He Said

Some call it a nightmare, some call it a dream and some just say it’s necessary. Climbing with your girlfr iend or wife can be a great thing or a disaster. It can br ing out the worst in both of you. The same less-than-perfect belay your fr iend gives you will make you mad if it’s by your partner. Not to mention being a giant wimp when she is belaying.

I believe that in a long-ter m relationship, the women you’re with br ings out the best in you. You are the best version of yourself when around that special someone. That completely goes out the window as soon as you are both attached to the same rope. The nylon lifeline has a way of brewing tension bet ween t wo better halves. All loving courtesies go straight out the window as soon as there is only a rope, some draws and 20 metres of air between you.

When you go climbing with a buddy who drops you a bit farther than you expected, you br ush it of f like it isn’t anything because it isn’t. When your par tner, on the other hand, even sneezes while belaying you on a dog attempt up a route you probably shouldn’t be dogging you can’t help it and yell, “Hold me there, why are you dropping me? Can you please pay more attention? ” You become a whining baby who makes excuses and gets angr y for no reason. Not “real” angr y, just relationship angr y. Despite how calm and col lected you are on a route, that demon wil l sneak up and you wil l say things that land you on the couch for a couple of nights.

For some reason your 95- lb. buddy can hold you in place on my project better than your 110- lb. girlfr iend. Climbing can be a ver y intense and stressful activit y where emotions are f lying out of control. It’s best to take three breaths and remind yourself that she is a lways r ight, so don’t arg ue. Just get back on the wall.