Dooley Noted: 3/9/2015
While teaching NKT Level II in Melbourne, we returned from a lunch break.
My friend Riccardo did something I had always wanted to do: climb a rope to the ceiling.
I watched as he ascended to a three story ceiling.
I was in awe.
I immediately thought, “Am I even strong enough to try?”
Riccardo must have seen my fascinated face.
Riccardo: “Come on, Kathy. Give it a go!”
Dooley: “I don’t know if I can do it!”
Riccardo: “Let’s find out!”
So he showed me where to place my feet and how to ascend.
It was much like a pull-up, so at first, I found it easy!
But then – you have to come back down.
Dooley: “Uh – how do I get down?”
I was like a cat stuck in a tree.
Riccardo guided me through how to get down, and he repeated something important.
Riccardo: “Don’t look down. And don’t slide down the rope. Pull up a bit with each descent.”
I have always found the down to be the scariest part.
I love a good struggle to get up something. But to control a descent takes enormous motor control.
So I listened to his words.
I didn’t slide down.
I climbed down with purpose.
I didn’t let gravity push me to the floor. I fought gravity slightly to descend in a controlled manner.
I fought my way down. And it worked!
I can’t wait to try again today, to see if I can get up even higher.
It was the best strength cardio I’ve had in years – because it challenged me to do something that scared me.
You can let the down phase take you down.
Or you can fight the down and learn to love it.
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley