I Climbed A Wall.   This may not seem noteworthy, but for me, it is.  I am not a very athletic person.  I walked my first 5K last week, and got timed for 3.2 miles, all of which was a great experience.  But if I am looking for motivation in life, my mind goes to when I Climbed a Wall.

     My oldest son opted for an indoor rock-climbing place for his birthday party this past Spring.  I am The Mom, in charge of all things Birthday Party, and did not plan on climbing, but one of our climbers opted out, and we had the space.

     Here is what I learned, and what you can learn from facing your own challenges: 

• We are stronger than we think.  
• Sometimes we need cheerleaders, even if they are a group of pre-teens (my son and his friends) or total strangers.
• Traveling light is easier.  My slender but strong pre-teen scaled the wall in no time flat.  Proof that traveling light but strong is easier than traveling weighed down by stuff.
• Sometimes Help Is Necessary.  For safety and inspiration and perspective. 
• Good tools can amplify your strength.  My Belayer (definition:  He or she who holds the rope for the climber) was a tiny, slender 20-something, and I was convinced that if I fell, I would crush us both.  She assured me that the pulley, hooks, ropes, etc., that were hooked to the wall above me, would provide more than enough assistance.  And she was right.
• Sometimes what is most important is at your fingertips, sometimes it’s over your head, and sometimes it is at your feet.
• Sometimes others see things more clearly than I do.  A change in perspective can make all the difference.  I could not see my next toe or hand hold, but someone standing back and looking at my situation could see things better than me.
• Sometimes we have to Just DO IT.  I had not planned to climb that day, but we had paid for one more climber than we had, so I decided to give it a try.  And I am glad that I did.   

     My Belayer would not let me quit.  Even though I really wanted to, because climbing is really hard work.  From her vantage point, she could see I only had a few more feet to climb to reach the top.  She told me to LOOK UP and SEE, and that made all the difference.

     For the first few days, I felt the muscle ache, but took it as a sign of accomplishment.  Five months later, the ache is long gone, and I get a swell of pride and confidence and inspiration when I think back to that day.  So if I face a challenge, I’ll say Bring It.  You can’t scare me.  I Climbed a Wall.  And You Can, Too.