Why bother climbing?
I choose to climb and it’s not because I think it makes me cooler than I am. Or stronger.
I climb to unearth a world unknown. Something roughly analogous to what Shakespear called, ‘the undiscovered country’. For me, it’s about finding a headspace I don’t get anywhere else.
Finding Focus in the Moment
When I’m climbing all the other distractions and stresses in my world disappear. I’m focused on one thing – getting up there. It’s about mindfulness, in a time where our minds are almost always full. Full of interruptions. Tasks. News. Misinformation. Social media. Doom scrolling. Think about it, when was the last time you were really in the moment?Â
I have a noisy head. I suffer from anxiety, MDD (major depressive disorder) and PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Lots of people have mental health issues. Yet, while I manage this through therapy and medication, I find one of the best coping mechanisms is something we often overlook. Movement. Exercise. Meditation.
The Power of Climbing
Climbing fulfills all of those overlooked strategies. It’s a mindful, meditative exercise. Climbing well depends on cross-training and visualization. I like to walk, bike, ski, and lift weights. Our bodies work well when we feed them properly. Nutrition is important and so is healthy cooking. Cooking takes time but it can be part of our climbing preparation. It too is mindful.Â
Think how much better the world would be if more of us invested in mindful, meditative exercise. Yet, I can’t change the world, just my world. That’s why I choose to climb. If I choose to climb enough days, I think it makes me a better person than I was last week. That’s the most compelling reason I can think of.Â
