The Rock Wall at Miraval Resort and Spa

It was my first time ever climbing a rock wall. And I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t terrified. But it was my last day at Miraval Resort and Spa in Tucson, Arizona and I had already conquered several activities, challenging both mentally and physically. So, I figured, what the heck? I had a private session with Matt Walker, author of Adventure in Everything from Inner Passage and right from the get-go he made me feel calm and confident. When we got to the wall, Matt gave me a pair of rock climbing shoes and fitted me with a harness, while I tried not to focus on the 45’ wall in front of me.

Matt showed me how to look at and think about the wall. He showed me how to step onto the footholds and reach for the handholds. He told me that it was all about leg strength and that my arms were just there for helping me to balance. So much of the information surprised me. “It’s not like in the movies,” Matt explained. “You should never be spread out in what I call the dead starfish.” You know, when the blockbuster hero is stretched out dramatically, limb to limb against the rock wall face. The key is to plan ahead. Look around you, all around you, for your next move, and relax. You can’t fail and you can’t fall. That’s the hardest thing of all, to trust that nothing bad will happen to you.

And so with Matt on belay, cheering me, instructing me, and guiding me, I made it to the top. Drenched in sweat and high on adrenaline, I grinned fiercely as Matt snapped my photo. I never imagined I could climb a rock wall. I’m not a big fan of heights or adventures and I’m not much of an athlete…or so I thought. After that climb, and my time at Miraval, I won’t be selling myself short about that stuff – or anything else for that matter – anymore.

Photo by Matt Walker

Jenny Block is the author of “Open: Love, Sex, and Life in an Open Marriage” (Seal Hardcover, June 2008 and Seal Paperback, March 2009), which has been nominated for a Lambda Literary Award. She writes a weekly column for the Dallas Morning News publication Quick called “Sex Talk with Jenny Block” (quickdfw.com). Jenny holds both her BA and her MA in English from Virginia Commonwealth University and taught college composition for nearly ten years. She writes for a wide variety of publications and websites, including huffingtonpost.com, yourtango.com, American Way, Veranda, the Dallas Morning News, the Dallas Voice, edgedallas.com, literarymama.com, Spirit, chow.com, and ellegirl.com.