Blog

Talking About Compassion

• July 2008
• Climb

I am a 24 year female climber/mountain biker. I started climbing last August, starting with Bouldering, going to Routes, then multi pitch climbs, then leading sport climbs (which I am still working on). I found much inspiration from your book. I can identify with much of what you write. Since starting to climb, I have traveled incessantly and feel that I cannot stay in one place (weather provided) because of climbing. Generally, my whole life has begun to revolve around it. I have lived/climbed on the coast of northern california, to Tahoe, Yosemite, and Tuolome, to Moab, to Buena Vista CO, Leadville CO, to Colorado Springs, Boulder Canyon, and Eldorado Canyon.

Regardless, I wanted to let you know that lately I have been getting really down on myself about climbing. I picked up your book and it has given me the spark to motivate myself back to climbing my hardest. You’ve been a climber I’ve looked up to, and reading your book validated that.

Thank you for your book. I am excited to continue on my own adventure with climbing and mountain biking.
Lynn

Dear Lynn,
Thanks for this letter! I could relate to what you are saying too 🙂
Lots of climbers tend to be perfectionists–and it’s what helps us climb better. I used to be really hard on myself, to the point where it actually held me back and kept me from improving or even sometimes from having a good time. One day I thought about the strong critiques I was giving myself, and I thought, “I would never be this critical of someone else! I should be as nice to myself as I would be to another person.” And gradually my attitude changed. Please be compassionate with yourself! And have wonderful adventures out there.
xxx Steph