1. Sometimes there is nothing to it but to do it. It’s so easy to get caught up in the idea that you simply can’t do something-that if you try you will fail, so why even bother? This feeling almost never fails when I am attempting to top out on a bouldering problem and the next moves seems so far out of my reach and I suddenly feel like I’m going to fall. But more often than not I simply have to try, and I realize I can do it. In fact, at times its actually pretty easy, the only thing against me was my own doubt.
2. You can’t judge someone’s skills by their looks. The strong-looking buff guys are not necessarily going to be the best climbers. It takes more than raw strength. It is a lot of thinking, technical movements, and fancy foot working to climb.
Just as this young girl, Ashima Shiraishi. One of the best climbers in the world, and she's only 15!
3. Just because it looks impossible doesn’t mean it is. That is one of the beauties of climbing. To look back at where you once were, to look back at how far the ground is and knowing that you made your way up, you went against gravity.
4. Keep calm. The best climbers do not successfully make moves out of fear of falling; they make the moves because they are calm and collected and believe they can do it. And even if they do fall they can still compose themselves afterwards. It’s all part of the sport.
5. Anyone can become an athlete. This isn’t to say any couch potato can simply get off their ass and be a good climber. It does take practice and dedication; but, anyone who truly wants it can learn to climb, it's not just for the elite.
6. There are always boundaries to be pushed, and eventually broken. Even if you think you have peaked, you haven’t. You can always improve in way or another, and you can always find a new challenge for yourself.
7. You are capable of more than you may initially believe. This sort of ties in to #3-but it's one of the greatest lessons I’ve learned from picking up rock climbing. I may not be the best climber but I can climb routes that used to look down right impossible for me to pull of. So now when seeing something new or facing a challenge instead of immediately thinking “I can't do that” I think to myself “Maybe I can…”
8. Everything takes more than simply thinking about it. This probably seems like a “duh” but hear me out: how many times are we told we just have to “believe” for something to happen? Though believing you can do something is an important first step towards actually accomplishing your goals, you also have to put in actual effort.You must work for it. Every dream you have ever wished for someone bought for the price time and hard work.
9. There is simply less joy living your whole life on the ground.
