My Candid Thoughts About Trying New Things
When Mari mentioned the upcoming community event, I was excited to learn what it would involve, and then she revealed it would be rock wall climbing. I felt an immediate sense of overwhelm and anxiety, which made me not want to do it. All I could think about was what would happen If I fall, what if I get hurt? I was also scared about going up because I had no idea how high it would be. I also said to myself "Oh no!" I was so anxious that I talked to Mrs. Evon and Mom so that they could help me figure out If I could do it. After I talked with them, I felt a little excited but still worried & remembered to have a positive mind-set.
Today was an exciting day because I was able to go rock wall climbing with Travelvisions Aloha. We went to HiClimb Rock Climbing & Yoga which is located in Kaka'ako. I was so nervous that I had 2 cuties (little oranges) before putting on my climbing shoes & a harness. A harness is a piece of equipment used for climbing. Emily, the volunteer who assisted me, was able to help me with putting on the harness. The material of the harness felt thick and coarse, which is put on like a pair of pants. When I stepped into the harness, there was no material connected to it, but it's secured by hooking the material together. It wasn't comfortable but I knew I needed it for safety. Emily gave me safety instructions on how to climb a rock wall, asked for help and told me that she'd be with me the whole time. Now, It was time to climb. Emily gave me another hook to connect the harness to a rope that was connected to the wall all the way at the top. I tried climbing high on the rock wall but I was overwhelmed and didn't get too far. Emily and another volunteer helped me down by guiding me physically and verbally. Some of the things they said were good try and they were proud of me. I got off the wall and decided to take a break to calm down. After my break, I was better and Emily started talking to me about the differences of the walls for rock climbing. She moved me to a different wall and I got to feel the rocks. She also showed me different holding positions on a couple of the rock walls. She did this by telling me where to put my hands, and using the hand over hand technique. The rocks on the walls are each made differently. Some of the rocks felt rough and bumpy. While others felt round and oddly shaped with jagged edges. Emily made me feel happy because she gave me specific descriptions and took her time. Everyone was proud of me that I tried to rock climb, but you know what.... I was proud of myself! Trying new things can be scary, but it also makes life exciting. Facing your fears is a brave step towards discovering what you truly enjoy and you can learn something valuable. Embracing new challenges can lead to personal growth, expanding your comfort zone and builds your confidence over time.
I honestly can say that I don't think I’d like to rock climb again but I felt a sense of positive self-esteem for trying something new. As always, Ms.Marri and Travelvisions Aloha want people to know that we're capable of living full and happy lives, so keep reading my blog to find out about more adventures! - Kelly and Mrs., Evon
