Hey, Stef, it's that time of year again - New Years, how about making a resolution?
Mmmm, why should I? I pretty much think that’s a bunch of bullshit to put undue pressure on myself and then get pissed off later when I break the resolution. It’s supposed to help me better myself, but it’s actually quite akin to self-flagellation.
Don’t you feel the least little bit of interest, curiosity, or social pressure to engage in this institutional tradition? At least, entertain the idea. How about making a resolution about your favorite thing, climbing?
Silence....processing....
You could resolve to actually get better at climbing this year! Don’t you want to get better?
Who the hell doesn’t want to get better at climbing? But that is always on the back of my mind, why do I need to make a New Year’s resolution?
Because then maybe you will actually do something about it rather than keep thinking about how you really should be a stronger climber for as many years as you have been climbing.
But I am doing something about it. I climb. A lot.
Yes, but you don’t really push yourself.
……processing……..processing……..processing…… Yes I do, sort of. Ok, but it has to be something I can buy into, otherwise it’s a bullshit empty promise that will fall by the wayside in a few months and then I’ll feel like shit for not only not improving my climbing but failing at my resolution to improve my climbing. Plus I really don’t want to be arguing with you –myself - on an ongoing basis thinking I should do this bullshit thing that pressured myself into. Screw that.
Let’s try this on for size. Possible Resolution 1: Commit to climbing in the gym at least 3 days per week.
.... Except when I’m traveling, sick, tired, or simply don’t feel like it. No good.
Ok, possible Resolution 2: Stop cheating on gym climbs by grabbing off-route holds.
Really? What difference does it make if I fall or grab a hold to keep from falling? Same same. And, if I grab a hold, I don’t have to re-climb back up and I don’t risk whacking the crap out of my shins on that enormous plastic pimple in the middle of the climb.
Do you think you can benefit at all from trying to grab the holds completely and not giving up right away?
Not on lead.
No problem. I think we are getting somewhere… try this on for size.
Possible Resolution 3: Commit to doing a project in the gym.
Hmmmm….ok…. what are you thinking?
Pick a route you can’t on-sight. Climb it over and over, however many gym sessions it takes, until you can do it cleanly from top to bottom.
Not on lead.
You don’t have to do it on lead. Do it on top rope.
Oh, that sounds like fun. Well, maybe. I don’t want to tweak a tendon or something doing some funky hard move. Then I won’t be able to climb for months, and that will just piss me off and counter this whole getting better thing.
Then let the hold go and build up to it.
I can do that.
Since you are on top rope, can you please not grab off route holds?
What if I’m really stuck at a spot? Don’t you think there is value in getting past that spot and trying the rest of the climb?
OK, if you have tried a move at least 3 times, in a given session, you can move past it using other holds. But in each gym session give it at least 3 tries.
I can do that. It sounds kind of fun. So here it is, an Actual Resolution I Can Deal With:
At each gym session, top-rope a project until I get it cleanly. Stay on route. I can get off route past a crux IF I have tried the move at least 3 times in a given session.
Deal..
Great! How about a resolution to…
Stop! Nope. I’m done here. Nice try lady. Bye bye.
Mmmm, why should I? I pretty much think that’s a bunch of bullshit to put undue pressure on myself and then get pissed off later when I break the resolution. It’s supposed to help me better myself, but it’s actually quite akin to self-flagellation.
Don’t you feel the least little bit of interest, curiosity, or social pressure to engage in this institutional tradition? At least, entertain the idea. How about making a resolution about your favorite thing, climbing?
Silence....processing....
You could resolve to actually get better at climbing this year! Don’t you want to get better?
Who the hell doesn’t want to get better at climbing? But that is always on the back of my mind, why do I need to make a New Year’s resolution?
Because then maybe you will actually do something about it rather than keep thinking about how you really should be a stronger climber for as many years as you have been climbing.
But I am doing something about it. I climb. A lot.
Yes, but you don’t really push yourself.
……processing……..processing……..processing…… Yes I do, sort of. Ok, but it has to be something I can buy into, otherwise it’s a bullshit empty promise that will fall by the wayside in a few months and then I’ll feel like shit for not only not improving my climbing but failing at my resolution to improve my climbing. Plus I really don’t want to be arguing with you –myself - on an ongoing basis thinking I should do this bullshit thing that pressured myself into. Screw that.
Let’s try this on for size. Possible Resolution 1: Commit to climbing in the gym at least 3 days per week.
.... Except when I’m traveling, sick, tired, or simply don’t feel like it. No good.
Ok, possible Resolution 2: Stop cheating on gym climbs by grabbing off-route holds.
Really? What difference does it make if I fall or grab a hold to keep from falling? Same same. And, if I grab a hold, I don’t have to re-climb back up and I don’t risk whacking the crap out of my shins on that enormous plastic pimple in the middle of the climb.
Do you think you can benefit at all from trying to grab the holds completely and not giving up right away?
Not on lead.
No problem. I think we are getting somewhere… try this on for size.
Possible Resolution 3: Commit to doing a project in the gym.
Hmmmm….ok…. what are you thinking?
Pick a route you can’t on-sight. Climb it over and over, however many gym sessions it takes, until you can do it cleanly from top to bottom.
Not on lead.
You don’t have to do it on lead. Do it on top rope.
Oh, that sounds like fun. Well, maybe. I don’t want to tweak a tendon or something doing some funky hard move. Then I won’t be able to climb for months, and that will just piss me off and counter this whole getting better thing.
Then let the hold go and build up to it.
I can do that.
Since you are on top rope, can you please not grab off route holds?
What if I’m really stuck at a spot? Don’t you think there is value in getting past that spot and trying the rest of the climb?
OK, if you have tried a move at least 3 times, in a given session, you can move past it using other holds. But in each gym session give it at least 3 tries.
I can do that. It sounds kind of fun. So here it is, an Actual Resolution I Can Deal With:
At each gym session, top-rope a project until I get it cleanly. Stay on route. I can get off route past a crux IF I have tried the move at least 3 times in a given session.
Deal..
Great! How about a resolution to…
Stop! Nope. I’m done here. Nice try lady. Bye bye.