There’s something about rock climbing that just flips a switch inside me. Maybe it’s the rhythm of the movement—each hold forcing me to slow down and be fully present. Maybe it’s the problem-solving, the way I have to read a wall like a puzzle and trust my instincts, even when my fingers are screaming and my legs are shaking.

Climbing demands my full attention, and in that focus, the noise of the world fades. Worries shrink. Anxiety softens. I feel strong, capable, and clear. Whether I'm topping out on a new boulder problem or falling (again) at the gym, I'm reminded that growth doesn’t come from comfort—it comes from recommitting yourself over and over again.

At the end of the day, climbing brings me joy not because I conquer walls, but because I connect with something bigger: challenge, community, and my own resilience. And that, for me, is happiness.