Even though I coach clients in attaining their dreams and goals, sometimes I need a hands-on experience to reinforce this for myself.
When my son was visiting in the summer, we introduced him to rock climbing. He loved it, and we ended up going several times a week. Toward the end of his visit, he challenged me to try something I’d never done before. He said he’d pay for a 10-pass package when I was able to climb a 5.7 wall.
At that point, I was stretching my abilities to climb 5.5 and 5.6 walls. But I’m always up for a challenge, particularly when it comes from one of my kids.
He added that it could be done anytime. I stood there for a moment, thinking. Then I turned around and examined the 5.7 wall that he had just climbed. Something in my body said, “You can do this.”
I turned back around and looked him in the eye. “You’re on,” and I started to climb.
It wasn’t easy, but I did make it to the top. When I came back down to the ground, I held out my hand and said, “Pay up!”
He did. And then he said, “I tell you what. When you can climb a 5.8 wall, I’ll buy you another 10-pass package.”
He really should know better than to challenge me like that!
I’ve been trying 5.8 walls ever since, usually giving up a third or a half of the way up. They’re difficult!
I’d begun to despair of every being able to do it when … I found a 5.8 climb on the really high wall (over 30′ high). I’d never looked there before, because most of the climbs on that wall are 5.10 – 5.11, w-a-y beyond my ability. But, once again, my body told me that I could do this particular climb.
The first time I tried it, I managed to get more than halfway up before I got stuck. Everything was out of reach. I couldn’t see any way of getting higher, and my muscles were trembling with the effort to hold myself in place. I gave up. But I kept thinking about it.
The next time we went climbing, I made that wall my goal.
I clambered up the first section with ease and got past the outcropping. Soon I was back at the place where I’d been stuck before. There had to be a way. I tried reaching one arm almost out of its socket, but couldn’t grasp the next handhold. I tried moving one foot up to the next spot, but couldn’t make it.
The only option was to let go of everything and leap upward, reaching with my left hand and trusting it would land on the handhold.
I took a deep breath, and leaped.
My fingers closed around the hold and I scrambled to find foot holds.
The next step was out of reach too, so I took another leap … and made it.
And so it continued until I was within 2 feet of the top. I was stuck again.
By this point, my entire body was shaking, my fingers and wrists were throbbing, and I was out of breath. But I was soooo close to getting that 10-pass package!
I took a deep breath and told myself that I was not climbing this wall again. It was now or never. I imagined the delight of telling my son that I’d met his challenge. I pictured myself holding the top handhold and pumping my fist into the air in triumph. And somewhere, deep inside, I found the energy to reach a little more and make it to the top.
Yes, I heard the theme from Rocky!! And then I glanced down to let my partner know I was ready to come down. Gulp! He looked so far away. That’s when I realized how high I’d climbed.
When my feet hit the ground, I crumpled to my knees. I had nothing left. But it was worth it!!
I learned that day that … it’s only by reaching, stretching, and taking leaps of faith that the “impossible” becomes possible.
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