Thoughts from the sofa
- Failure is all part of success, it’s just difficult to remember that until you get to the actual succeeding bit. All the best drivers pass third time anyway.
- Achieving a goal can be an anti-climax, a few new ones in the pipeline never go amiss.
- It’s not about people, but it is about people. We all compare ourselves to others. We also feel stupid when we underestimate others, and a little smug when others underestimate us.
- Bad weather is rubbish; bad weather is subjective.
- Sometimes, idiots tell you stuff that you already know just to enjoy the sound of their own voices. They’re irritating, but if it’s any consolation, everyone else probably thinks so too.
- There is more to everyone else than meets the eye.
- You’re always at risk of falling over, try not to do it when you’re on top of things.
- Your actions have consequences. Sometimes these are trivial (not unpacking climbing bag = smelly shoes), sometimes they’re bloody enormous (not wearing helmet + Rockwall = could have been avoidable head injury).
- Working out who you can trust is important. Working out who you can’t trust is even more important (especially relevant to belaying and carsharing).
- It might seem like blagging it is a good idea, but it won’t be long until you’re out of your depth on a job interview for a roofing magazine with no idea what a single ply membrane is.
- Your shoes and will smell if you don’t wear socks and do exercise. As long as the love of exercise outweighs the shame of footstink you’re all good. Even if it doesn’t, you’re all good.
- Those moments when you’re in a right pickle, they’re the ones that bring out the best in you, and the worst.
- Neither climbing nor life are meant to be taken too seriously, it’s all a bit of fun at the end of the day.
Hati Whiteley 