My Obsession: Podcast

If there is one thing I've learned in life, it's that you should take full and complete advantages of your summer vacation. I've been climbing for almost 2 years now, and it has been circling in my scrambled mind since I started. The thought of imaging the negative angle of a vertical surface hanging down next to my sweating face just gives me goosebumps. The feeling of the granite grinding away your skin almost makes me want to sprint to the gym. Every hold, every pinch and pocket that exists on the wall makes me imagine all the difficulties in life. I pull out a jug, a hold that is easiest to grasp and it's easy to grip. I pull out a pinch, a hold that can only be pinched and the angle can give you a hard time. I pull out a crimp, a hold that only the tips of your fingers can grip and then I have problems. There have been crimps in my life as well as jugs and pinches. 

The first time I've been climbing out doors was an interesting experience. You learn so much when you do the real thing that does not contain artificial granite or colored rock. As soon as I put my hand on the first three holds, I realized automatically that every hold is different. You are never sure what to expect when you're 50 feet above the rock with the sharp granite below you. Life is difficult. No one can argue against that. There are strict rules and regulations everyone must follow. If you do not follow the climbing rules, it could cause a serious injury as well as a possibility of death. If the rules in life are not followed, the result may be the same.

Climbing is in my blood. It runs through my thick veins and I have had the addiction for two years. My brother convinced me to come to his climbing camp that I wasn't that interested in attending. I arrived there and saw all the children running around me. I was thinking to myself, "What am I doing here?" The climbing coach was a kind, bald, black woman who said I had potential to try out for the climbing team. And here I am today, climbing daily for the past two years. With shredded hands and strong fingers 24/7, I couldn't say anything else other then "I live to climb."