Climb an indoor climbing wall to the top

“I took some time watching those around me before attempting to clip-in and climb up. I struggled to find handholds on the faux rock surface. I felt awkward and uncomfortable. I was relying on my arms to do too much of the work. My hands got sweaty; my fingers ached. I didn’t even know if I could make it a quarter of the way up the wall. [...] Instead of admitting defeat, I unclipped and moved to another wall (an easier one) and received a major confidence boost the first time I made it to the top. Eventually I started using my legs to push more than my arms to pull (light bulb moment!), and kept my body close to the wall. Just like that, I started enjoying the process.”

“I’d never tried indoor climbing before, but one rainy afternoon, I decided to give it a shot at my local climbing gym. The brightly colored walls, endless routes, and excited climbers made the whole place feel like a mini adventure park. I picked an easy beginner route, or so I thought. As I made my way up, my arms started to burn, my legs wobbled, and I realized how much technique was actually involved. It was way harder than I expected! But with each successful move, I felt more confident, more determined. After reaching the top, I couldn’t stop smiling. The challenge, the focus, the mental and physical strength—it all felt so rewarding.”