On my days off, I rarely stay home and relax. Instead, I usually choose to challenge myself in some way. Lately, I’ve been hooked on rock climbing. Sometimes I even head out to the crags early in the morning. The rock, of course, never gives you any hints. Every move is a decision: Should I go right or left? Should I reach for the next hold or back down and try a different approach? There are no perfect answers, only choices.
What I love most is that while I’m climbing, everything else disappears. Work, daily life, and even my phone fade into the background. My entire focus is on the next move, and it’s one of the few times my mind feels completely clear.
Sure, I’m usually sore the next day, but that’s part of the experience. As long as I can look back and say, “I’m a little better than I was yesterday,” I don’t think I’ll ever lose my passion for climbing.