Tree Climbing Experience

On Wednesday, May 20, 2020, I sat outside to journal about some changes I had been seeing in my yard recently. Every day you can tell that the seasons are proceeding deeper into the spring headed towards summer and running from winter. This transition has always been an exciting one to watch. I have always loved being able to experience increasing days of warmth while saying good riddance to the harsh winter days. The woods in my back and side yards are beginning to fill. You cannot see straight through anymore with all of the new leaves blooming. On a day like this, I realize it is a great day to tackle an activity. I decided to take on one of the challenges that I thought was hard. This challenge is in the top two on a chart from most difficult to least difficult. I decided I was going to climb a tree. The reason I consider climbing a tree to be one of the hardest challenges to do is simple. I am ‘highly’ afraid of heights (ha-ha.) This was a step outside of my comfort zone for sure. To me it does not matter whether I have a harness on or not, I am still scared. There is a specific tree in my backyard that I already knew was the one. Around 10 years ago, my father nailed in some short wood planks going up the base of the tree. This is so we could climb the tree to get to the first branch. When I walked up to the tree, I took a deep breath and proceeded to climb. I climbed up six wood pegs to reach the first branch. Once I hauled myself on to this branch, it was already higher than I wanted to be. I needed to push myself. I felt obligated to go past this first branch because my brother was able to reach the top on his first journey up the tree…ten years ago. I was able to make it up two more branches before I said to myself, “this is not how I want to die.” I carefully climbed down the tree happy to feel the ground under my bare feet. I half-jokingly thanked the tree for allowing me to climb and headed back to think about my experience. While up in the tree, I enjoyed being able to look across my backyard from a view I had not seen before. Doing this challenge helped me realize that the only reason I am uncomfortable at higher altitudes is that I do not have much experience there. While in the tree I found that the longer I would look out at the view, the more comfortable I become. I believe that if I were to practice going up into heights I am uncomfortable with, then I would slowly become less and less afraid of heights. I encourage anyone to try climbing a tree safely if you are looking for a semi-newer experience.