Photo: Photobac
Climbing is an awesome pursuit. Pointless in terms of tangible, physical returns? Debatedly. But as I’ve done before, I’ll reference a legend in this respect:
French climbing great Lionel Terray often referred to the climbers and their completion (or reaching the top) of a wall as “the conquistadors of the useless.” The achievement in and of itself is largely useless in the way of tangible progress. There isn’t any real outcome or result that has even a little quantifiable value. But the lessons learned, about the individual and humankind at large, are immeasurable.
Whether at a personal level or a larger, more collective level, climbing and topping out bring the impossible within reach. Whatever you thought of your limits before, the achievement has now pushed those limits further into the realm of “impossible.” And it is in these intangibles that climbing is not only an awesome pursuit, but an important one as well.
A lifelong rock climber and climbing guide, Matthew Childs has learned a thing or two over the years. Here is is sharing those life lessons. This segment is a little older (from 2009), but straight and to the point and thereby interesting nonetheless.
While couple of these life lessons are indeed contradictory (namely 1 and 9 as well as 3 and 4), his explanations shine a light on his reasonings for including each life lesson.
1.) Don’t let go.
2.) Hesitation is BAD.
3.) Have a plan.
4.) The move is the end.
5.) Know how to rest.
6.) Fear sucks.
7.) Opposites are GOOD.
8.) Strength doesn’t always equal success.
9.) Know how to let go.
My favorite is knowing how to rest. It is so easy to get caught up in the rat race, and when we don’t take moments and stretches to settle down and regain our perspective, we find ourselves lost in a crowd of confusion.
Anyway, I find that these life lessons are best taken at face value, for you to then interpret them to fit your needs. So happy interpreting!
