Old Picture Alert: June 2011
‘But I want to climb higher grades…’ ‘I want to lose weight…’ ‘I want to get fitter…’
I say these things, but I’ve learnt that they are just meaningless words. This is because I used to compare myself to others. Achieving those things may result in me feeling good but I am not an athlete and I also like doing lots of other things too, like cooking delicious food, drinking red wine, lazy days on the beach, Netflix and chill. We have busy lives, our families, our problems, and we are at the backend of a bizarre global pandemic so finding time to ‘get better’ at everything is sometimes unrealistic. So having just started my own business, I have even less time to fit in all my sports and hobbies, and the poor sewing machine hasn’t had a look in. But I refuse to let that nagging guilt rear its ugly head, I want to be free of that mental torture… If there is one thing I have taught myself since hitting the big 40 is to ‘own my place’. I now know what I want, I can be what I want and not make comparisons to other people or aspire to be better at everything I do. Once you can accept this epiphany you will have so much more FUN and enjoyment in all your sports. It’s easy to be dazzled by inspiring climbers on the gram, or perfect peachy bottoms on top of precarious mountain ridges but remember that some of your role models are professional athletes or sponsored to be in the Gym all hours. I am certainly not saying it’s unhealthy to have these incredible role models, but just don’t compare yourself to people that may have entirely different goals to you. We are all wired differently. So remember its ok to be YOU, do YOUR version of YOUR sport, whether it’s walking, climbing, kayaking and enjoy the journey. I am so passionate about getting my message out there that we are all valid in outdoor activities despite fitness, size, or age. Being the best you isn’t having the perfect gym body, or climbing that E1… the best you is the one that can be kind to yourself and look after that mental health. Climb on that VDIFF, fall off the 3C boulder problem, walk on that ‘run’, eat the chips and drink the wine (please drink responsibly, not my words….) and remember climbing starts off hard... and gets harder, it's not just you. Every Body Matters!
Comments