I'm told by those way more insightful than I that drawing up a list is a sure-fire way of effectively dealing with the demands of modern life, quelling anxiety and enhancing creativity. Apparently, making a list...
Here's my definitive list of why, at the ripe age of 51, I've taken up what has, at times, turned out to be one of the most difficult, frustrating, dauntingly scary, exhilarating, satisfying, growth-inducing, rewarding pastimes I ever have throughout my entire half-century of living ... second only to learning how to meditate ... shudder!!!
The list is no particular order. It's just a list of my inner wisdoms, placed right here in full view so I can keep adding to it, and read it from time to time, to remind myself of ... WHY???
And to those who deem list-making to be mere obsession, and advocate a more "organic" approach to life, I have this to say: obsessional character is not always pathological; well-channeled, it can lead to success as well as solace.
This little book has become my bible, in many ways, even though I don't always completely agree with The Great Arno. Here are a few of the useful snippets that my Inner Worrier has honed in on, in its ever striving to align itself with my Inner Warrior.
Arno's take on how to create happiness in our lives also piques my interest: as do many deeper thinkers on such matters, his philosophy is (or, at least, was, at the time of writing) to base our life's work on something we're passionate about, in which we may have specific talents, as it's the best path to challenge us and the most effective way to serve others.
Interesting.
I also used to think this way, throughout many a year of soul-searching in a bid to find that elusive "happiness" factor. And elusive it remained, on the whole, while I remained on this thought train. Serving others sometimes gave me a nice warm fuzzy feeling inside but never quite cut it when the chips were down, particularly once it dawned on me that, ultimately, we actually do everything for ourselves. Even when we kid ourselves that we're doing something for someone else's benefit entirely. I say BS!! Yes, even martyrs.
What unfailingly serves me, to this end, is ... (yup, another list)
Simple as that.
The rest (what others might derive from what I do, what I might learn from a situation, etc. etc. etc.) is a bonus.
 |
| Picasso's handwritten suggestions for the 1913 International Exhibition of Modern Art. |
- ... will make you feel in control;
- ... is good for the brain; and
- ... will put you in league with historical figures from the ancient Egyptians to Pablo Picasso.
Here's my definitive list of why, at the ripe age of 51, I've taken up what has, at times, turned out to be one of the most difficult, frustrating, dauntingly scary, exhilarating, satisfying, growth-inducing, rewarding pastimes I ever have throughout my entire half-century of living ... second only to learning how to meditate ... shudder!!!
The list is no particular order. It's just a list of my inner wisdoms, placed right here in full view so I can keep adding to it, and read it from time to time, to remind myself of ... WHY???
- It keeps me fit.
- It gets me outdoors, into some beautiful, remote, wild places.
- The views are fabulous.
- It's not crowded.
- It makes the rest of life seem so easy!
- There's always something more to strive for.
- Every climb is different, even the same route done twice.
- It allows me to see things that very few others get to see.
- It teaches me a lot of useful stuff about myself.
- It's legal.
- It gives me time and an activity to share with my gorgeous man.
- It gives me something completely new to learn.
- It engages my brain as well as my body.
- I have a fabulous coach and mentor.
- It makes use of other skills and talents of mine - strength, balance, fitness, flexibility, focus, sensitivity, perseverance.
- It allows me to push through my comfort zone, which allows me to grow.
- I enjoy its problem-solving aspects.
- It's very cheap for me, because I either already have the equipment I need or my partner can provide me with it.
- It gives me the opportunity of meeting like-minded people and making new friends.
- It's an effective bonding activity with my fabulous man, because we learn to be attentive to each other, we learn to trust each other with our lives, we learn a lot about each other - sometimes in extreme situations.
- It has me constantly surrounded with fit, strong, healthy, courageous people that I find very pleasing to the eye and mind.
- It gives me another thing in common with my dad, and something we can chat about.
- When it's not totally terrifying, it's out-of-this-wordly exhilarating.
- When enough favourable factors line up for me, it's really FUN!!!
- ...
And to those who deem list-making to be mere obsession, and advocate a more "organic" approach to life, I have this to say: obsessional character is not always pathological; well-channeled, it can lead to success as well as solace.
Some wisdom from my Inner Worrier
For our second Christmas together, my wonderful man bought me (us) a copy of |
| Arno climbing at Point Perpendicular, NSW. |
"The Rock Warrior's Way - mental training for climbers" by Arno Ilgner (2006)
http://warriorsway.com/It's published, most fittingly, by the Desiderata Institute. I love it!!
This little book has become my bible, in many ways, even though I don't always completely agree with The Great Arno. Here are a few of the useful snippets that my Inner Worrier has honed in on, in its ever striving to align itself with my Inner Warrior.
"The way you live your life is exactly the way you will climb." in the book's Foreword by John Long.Lots of food for thought here. Particularly useful turned around - the way I climb is showing me a lot about how I live my life.
Arno's take on how to create happiness in our lives also piques my interest: as do many deeper thinkers on such matters, his philosophy is (or, at least, was, at the time of writing) to base our life's work on something we're passionate about, in which we may have specific talents, as it's the best path to challenge us and the most effective way to serve others.
Interesting.
I also used to think this way, throughout many a year of soul-searching in a bid to find that elusive "happiness" factor. And elusive it remained, on the whole, while I remained on this thought train. Serving others sometimes gave me a nice warm fuzzy feeling inside but never quite cut it when the chips were down, particularly once it dawned on me that, ultimately, we actually do everything for ourselves. Even when we kid ourselves that we're doing something for someone else's benefit entirely. I say BS!! Yes, even martyrs.
What unfailingly serves me, to this end, is ... (yup, another list)
- Gratitude
- Humour
- Curiosity
Simple as that.
The rest (what others might derive from what I do, what I might learn from a situation, etc. etc. etc.) is a bonus.
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