My "Walter Mitty" Resume
This isn’t a work experience resume, it’s a life resume.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is one of my favorite movies of all time. As I fly through my 20s with the feeling that I’m not living enough, I find myself connecting with the idea of creating an entirely new resume that gave more insight to my life than simply where I spend most of my hours every day. Something that proves to myself that I have lived more than I feel I have.
Walter's Old Resume:
LIFE MAGAZINE - Negative Asset Manager, 16 years. Reference: Sean O'Connell (address upon request)
Walter's New Resume:
One of 3 known non-Navy SEALs to helicopter “free release” in gale-force waters (North Sea).
In a single day: Biked, ran, and long-boarded over 17 kilometers to Eyjafjallajokull volcanic eruption.
Scaled highest peak of Noshaq Mountain (northwestern Afghanistan face)
On Icelandic fishing trawler, earned keep as boatswain (unpaid deckhand) for one day.
I share this idea with Mike Petrucci, who inspired me to put it here instead of keeping it to myself.
I’ll add more as I remember what I’ve done and do new things. The big trips, though, you can watch on The Secret Life of Ethan or on trips.
Jumped out of a plane at 14,000ft. Landed perfectly.
Hiked Volcán de Fuego in Guatemala overnight.
Spent 5 months living in Seoul, South Korea in 2022
Met a group of strangers in a bar who had room for one more person on their upcoming road trip across southern Vietnam and went with them. We’re still friends to this day, and we’ve since met up in London, Seoul, Taiwan, and Germany.
Hitched two 12-hour bus rides from Toulouse, France to Osnabrück, Germany, to see a friend and go to a birthday party in the next town over. I came *this* close to being left in the middle of nowhere when I sprinted off to find a bathroom at a brief stop. I had to bang on the doors to come back on.
In Bali, Indonesia, drove a motorbike up a small mountain in the middle of the night to spend the last of our cash on making a ring. Ended up driving through the rainforest in the rain at 11pm through 4 different towns (and accidentally over a river on a pitch black plank bridge) to find an ATM. This is a favorite story of mine, so ask me about if you meet me.
Went snorkeling with sea turtles and underwater statues off the coast of the Gili Islands.
Spent 2 weeks solo traveling parts of Indonesia, where I jumped from friend group to friend group and discovered how fun solo travel can be.
Took a group of friends scuba diving in a cluster of small islands off the coast of Ko Yao Noi, Thailand, where we also got to swim in an empty lagoon for a bit. I was the only one who knew how to scuba dive, and I had to convey how not to die from the Thai dive master to my friends. It was safe I promise.
Drove 1.5 hours across Jeju island each way in a storm after renting motorbikes for several days after we (6 of us) couldn’t get a rental car. It was everybody’s first time driving a motorbike. Never have I been so scared for my life. Pro tip - dollar store ponchos lose to rainstorms when driving on a bike on the highway for 2 hours.
Watched a friend get scammed with buying weed on Bui Vien Street.
Rode a bike down the slopes of Aliamanu Crater in Hawaii.
Biked part of the Grand Canyon edges.
While pre-gaming outside a 7/11 in Gangnam, made silly faces at a bartender in a third floor window who then invited us up for free drinks and let me bartend shots for my friends birthday.
Took photos for a guy who runs a ramen shop for his dog while I was eating there.
Watched Train to Busan while on a train from Seoul to Busan.
Acted minor/background roles on a few TV shows. You can find me on Amazon Prime and Hulu if you look really hard.
Spent a summer backpacking Southeast Asia and visited Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Singapore.
Booked a one way ticket to Europe for a cheap price and forgot to buy the ticket back. This led to what would have been a week in London turning into me couch surfing Europe until the next cheapest flight left.
Got invited to take photos at Seoul Fashion Week, where one of my friends who tagged along got featured in a Vogue article.
Told what I claim to be the best dad joke of all time on the Jatiluwih Rice Terraces. Again, ask me about this.
Went cliff jumping and water sliding on rocks at the Sekumpul waterfall. Also managed to be the first person there with my impeccable itinerary planning.
Climbed down and back up Kelingking beach. Yes, climbed. It is a vertical climb at several points. I do not recommend doing it more than once, and only if you are going to be down there a long while. And do not plan to swim, you will probably die to those waves. Have lots of water and no baggage. This shit sucked. But the beach is nice.
Took a cruise in HaLong bay for a couple days.
Jumped off a 2 story boat into the Gulf of Thailand and swam to the nearest island while dodging jellyfish.
Did the JoJo pose across several countries.
Been to the top of the tallest building in South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam. This is a thing we do.
Benched 300lbs for 6 reps. Only ~1% of the population can bench 225lbs.