New Year, Same Us

Keep it going, keep it going, keep it going, keep it going, keep it going, keep it going, keep it going!

We at theDIHEDRAL have never been much for New Year’s resolutions.  A year can be a long time, and a lot can change over the course of 365 days.  Circumstances change, antecedents change, behaviors change.  What we want on January 1^st is not guaranteed to be what we want on December 31^st.  Heck, what we want on January 1^st isn’t even guaranteed to be what we want on January 2^nd.  I have a laundry basket in the shape of a rowing machine to support that point.  To be resolute or marked by firm determination is a little extreme for January goals. 

So, in the nature of tradition, we’d like to offer a few things that have been working for us, and we hope they continue to work for us in the coming days, weeks, months, and years!

Carrot

Climbers tend to use about three expressions.  We might use synonymous terms to convey those expression, but ultimately, we say three things.  I hope to be mindful of these three things moving out of 2023 and into 2024!

1. Breathe.  When fighting through a crux, climbers will often hold their breath while trying to pull harder.  This technique is terrible and restrictive.  Taking a few seconds to breathe intentionally can be calming and offer clarity regarding how to move forward.  I have awful stage fright, which like climbing through a crux is often quelled by simply remembering to breathe!

2. Allez, allez, allez! This is kind of an interjection of encouragement.  You might also say ‘come on’, or ‘you got this’!  Sometimes, just the smallest form of encouragement can get us over the hump.  I like to think I am an encouraging person, and I hope to continue this trend into the new year.  For anyone reading, for anyone struggling to get through a crux…allez!

3. Falling!  The truth is sometimes we don’t got this, in fact there are lots of occasions where we don’t got this, and we fall!  Falling is part of climbing, it’s what makes the sport interesting and fun.  I’d venture to say the same thing about life.  So like 2023, and 2022, and 2021, and 2020, and of course 2019, and 2018, then there was 2017, and all the years before that, I expect to fall in 2024.  I also expect to try and make the most of those falls, to make sure they include some fun, and to make sure I always try and get back up!

High-Clip

The trouble with making goals is that there are only two outcomes. One, you nearly meet the goal, so you keep moving the goalpost to be that much better, and you never feel like you’re where you want to be. Two, you never in fact reach your goal, and then you just feel like you’re not achieving anything. Either way, you’re left feeling down and discouraged, which goes against the principle of setting goals. So, instead, let’s get rid of the goalposts altogether, and focus on being present on the field.

1. Be a Yes person. If you haven’t seen the film Yes Man, this means you indiscriminately say yes to things. Now, there is a time and place for “no,” but when presented with an opportunity, such as a new workout or climb, take it. If you say “yes” enough times, you’ll realize you’ve accomplished quite a bit, and more importantly, experienced quite a bit.
2. Remember your identity. These days, it is far too easy to get lost in the seas of people around us. It’s too easy to compare ourselves to everyone else and find areas we fall short in comparison. This isn’t me saying oh, don’t worry little snowflake, you’re unique and special just like everyone else. True, you are unique and special, but even more, your purpose on this planet is your own, and it needn’t look like anyone else’s. In other words, if you keep asking yourself why you can’t send some grade or why you can’t stick to some workout routine, think about what kind of person can do those things, and then think about the kind of person you want to be. You may notice those two people are rather different.
3. Master thyself. This goes hand in hand with #2, but this is also in reference to the new God of War DLC, Valhalla. We have so many sources of expectations: work/school, family, friends, pets, communities…even the world. We all have an idea of the person we’re “supposed” to be molded into. Sometimes, we can feel like pawns in some larger game. For example, I’m a bit short and I have a -3 ape index. I don’t send big, reachy climbs all the time. I do send smaller, more technical climbs. Why? Well, because of my size. No. It’s because of me, the climber. Controlling the narrative does make some failures hurt more, sure, but it also makes the successes much more fulfilling, and it helps us fight the mold that’s meant for us. This year, let’s keep owning who we are, and start to use it to our advantage.