Hello, I’m Vanessa Rached, a 29-year-old Lebanese graphic designer with a passion for climbing.
Discovering Climbing
I discovered climbing in 2017 through a friend. From the moment I touched the rocks, I was hooked. However, back then, climbing wasn’t as popular as it is now, and I didn’t know where to go or how to dive deeper into the sport. Life moved on, and I kept climbing in the back of my mind, unsure of how to make it a consistent part of my life.
Reconnecting with Climbing
At that point, I was struggling deeply with depression, life felt heavy. Overthinking and self-doubt consumed my days, and I desperately needed a way to break the cycle. I knew I needed something that would get me out of my head. A year later, while chatting with friends, they mentioned ‘U ROCK’, a local climbing gym, and climbing felt like the perfect solution. It wasn’t easy at first. I struggled, fell, and doubted myself constantly. But with each climb, I noticed small but meaningful progress, and it kept me coming back.
Tackling Personal Challenges
Climbing was a metaphor for everything I was going through. Every hold was like a small challenge I had to overcome. As I climbed higher and higher, I felt like I was letting go of the heavy baggage of self-criticism, fear, and anger. Whenever I reached the top of a wall, I didn’t just feel a sense of physical accomplishment; I felt mentally lighter, stronger, and more confident.
A New Sense of Belonging
One of the most unexpected rewards from climbing came from the people I met through the sport. The climbing community was incredibly supportive, and the friendships there were unlike anything I had experienced before. We were climbing together; cheering and helping each other through tough climbs, and celebrating every triumph. That sense of belonging to a group of people who genuinely cared and encouraged each other helped me heal in ways I never thought possible. I felt proud and confident again, something I hadn’t truly felt in a while.
As I continued to dedicate myself to climbing, I reached a point where I realized I needed to train harder. My early focus was primarily on indoor climbing, but I quickly found out that this didn’t translate well when I took it to the rocks. Mentally, I was struggling. Determined to overcome this, I invested in my own gear and shifted my training focus entirely to outdoor climbing, pushing myself to feel more comfortable and confident on the rocks.
The IFSC Asian Cup
Last year, something incredible happened. Noticing my progress and consistent effort, a member of the LFCM encouraged me to enter the IFSC Asian Cup in Riyadh. I’ll admit, I was overwhelmed, excited, and also terrified. For years, I had been obsessed with watching elite climbers compete in IFSC events, never imagining that one day I could be the one on that stage. I felt an intense drive to put everything I had into my training. I was determined to make myself, and everyone who had supported me, proud.
One week into my training for the competition, I fell from a boulder in the gym and twisted my ankle badly. With only one month left to prepare, and despite the injury, I wasn’t ready to give up. I adjusted my training to focus on everything I could still do, working on specific exercises that didn’t involve putting weight on my injured leg. There were times when I forced myself to climb through the pain, but deep down, I knew my ankle wasn’t healing properly.
At this point, I had to accept a harsh reality: I couldn’t expect perfection from myself, but I was still going to give it my all. I had no illusions about the challenges I was facing, but I promised myself that I would perform at my best, regardless of the circumstances.
Competing at the IFSC
A month later, there I was standing at the IFSC competition. It’s hard to put into words the mix of happiness and fear I felt in that moment. The gratitude I had for being there was overwhelming. I had gone into the event with the mindset of just enjoying the experience, embracing the journey, but once I was actually there, it was impossible not to care.
With the support of my team, I was able to approach every challenge the competition threw at me with a clearer mindset. Just being there, in that moment, was an incredible experience in itself. I had the chance to meet climbers from all over the world and forge new friendships along the way.
And what an experience it was! There were so many ups and downs, but considering my limited training and the twisted ankle, I gave it my all. I learned so much through the process, not just about climbing, but also about managing stress and pushing through challenges.
The discomfort you feel is often a sign that you’re on the edge of something transformative whether it’s learning a new skill, facing a fear, or simply discovering the strength you didn’t know you had.
A Message of Hope
Today, climbing is still a huge part of my life. It taught me to be patient with myself, to accept that setbacks are part of growth, and to celebrate every bit of progress, no matter how small.
If you’re struggling right now whether with mental health, self-doubt, or just the weight of life’s challenges I encourage you to find something that pushes you. It doesn’t have to be climbing; it could be anything that helps you focus, challenge yourself, and build confidence. Sometimes, the smallest steps lead to the biggest changes.
And if you’re even slightly curious about climbing, I urge you to give it a try. It might just surprise you how much it can offer, not only in terms of physical fitness but in building mental strength. Just like me, you might find that climbing saves more than just your body, it could save your spirit, too.