San Diego 240

I’ve never been one to plan or create a map of the future for myself, which can create chaos and uncertainty in my life. It’s been something I’ve thrived on and fuels me to move forward with excitement for the next thing. Living with uncertainty is like an adrenaline rush without danger or speed. The thrill lies in the unpredictability of what comes next, as it can alter anything. Places change, plans change and most of all people change ever so rapidly, and the result of this requires us to be adaptable and quick thinking per se. This period of my life requires me to adapt and think, consider what I want to do next, where I want to go, and who I want to be with. The past few years it’s been easy and my focus has always been on climbing and where I’ll go climb and who I’ll go with, but plans change.

I am facing a shoulder injury that prevents me from climbing and attempting to do so would be foolish. It feels as if a part of my identity has become compromised. I’ve relied on climbing to be a catalyst for friends, jobs, and travel for the past few years. It’s frightening to say but to think of my future without climbing is like to drive a car with no engine, just a shell. A car designed like the one driven by Flintstone cave dwellers. I'll acknowledge my current situation for what it is, but it's important to stay optimistic in times like this for both myself and my loved ones. The next few months of winter will be a time of regression in the progress I’ve made in my climbing career and I’ll accept that as I have to. I'm taking a break to focus on myself, find happiness in new activities, and regain excitement for the future.