Hold On or Let Go?
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(Written in 2019)
Here’s an interesting experience I had rock climbing with Ian a couple of weeks ago.
It’s important to understand that I like to do things “right” and he likes to do things “for fun.” So, frequently, when we top-rope, he falls off the wall and laughs so hard the whole gym can hear him—sometimes he even squeals (GASP).
I—on the other hand—mostly do not fall off the wall, and mostly do not laugh because I am sweaty and very, very focused.
Until a couple of weeks ago when I did. It was a hard climb and I let go, fell back into the harness, let gravity take my arms to my sides and took a breather.
When he brought me down, we had this conversation:
Me: Ugh I never fall. I can’t believe I fell.
Ian: You should fall. Rock climbing is about letting go.
Me: Oh, Ian, you have that very wrong, rock climbing is about holding on. Nay, it’s about CLINGING to the fucking wall.
Ian: No way. It’s about letting go.
Me: No. Skydiving is about letting go, even trapeze is about letting go. Rock climbing is about holding the fuck on.
We both laughed and moved on—I was sure I was right and that he was feeling SO silly.
Then, I got back on the wall to do another, even harder, climb. Halfway up, I was stuck and scared. I was on a safe hold and I didn’t know if I could reach for and successfully grab the next hold—it looked harder and smaller and a little scarier. I was scared to…yep… LET. GO.
As I clung to the wall, breathing heavily,looking to the next hold with uncertainty, I realized that Ian was right and I whispered to myself, “Oh my god, rock climbing is about letting go.”
If I want to get to the top—reach my goals, catch that view—I have to let go of where I am clinging and reach for the next hold. Otherwise, I’ll just hang out in one place and exhaust myself until I’m forced to let go and fall back.
Are you catching this metaphor?
I immediately thought of the places I cling in life, terrified to reach out for the next level. Afraid I’ll fall and look silly, afraid I’ll fall and not get back on the wall, afraid I’ll make it and then have to do the whole thing again!
But, if I don’t let go, I don’t get to the top and the higher you get (whatever your version of the top is), the better the view.
Where are you afraid to let go and reach for the next hold? Don’t worry, if you miss, the harness will catch you and you will try again. And you will keep trying until you make it—one step closer to that epic view.
OR,
You do have another option: Cling. Your arms will shake, your hands will hurt like hell, you’ll get thirsty and sweaty and you’ll eventually have to fall back into the harness anyway.
Which person would you rather be? The one who fell reaching or the who fell as the sun went down and there was no longer another option.
Fun + Love + Chalky Hands,
Jackie