On June 14th I started a new job working for my previous boss at his startup company. I quickly learned that at startups, NOTHING is blocked. It's amazing. So here I am, about a year later, back and ready to post. I'm going to post all over the place. All the posts, all the time. Yes. Starting right now.
Let's talk about where the hell I've been, other than starting a new job.
First and most relevant to this blog, I took a break from climbing. I'm not talking about a week, I'm talking about approximately 3-4 months. I was tired, emotionally burnt out (See the Self-Coached Climber on tips when it's time to take a break), and also lost my climbing partner to a breakup. That's the tough thing: dating your climbing partner. When we broke up, surprise surprise, I realized I needed to find a new climbing partner. But the bond of the rope is not easily forged. It takes trust and trust takes time. So that was a huge obstacle for me to overcome, especially considering I am less-than-passionate about bouldering. Since then, I have suckered a couple friends into taking belay classes at my gym and one of them actually got hooked.
However, looking back at what Eric Horst calls my "off-season", I have no regrets. This was a fantastic opportunity for me to focus on other aspects of my life, like two new activities I have incorporated into my schedule: running and yoga. I use the Nike+ Running app, which is a total godsend when it's not crashing mid-run. I also bought a year membership at a nearby yoga studio at an insanely discounted price. Once I got into the swing of running 8-9 miles a week and doing yoga about twice a week, I was slowly able to bring climbing back into my life.
Now I feel that I am climbing better than ever, or at the very least, already back to the highest level of climbing before my break. I feel great, and I feel healthy.
So that's where I've been and hopefully where I will stay.
I also think I am going to broaden my concept of what belongs on this website. I want to write more about travel and activities, while continuing to post about climbing and photography. I want this blog to become about my goals, long and short term. I want this website to be about everything that makes me happy. I hope that some of the topics will ultimately make you happy too. Also, my posts will have more pictures than this one, I promise!
Okay, just ONE picture and that's all you get this time.