The Reasons I Love to Climb

Photo Credit: Ramon Fadli Photography

Rock climbing is a form of physical activity that has been gaining more and more interest over the years. Last year, sport climbing has been added into the 2020 Summer Olympics. Although the inclusion is somewhat controversial within the community of climbers, sport climbing is only one part of rock climbing. Personally, I am neither for nor against the addition. The reasons I love to rock climb are a lot but none of which are of glory. Before I begin stating those reason, let me just say that I do not consider myself a good climber (I knows tonnes of climbers who does it much better than me) and the reasons I state might not resonate with every climber.

There’s a lot things to learn

Learning is a never ending journey. To teach is to learn and to learn is to live but boy, is there a lot of things to learn in climbing - techniques, rock tiles, inspirational rock climbers, safety gears, safety protocols, knots, route grading, different climbing practices, bouldering, top roping, lead climbing, crack climbing, multi pitching, and list goes on and on. I still have a lot to learn.

It is social bonding session every time

You can’t climb alone. You shouldn’t climb alone. You need a friend to help you top the routes safely and to make it a fun and challenging experience. When you watch others climb, it's like seeing them dancing to the wall. You get to meet many climbers at most the sites around KL. There are a lot of climbers both outdoors and indoors. If you ask nicely , they are friendly and willing to give you an advice or two about a route you are doing, or help you more about the climbing lingoes like the ones that I have just spewed out in the previous paragraph.

Every route is different and it is about problem solving

I have an inclination towards logic and reasoning. Every route is an itching problem waiting to be scratched. Some routes are easy and some are hard. When I am in queue for my turn to climb, I would look at how solve the routes around or analyze how other climbers did them. There would be times where I couldn’t top a climb but when I do find the correct technique or move for me to do so, it is like something just clicked - a eureka moment.

It is a full body exercise

From your fingertips to your toes, almost every muscles will get a workout - finger muscles, forearm, biceps, abdominal muscles, calves, etc. and after countless number of climbs, I still sometimes strained muscles that I never thought was involved in this physical activity (This is not a good example. Please do proper stretches or warm up before loading your muscles. Although some were caused by improper technique). Also, do I need to mention that exercise is good for health?

I don’t have to compete with others

Popular sports like badminton, football, basketball has the goal of you being “better” than the other team you are playing with. There must be a loser in every game. I don’t want my happiness to be based on the expense of other’s grief. I am not against competition; many would consider it good source of motivation. My motivation also stems from rivalry - a rivalry with myself.

It is a mental challenge

I remember when I first started climbing, it was frightening. My hands would clench firmly onto the rock tiles while I fight the fear of falling at every step up. It was exhilarating when the top was finally reached. Now, I don’t even notice the height when I top rope even when the route gets tough; Only when I lead, I will get that I am psychologically challenged. Every lead route, I will have to mentally prepare myself for it. If I don’t and I got onto a tough section, panic ensues, I will grasp the hold too tightly and use up my energy more quickly than I should. An easy route becomes a tough route. That skill of controlling your fears not only assisted me in climbing but in other aspects of my life as well.

Memento mori is a Latin phrase that translates to "remember you have to die". How ironic that my biggest motivation to live life is death and in this practice of a sport, I am constantly reminded of my mortality. Hence, I wrote these reasons down and published them as a reminder to myself and to all my climber friends to keep climbing.

My Personal Goals for 2017

Photo Credit: Strandkorb On Beach by Dreamstime Stock Photos

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results.

-Unknown -

Yes, I know, it is kinda late to be writing down new year resolutions. However, I am a master procrastinator (still working on this one) and this is not really a new year resolution - it is more like goals for 2017. Personally, I had taken the stance that new year resolutions doesn’t work; the period is just too long and you don’t need to wait for a new year to re-evaluate your life and the things you want to do. The calendar is just a tool we use to measure the passing of days, but it is lie to state that these labels of days does not affect my mind in any way. It does affect my psyche, somehow. Hence, here I am, figuring out what I should be doing for this year. What changes I should make to give the best chances for me to obtain my goals.

Here lies the underlying rules that I am following:

1. Five goals are to be written down in public so that others may keep me in check for self-control is unreliable. I am giving permission to whoever that is reading to pester me at any time for not following through with my goals.
2. Achieve them in 6 months and not a year for continuous sense of urgency. A year is just too damn long. For me at least, a goal for half a year would keep me more on my toes.

And here are the goals that I have set for myself:

1. Rescue Diver

It is no secret that I love to dive. Every time I dive, I am immerse into a deep sense of tranquility. I am mesmerized by the beauty presented to me by the deep sea. I could not get enough of it. I want to do more of it and be more competent at doing it. Getting certified as a rescue diver is just the next step in my diving journey. Once I’ve gotten that, hopefully, I will be able to go for dive master certification.

2. Run a 10km Race in Under 1 Hour

In the runners’ cycle, it is called a sub one. This is something that I have wanted to do ever since I started running so let me just put this in the bag. It is a reachable goal but mind you, I have not been training for running in a long time and I am talking in terms of years. My aim is to do this for a race on the 21st of May, which is the Standard Chartered Marathon. I have already started my training and I am getting a doubtful as I have gotten my knees inflamed for just a mere 5km but I will persevere. If not this race then another one after. You can follow my progress in Garmin Connect or Strava.

3. Calisthenics Everyday

I want to have regular exercise almost everyday and calisthenics is a form of exercise that can be done almost anywhere. This is especially appealing when travelling; you don’t need go for expensive hotels that has a gym or a swimming pool. It doesn’t really have to be everyday but what I am aiming for is to make this a habit by doing it almost everyday. When I’m able to make this a habit, I will consider this goal achieved. You can follow my progress here.

4. Write an Article Every Month

(This one counts as one by the way)

Writing has been kind of a secret interest of mine and I want to get better at it. The only way to get better at anything is to keep doing it even when you don’t feel like it.
I am quite unsatisfied by the pieces I come up with. It just doesn't seem to be good enough to publish. It doesn't seem interesting enough for anyone to read. Probably the biggest reason I write so little is due to impostor syndrome? I don't know. Even implying that I have such a syndrome, sounds arrogant. I am just going to publish whatever once a month and try to get better at it. Please do comment and provide tips. Your help is much appreciated.

5. Cover a Song Every Month

Another interest that I wish to get better at is music - singing and playing an instrument to be exact. Honestly, I wish I have better equipment to be doing this and that is part of the problem. I always keep thinking that I don’t have enough equipment, know-how or just doesn't sound good to be doing more of this. I need internalized this great quote from this excellent musician - music itself should be its reward for playing it. I'm paraphrasing and I got this from Dave Grohl by the way. What it means is that we should play music for the sake of the music and so that is what I will be doing. Don't worry about what others think of my music quality and just play on.

Once any goals is achieved, I would just replace them with another and I already have some in mind. Anyway, I need to focus on these 5 first. The whole idea here is to write down achievable goals, focus, and be accountable for them. If anyone wants to follow, please do. If you need me to bug you, I'll be more than happy to help. I am not positive if these methods would work any better than anyone else's methods but this is an experiment. I am just trying a different approach. It might work for me. It might not. We won't really know until 6 months later. Until then, let's just keep an open mind and work for our goals.