I climbed yesterday and probably said, “That’s too scary,” six times. The guys running the wall were very sweet and would show me how when you stand tall and push away that the auto belay jerks for half a second and then you glide down. The guy that I like a ton told me that because I’m down climbing, I’ve really limited myself. Story of my life. Facing fears. I’m my own worse enemy.

The guide for the super expensive outdoor class called me today and asked me to write about what’s holding me back. I do want to become a climber. Both times that I’ve been actually up a route–and it’s happened TWICE–was both times indoors and both on belay. I told him that when I go fast I do better because I tend to psych myself out. I do that a lot. I want to get up an actual outdoor route tomorrow. I’d do anything to do that.

1. Trust the equipment
2. Step up
3. When you don’t have a handhold step around and keep focused on the handhold that you do have
4. Trust your feet