Sunday Stories: Face Difficulties Positively

So if you ever get stuck in a well, here's an easy way to get out...


This parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule praying or whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together, told them what had happened, and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, he would shake the dirt off, then stand up!

This he did, blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up!” He repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought panic and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up.

It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like it would bury him actually helped him . . . all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

That's Life! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity.

-http://academictips.org/blogs/face-difficulties-positively/


(Jk, but I really like the focus on how the mindset makes all the difference.  I think there's a lot of truth to this story, sometimes what seems like a bad thing can actually turn out to be really good.)

Hope everyone has a nice week!

-Chris

Alex Honnold Crazy Trad Route

BD athlete Alex Honnold sending in Indian Creek, Utah from Black Diamond Equipment on Vimeo.

What I really like about this guy is how humble he is. He just blew my mind, and then he's like: "yeah, I just like climbing" - people like that really inspire me!

Enjoy
-Chris

Sunday Story: Hospital Window

I don't want to spoil anything, just read! (please :) )

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.

Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.

As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.

Although the other man couldn’t hear the band – he could see it. In his mind’s eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed.

One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.

As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved to the other bed. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.

He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.

It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, “Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.”

Author Unknown

-http://academictips.org/blogs/moral-tale-hospital-window/

These are the kinds of stories that really get me thinking. There are so many creative ways to help people, we just have to look outside the box!

Enjoy
-Chris

Awesome Climbing Vid: Eye of Sauron

So I've been watching LOTR while running this week (way too hot to run outside) and then this video shows up!

L'occhio di Sauron from sezzaman on Vimeo.

BTW, who wants to climb that last route?! I know I do!

Enjoy,
-Chris

Sunday Story: The Man's Guide To Love

My friend showed me this website, and I think, while most of the stuff is common sense, it's interesting to hear all the different perspectives about love. And sorry ladies! This post is more for the guys!


The Man's Guide To Love #210 from themansguidetolove on Vimeo.
Jason and Gary 23


The Man's Guide To Love #120 from themansguidetolove on Vimeo.
Rick 28

The Man's Guide To Love #71 from themansguidetolove on Vimeo.

Raymond 30


The Man's Guide To Love #59 from themansguidetolove on Vimeo.
Danny 23




The Man's Guide To Love #29 from themansguidetolove on Vimeo.
John 50 (this one I think is really good)


The Man's Guide To Love #26 from themansguidetolove on Vimeo.
William 42


(all from here: http://www.themansguidetolove.com/category/hall-of-fame/hall-of-fame-front-page/#)

(and there were two of the top 8 that weren't really appropriate. They're funny, and make some good points, but I don't think it fits with coherent message so I'm removing them. But if you want to see the, click the link, I think the names were Chuck (26) and Victor (40).

Well I hope yal liked it!
-Chris

TRC Wrangle in the Triangle Bouldering Comp!

Well, comp is a little misleading, it was more like a giant bouldering party with prizes.  Enjoy!

Wrangle in the Triangle! 

Team belaying!  These guys were awesome! 

Looking for some problems to climb!


Now this is video from yesterday, but it was a competition problem that I worked on a lot so it's relevant!

My score sheet! 

(And I didn't get a huge amount of pics of peeps climbing or me climbing, but this is the end of the regular climbing.  Next is:

 DYNO Comp!  Waiting to dyno = nerve racking because everyone watches you!  And I didn't think I was very good... But...

I think I actually did pretty well!

And then the Finals!  There was a women's finals too, but I just didn't get very good video from them so I am just putting up the guys finals videos

PROBLEM 2


PROBLEM 3

This is what normally happens...


This guy was a BEAST!

And the Recreation Results!  Got Second!

Bling Bling!

And the raffle - but I was just grateful to have got the medal - so no worries about not getting any of the prizes.  PS3 would have been nice though... haha

Enjoy!
-Chris

Sunday Story: The Important Things First

So this is a little basic, and it's also a little more of a Tuesday story than a Sunday Story, BUTTTT, I read this story, closed it, and then I just kept thinking about it. So I went back to the site, nabbed the story, and put it up. It's simple, but it makes you think, which is what I like a lot about it.


A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”

“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter – like your job, your house, your car.

The sand is everything else. The small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.

Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

- http://academictips.org/blogs/moral-tale-the-important-things-in-life/

Enjoy
-Chris

Also, I want to give a shout out for my friend Emily - she is one of the most inspirational people I've ever met, and she just started a BLOG that I highly recommend checking out!

This is a Climbing Blog, Right?

It certainly feels that way... But I guess that kind of reflects me, I just love climbing so much I can't help but share it...  By the way, just discovered this guy, but I hope to look up more about him.  I can already tell he is going to inspire me.  I think he hits on a lot of the things I really love about climbing, especially on how it just gives you extra energy for the rest of your life.

Hirayama Yuji (平山ユージ) - On The Road To Slovenia from Rožle Bregar - kloc on Vimeo.

ALSO Special Treat! I ALMOSTTTT climbed a V4 yesterday,

E

 and I got it on video for you guys, I'll put it up shortly! I'm no where as good as these videos I've been posting (most of the videos I post are like V13 and up) - but it will fall more closely under the category of MY Adventures and Tales.

Enjoy!
-Chris