Free Solo – A Lesson, Even if You’re Afraid of Heights

[image error]Recently, I watched the documentary, Free Solo. The story about Alex Honnold and his journey up El Capitan’s 900-meter vertical rock face at Yosemite National Park.

I hate heights. Which meant I was not able to watch every scene of the movie because I literally felt like I was falling off the couch as dizziness hit me. How could someone, such as myself, gain any insight into life after watching Free Solo? I clearly was not able to go climb a mountain.

If you’ve seen this film maybe you had the following thoughts. First, you decided to concur your fears and scale some mountains. Or, second, you felt like complete crap that you could never do something so challenging.

For me, Free Solo showcased that everyone is different, be it big differences or little differences. Your El Capitan’s 900-meter vertical rock might be finishing and submitting a manuscript. It might be getting married or having a baby. It might even be leaving your house or seeking help for an addiction. But for some, maybe it is climbing a mountain.

What else did I learn from Free Solo? I’m so happy you want to know.

The camera crew played a heavy role in the film, maybe more so than other documentaries I’ve watched. When thinking about my own El Capitan, who was my film crew? How does that affect me and my goals? My film crew are family and friends. They support me and stand in exactly the right spot to lift me up. They affect my goals by making sure I don’t give up, but if I do, they will support that as well.