Its easy just grab the colorful ones!...Route Finding

Ok sorry to start out with climber terms. On the wall, as in the picture posted, the walls at many sports and workout facilities are covered with brightly colored climbing holds. While it is always easy to spot them they are not always as easy to grab. If you think it is hard getting up a wall littered with bright neon yellow, orange, and pink holds try climbing a wall that is consistantly the same color and shadows appear to be great holds and great holds appear to be shadows on the rock. Add 1,000 feet of air and space between you and the ground and you have a real climbing experiencing, or at least the ones I long for during these wintery days. As I mentioned the routes are not as easy to find once your on them let alone getting to the base of the climb. I have found myself shwacking through mountain laurel so thick I was ready to give up all together and sell my climbing gear, maybe not all of it.
Route finding is indeed an art. In traditional climbing, you go where the rock gives you cracks to place protection. It is because of these experiences that I appreciate climbing, however not everyone can have them and for those who are not as adventurous, the art of route finding is transformed into the art of route setting. As I set multi colored holds on the climbing wall at work for my students, I can't help but think about the parallels between route finding on the rock and route finding in life.
Life is a continuous journey of route finding. I am only twenty four and have much discovering to do in both rock climbing and life. But I don't just look at my own experiences. I observe and watch others. In climbing I watch the way people move over the rocks. I see how fluid methodical movements produce great results in some situations and powerful dynamic moves fit in others. I scan the rock many times to see how the rock is formed and try and choose the path of least resistance, or most resistance depending on how bold I am feeling! I do the same thing in life, I watch others and assess their successes and failures and try not to judge or criticize, although it happens, so that I may learn about myself and how to find a better path for me to follow. I am currently preparing to train a small staff of seven people. At twenty four, almost twenty five, I am blessed to be in this position but know that I am not here by fault. It is the path I have chosen and as the rock many times leads, it is the path that has chosen me. I have seen and learned so much from the individuals around me, what to do and not to do, and I have stored that knowledge away and wait for the right moment to say "I can do this" or the humbling "I better try this another time on another day".
This is why I love it when I am climbing a new route I never know what might be around the next overhang or bulge or even what the holds might be like but that is one of the reasons I climb, to discover something. Life provides the same excitement. I never know what each day will bring. I have seen many beautiful vistas from perched positions on the sides or tops of mountains but I never choose to stay forever. There will be many others to see. I take in the part of life I am currently living, and do the best I can with each new day that is gifted to me. I have my share of rainy days and wet sloppy climbs but its in the face of adversity that forms the heart and soul of a man and I am being shaped with each moment by climbing, responsibilities, relationships, and experiences. I can't wait for the next time I rope up on the mountain or in the workplace. I also posted a photo of the ice tower with a person to give some perspective. See you on the rocks!