, while at the same time, so very close and within.

Although cheesy in its delivery, and probably in my description, I did enjoy the scenery and the ride, especially the one Mitty took cross country and downhill on a skateboard. It made me almost envious that I had never learned to do that, and I then started to wonder what I could do that I haven’t done up until now. Such is the film’s intention no doubt – for us to integrate colour into our lives and for it to become at least part of our reality, creating tone and a more interesting depth of field. For us to be able to say at the end of our lives that we lived the one we wanted to, as much as we could, with no regrets from being restricted by fear; that we made the most of this lifetime, with the resources we managed to ascertain, and the time we were blessed to have.

Do you feel you live in the grey areas of existence yet dream in colour? Is your life made up of a series of self-inflicted limitations that keep you safe and secure yet deeply and justly unfulfilled. Has your life slipped into disappointing monotony giving you a rumbling and continuous feeling that you are missing out? Are you living the life you really want to? Are you being true to yourself and those close to you? And can you find it in yourself to ensure at least some captivating and inspiring sunrises and sunsets on your horizon for 2014?

Rowena J Ronson