One of the biggest challenges has been to meet people here. It is very different when you are in a town verse on a climbing trip (or maybe just different for me). Figuring out how to become part of a town is difficult and I am looking at it as a new challenge/adventure. Where do you meet people in a small town mostly populated by tourists? There is not a climbing gym, but a large climbing community, which I need to tap into. I do work with a bunch of guys who climb and have started to get out after work. Small progress is being made and I am slowly becoming more comfortable. I realize becoming part of a community takes time and effort.
I still sleep in my car even though I now have a pop up trailer. I find myself tossing and turning, checking the clock every hour and finally getting up and sleeping in my car. I have yet to figure out what the mental reason behind that is.
Not climbing 5-6 days a week has also been difficult for my mental state. Although a friend pointed out it is good to have a job and take forced rest days. However, I feel like i'm wasting time or will loose the progress I had made over the past year if I am not climbing as much. Realistically that is probably not true, but does weight on my mind.
After recognizing these different aspects causing these negative feelings I have been focusing on the positives.
- I have been lucky to have the opportunity to work for a good friend. His wife and family have been so welcoming making me feel apart of their family ultimately helping with my adjustment process.
- I am in a beautiful place in a location surrounded by a variety of climbing and hiking.
- I work with climbers and need to make an effort to take advantage and climb with them.
- Many friends from Colorado tend to come through the town I am in allowing me to have quality time with old friends.
- This experience has given me the drive to start thinking about my future and possible next steps, which I have been pushing off for the past 11 months.
In the end I will probably love my time here and probably be a little sad when I do eventually leave. It is just a change, which I need to embrace and make a quality experience. Now that I have acknowledge the feelings I have had over the past month I feel progress is being made to welcome this change.