Flashback: Rock climbing

A bunch of kids were swarming at the rock climbing gym tonight. It must have been "Kids' Night" or a birthday party. I like the gym when it's fairly empty so that we can climb whichever routes, whenever we want. With hoodlums scampering around, I have to watch out before I get my head hit from above or I run over one of them. Tonight my foot got crushed by a kid, but I managed to hold on without letting my partner fall, surprisingly enough.

Anyhow, I was watching a kid get his first lesson. When he finally reached the top, he was too scared to let go of the rocks so that he can repel down. That moment reminded me of my own first time. Trust is something I had to learn to give and take from climbing. Putting my life in someone's hands. Being responsible for someone else's life. Ok, too much insight now, I know, I know. Here's my first memory of climbing...

After my first time scrambling up the climbing wall, I exclaimed, "Wow, that wasn't so bad."

My climbing buddy/coach responded, "Ok, now do it again, but this time follow one color (AKA a specific route)."

I thought it was too easy to climb up just any rocks. Ever since then, it has been a challenging sport to learn about myself and my climbing buddy.