This past week, I fell deep into the world of espionage. From decoding secret messages to outsmarting nefarious agents, I binged spy movies and shows like The Agency, rewatched several Mission Impossible movies, and dove into The November Man and Beirut. All these high-octane, action-packed stories reminded me of a dream I once had: I thought I would have been a great CIA asset. No, seriously.

Back in the day, I flirted with the idea of applying to the CIA. The thrill of espionage, the cloak-and-dagger world, and the chance to use my people-reading skills sounded like a perfect fit. I imagined myself mastering the art of deception, blending into foreign cities, gathering intel that could change the course of history. Of course, life had other plans, and that dream got tucked away.

Now, in my current world of deadlines and meetings, I find my evenings filled with these high-stakes movies, living vicariously through Ethan Hunt’s wild stunts and Peter Devereaux’s shadowy tactics. It’s exhilarating, but there’s also a part of me that wonders what it would have been like to navigate real-life international intrigue. Would I have been a stealthy field agent, or maybe a behind-the-scenes mastermind? Maybe I could’ve been a profiler, cracking open the psyches of some of the world’s most elusive criminals. I mean, I do love reading people, after all.

But for now, I’ll stick to watching spies save the world from my couch. It’s safer that way—no need to worry about rogue assassins chasing me through narrow European streets. And hey, at least I don’t need to break a sweat while I’m at it.

As for my old CIA dream? I’ll leave it to the pros on screen, because while my life is plenty exciting, a little escapism at the end of the day never hurt anyone. Besides, the world of espionage looks like a lot of work—and I have enough of that already!