Climbing

All through my life I've enjoyed and excelled at, and benefited from a variety of sports, but rarely all at the same time. There are some that I've enjoyed at but knew I'd never really be great at (such as American football or yoga), others I've been relatively good at but haven't enjoyed a whole heck of a lot (running), and more that I knew were really good for me but always felt a bit forced (visiting the gym, for example). I always just unconsciously assumed that this was just the way it was. Recently, however, I've stumbled upon a sport that gives a wonderful feeling of just totally fitting. Climbing.

Over the past months, it has become a somewhat over-the-top obsession. To the point that when I walk down the street I look at building and trees and think of how to climb them. The world has suddenly become far more three-dimensional than it ever was before! When I get to the climbing gym I'm like a little kid trying to change as fast as possible as I just can't wait to hit the walls. I enjoy it tremendously, and feel like it's this whole other space that's carved out of reality where I just zone out of everything else, zone into the holds and ropes and my climbing buddy, and go vertical. The same body type that led to a premature end to my football career (as in, before I ever even tried out for a high school football team), is suddenly a gift on the climbing wall. And the type of workout just feels so natural, so integrated and balanced, that I often feel like I'm floating afterwards. The people at the climbing gym are so relaxed, friendly, and yet the type of people that are willing to push themselves. Everything just totally fits.

And perhaps the greatest lesson my recent love affair with climbing has taught me is that there is indeed a place where enjoyment, excellence, and extrinsic benefit converge. If in sports, why not in all things?

(countdown: 24 hours until the next climb...)