11 life lessons I was reminded of while bouldering in Yosemite

Yosemite National Park is gorgeous. I went there in early September and I had an incredible time hiking in the pristine trails and surreal surroundings. (Pictures to come.)

While hiking, I discovered a new passion and I’m now obsessed. It’s called Bouldering. I’m already planning a trip to get back there for a long weekend. It’s a rock climber’s heaven.

So here are 11 life lessons I was reminded of while Bouldering:

One: Be Curious

I’m naturally a very curious person. I love knowing how things work. “But why?” is a question my mom is probably tired of hearing already. But I can’t help myself!

The World is a fascinating place!

While hiking up the trail, we walked over a bridge and there were giant boulders below us and all around – leading up the river bed. I was amazed by them. It was like a giant jungle gym. I really wanted to climb them…

Two: Take Risks!

I was drawn to them. It just looked like so much fun! So on the way back down from the trail (about 3 hours later) I handed my camera to my mom and told her I was going to meet her back down at the bridge. “Adam, you sure you can do this?” my mom kept saying. “Just be careful please!!!”

Three: Don’t listen to what people say (unless it’s your mom)

Especially, if you really believe in what you’re doing. I just had to do this. Even as I was climbing down from the trail into the river bed (which was one of the most dangerous parts) I wasn’t sure of what I was getting myself into.

Four: Enjoy the journey

Enough said. The days are long. The years are short.

Five: Take it one rock at a time

The bridge was my destination. But I knew I could only get there by climbing one rock at a time.

I tell this to my clients all of the time. One meal at a time. One workout a time. One day at a time.

They shouldn’t worry about next week’s meals or even tomorrow’s because you can’t control tomorrow’s meals today. Start with your very next meal and your very next workout.

This especially rings true with the turbulent stock market and economy right now. One day at a time!

Six: Impress yourself!

There were some very dangerous and sticky parts that I conquered. And if I fell it would have been pretty ugly. I was proud of myself. And I felt amazing all by myself.

Impressing yourself is what it’s all about. Not other people.

Seven: You don’t push yourself enough

We can always work a little harder and do things we don’t think we can do.

Raise your hand in the air. Now raise it one inch higher.

See, you can always work a little harder!

Eight: There is no lesson #8.

Nine: Sometimes life doesn’t go your way

How are you going to react? Things you can’t control….you can’t control!

So, it’s how you react that makes all of the difference. Maybe there should be a lesson # 8 or maybe there should be a giant boulder right here so I don’t have to go in this cave or maybe she should’ve done this or maybe he should’ve done that.

It’s not what happens to us that affects us. It’s our thoughts about what happens to us that affects us.

Worry about what you can control!

Ten: Celebrate your successes

Life is about 2 things: Relationships and experiences. Celebrate your successes (which are your awesome experiences) with your relationships. My mom and step-dad, Warren, were both really proud of me and excited for me when they saw my little head pop up from the boulders. It was fun to celebrate my little accomplishment.

(These pictures were taken by Warren from the bridge.)

Eleven: Life is one big jungle gym

You might as well have fun. Life is an adventure.

So much so that this weekend I’m going camping with my brother-in-law in Lake George with his buddies. Sleeping outside in a tent, cooking food by fire, and being in the middle of nowhere in frigid temperatures for 2 nights with a bunch of married 30 year olds should make for an interesting experience (and some interesting blog posts)…