Rock Climbing

Rock climbing was something that I have never really given much thought to. However, I was finally convienced to go with a friend. At first it was extremely intimidating. It looked like something that I would never be good at or enjoy.

After learning how to climb, I found that it was one of the interesting and exciting things I have ever done. I am not sure why it is so exciting. I think that it may have something to do with the feeling a success. I am a pretty stubborn person and if I try should and do not succeed at first I will find myself trying over and over until I reach the goal. Some might say that this is a good thing and I do believe that in some cases this is a good way to be however sometimes someone just has to learn when I say its over.

Apparently for me, this seems to be a really big problem because I find myself going back almost every day. My hands have gotten so sore over the past week and I have gotten so many blisters. But the blisters never stop me from trying the last route that I have been working on completely for a few days. When I finally do finish a route I feel like I could take on the whole world. Maybe this is because I accomplished something that is both physically and mentally challenging.

The mental challenge comes into play when trying to figure out the best way to go about figuring out how to finish the route whether that is cross hand over hand or matching hands on one rock. This is something that has to be done before the route is started because if one tries to figure out how to finish when in the process too much energy is being used and there is nothing left to finish. The physical part comes from just being able to hold on, control the body in such a way were every muscle in working. The muscles might not be working as hard as they can but they are ever so slightly contracting and making the body stay in the chosen position.

Maybe this is why I like climbing, it makes me learn self control in a way that I have never known before. Self control is something that I will always need.