So I’ve had a few really crummy days due to issues in work and some personal problems. These things left me feeling anxious and sad. Add in constantly having a bunch of conflicting thoughts running through my mind, the very last thing I wanted to do was go and climb. The thought of having to be around people (by my own choice) was horrifying. I actually wanted to make myself into a blanket burrito and sit in a dark, quiet room. In retrospect and a more positive frame of mind, it’s easy to see how secluding myself is never going to be the right thing to do in situations like that, but at the time it’s very difficult to see the wood for the trees.

Luckily I was encouraged to go and climb and be around people by my partner. I didn’t feel like talking, but listening to people and hearing positive things that were happening in their lives really cheered me up, and made me feel a little less gloomy about everything. Actually bouldering was also a great stress buster. The fact that I was already having a bad day made climbing easier as I had no expectations of it being amazing. Also it forced me to stop thinking about all the bad things and just concentrate on the climb. Needless to say it was a good climb!

I guess what I’m trying to say is that even if you’re having a bad day, go and climb. It might help straighten things out in your mind, or lift your mood just enough for you to see the light. There’s something mentally helpful about trying to work out a climbing crux, when you can’t fix what’s happening in life. All your energy doesn’t feel wasted, and you will get that climb eventually.

We all have bad days, which means we are never really alone in the darkness.

agirlwhoclimbs 4