your permission slip

Earlier today, I posted this photo to Instagram with a reminder that you don't have to be climbing your hardest all the time.

I chose this photo specifically because it was taken during a time in my life where I wasn't meeting my own expectations on my climbing performance.

This boulder is called Hustle and Flow, and is a V10 in Alabama.

This session in March 2021 was a STRUGGLE. I actually wasn't able to do the move that pictured here.

My fingers felt weak, it was a challenge to string any moves together, and I was frustrated. Looking back, I really wish I had taken the time to enjoy being outside and climbing in the first place instead of being hard on myself.

March 2021 was just not my time to be performing. Had I known I would come back in January the next year and send the boulder quickly (pictured below), maybe I would have been able to give myself more grace.

So what was the difference in those 10 months from when I couldn't touch the boulder to sending?

While I could say I worked really hard and tirelessly prepared (which, don't get me wrong: training is super important for capitalizing gains when climbing is on the forefront), the truth is that my life situation was completely different.

In March 2021, I:

-had just moved across the country to Georgia
-didn't have access to a climbing gym
-was less than a year into my business
-was sorting out moving up to Chattanooga

In January 2022, I:

-was settled in Chattanooga
-had consistent access to a climbing gym and outdoor climbing
-was much more established in my business
-was able to focus a lot of energy on climbing

So right now as I am in a phase of having a lot of ~*life* events outside of climbing going on, I'm remembering to give myself permission to have climbing on the back burner.

This is your permission slip to do the same if you need to.