Fall down, get right back up again

Sometimes you have to fall to fully understand what it means to climb up. Yesterday I learned the lesson of falling the hard way. I challenged myself to go a step further to conquer a piece of the rock wall I had previously not attempted. I was successful in making it to the top and then quickly realized I did not know how to get down. As I was hanging on the wall I had the fear of falling and the fear of being seriously injured. I attempted to make myself climb back down the wall and each time I came to a road block and failed to lower myself. I tried to go up or to traverse over to another route and my muscles failed me. After a few minutes my hands grew sweaty and my arms and legs started to shake. I knew that it was inevitable that I was going to fall from the wall. I was not harnessed in I was simply hanging about 15 feet in the air with no where to go. I had two people below me spotting but I was too high for them to really help. I knew the mat was below me but that did not give me a lot of consolation that I would not be injured. Eventually the inevitable came true and I slipped off the wall. I landed on my feet and rolled over backwards. Needless to say I am a bit sore today but the good news is I did not seriously injure myself. We all take chances from time to time and I knew that overcoming that last step on the wall was a challenge. I succeeded in the first challenge and failed to realize the next obstacle. The fall gave me perspective and let me know my limits. I now understand the importance of the top rope when mastering new moves and the security provided in using the safer method. I will continue to push myself with the thought of falling to keep safety in my mind. I am sure I will have more falls both on the wall and in life as I venture into uncharted territory. I cherish the opportunity to push beyond my limits and the reality of knowing where the limits are. I did not let the fall deter me in climbing the rest of the evening, instead I put on my harness and went right back up the wall.