Holding on for Dear Life

Sometimes we need to do things in life without a harness.  Ropes that tie us down and keep us safe, can also keep us from experiencing the feelings that make life memorable. 

Today I spent a couple hours with my cousin hiking and bouldering up this massive rock formation in the desert.  It was an intense undertaking on its own, but what made it really stand out as a challenge to me, was that it was the first time that I had climbed boulders without any protection.

I was put in a position where I couldn’t give up…because my life was at stake.  I found strength where I thought there was none.  This isn’t necessarily strength drawn from the fear of pain, but more from the determination that I knew I could do it.  The fact that it was my only option was just additional motivation.

This experience meant a lot to me, in that it was another example of how I can’t live in fear.  The bruises, tears and cuts are proof that I overcame a challenge that couldn’t keep me down.

It’s the same with life, I suppose.