Though I don’t regard myself as a boulderer, I’d like to express my perceptions of bouldering. I’ve only had a couple bouldering sessions at Sport Rock, and am far from skilled in any manner. Before attempting my first problem, I had many ideas of how I should ascend. Admittedly I vastly underestimated what is required to excel in this sport. The mental and physical skill required was evident from the 45 minutes I spent exhausting myself during my first visit to the gym. A delicate, quiet and calm center (in my mind) far surpassed sheer physical brawn, or for that matter, even endurance to successfully complete a climb.
When trying to complete a problem for the seventh or eight time during my second visit, I concentrated on my breath and gave myself a little space from the energy of the situation, which in turn, allowed for spontaneous creativity to arise - something like a relaxed concentration. This process reminds me of ways of living that I attempt to bring forth by utilizing the humility that shines when I face myself, stripped of ego layers. Much like my daily life, bouldering to me is about balance. Not a pretty, unrealistic rose garden but the rich, fertile quality of everyday life. Problems may appear solid and definite, but when looked at in depth, from a distance, they become translucent. |
