We may train ourselves to be adaptable as possible, to respond appropriately in each situation, but the ideal of controlling the outcome or steering events as they occur must be relinquished. Chaos rules it all.

I don't actually care what I climb, only how it affects me. Which means the summit doesn't matter as much as the emotional process.

Inconsistency, incompetence, and lies are all cut short by the ground. It will stop you if you can't stop yourself.

Modern man is conditioned to expect instant gratification, but any success or triumph realized quickly, with only marginal effort, is necessarily shallow. Meaningful achievement takes time, hard work, persistence, patience, proper intent and self-awareness. The path to success is punctuated by failure, consolidation, and renewed effort.

Everything costs something everyone pays

One hour three times per week in the gym is no counterbalance to all of the other behavior in those other 165 hours

Ultimately, I wanted to own a big truck, exercise my second Amendment rights, listen to hardcore music, and let my congressman know how poorly he represents me. None of this could occur in France.