Since December 2016 last year, I had a feeling to try rock climbing and 5 months later I followed the feeling through and finally did it! It wasn’t really what I expected and I don’t think I’ll go again, here’s how it all came about.

I was having a conversation with my now ex about sports and he mentioned ice climbing, it stood out and sounded interesting and planted a seed to try rock climbing then ice climbing could follow. Some months passed and I remembered a childhood holiday where my mum and dad were encouraging to rock climb up a temporary wall in a holiday park and looking up at people all harnessed up, it brought fear not excitement so I heavily declined. Then about a month ago I saw a really smart 4 year old called Brielle on the Ellen Show and she had just taken up rock climbing as a new hobby. So I decided to give the rock climbing centre a call and £30 later I was all set.

People in my life were interested in my idea and I gave various responses – that I didn’t want to keep thinking about something, to just go ahead and do it! I explained I wanted to get over the fear I’d created as a child and I thought it may have something to do with trust, my word for the year 2017.

I was excited for my first time rock climbing, though it didn’t turn out as this profound experience I thought it would be. In fact, the drive there was more uplifting than the actual experience. I took the wrong turning and got lost, I didn’t even think I would make the session. As I was driving a quote came to me that I’d glanced earlier in the day, it made more sense as I’d been noticing when I feel nervous driving somewhere I haven’t been for a while or some place new I think back to all the times I was driven places and just think – wow I had it easy.

‘I don’t want to be a passenger in my own life’ – Dianne Ackerman, Author

The quote hit me hard as I realised I literally was a passenger in my own life and was carried through everything I did. Though it served me at the time it was time to step up as the driving force of my own life! I realised that I could switch to appreciating that I can drive places on my own.  I felt a wave of sadness and gratitude as I reached the climbing centre.

The staff were lovely and my instructor was enthusiastic but I felt I didn’t fit in and didn’t want to either, even so I learnt to boulder. It was interesting…..and fun at times.

What I liked about it was it made you pay attention to what was in front of you to plan your route up, kept you present, you could move in many ways by leaning your body and it was partly problem solving too – How do I get up? Where can I put my foot? How to I get down?

What I didn’t like about it was that using my hands and feet in ways to climb up only highlighted the weakness I have in them, I couldn’t take as much chances as I would have liked. I didn’t enjoy the process and felt exhausted – this is a clear sign that something isn’t working, usually with activities I feel happy, timeless and gain energy! Also I notice when activities are mostly just based on the physical body and I don’t enjoy them as much, I like the spiritual or creative side to them too.

Overall I’m really happy I tried something new, I followed a feeling and that’s where I got a sense of trust from, from listening and trusting my intuition. Also doing rock climbing showed me that really my paths involve yoga and art, confirmed even more a day later at The Great British Kundalini Festival 2017.