What Has Changed for Me:
The idea of never giving up on myself truly came to a head in June 2025 during a family trip to Spain. Part of our adventure was hiking in the Pyrenees mountains. I’ve always told myself I loved hiking, but I’d never consider rock climbing. I believed I wasn’t strong enough, was afraid of heights, and convinced myself I didn’t have what it took to reach a summit.
During the climb, a friend encouraged me to go a little further than I normally would have been comfortable with. When others in our group stopped, I pushed on with the promise that they would turn back when I was ready. But what I didn’t realize was that I had reached a point of no return—the climb became too dangerous to turn around. So, I kept going—one step at a time.
I learned to set smaller goals and break the mountain into manageable parts. Instead of focusing on the summit, I found a target and aimed for that. And I did it—I reached Mount Tristriana in Andorra, the second-highest peak in the country at 9,442 feet. It was a 6.5-mile climb starting from around 7,000 feet. When I finally came down, my husband and son were waiting—literally crying.
When I asked if they were scared I might not make it, my husband, an avid climber, said he was crying because he knew how hard that climb was and what it took mentally and physically for me to do it. He told me I had gone from being told I needed back surgery to conquering a mountain. My 18-year-old son looked at me and said I was a “mom boss,” proud that I faced my fears.
This experience taught me so much more than just climbing a mountain. It’s incredible how much we hold ourselves back with negative self-talk. I’ve realized how much we can accomplish by breaking life down into smaller goals and just taking the next step. During that hike, I even said that Nickie Carrigan saved my life. I know I did the work, but this gym and community have taught me more than a burpee—it’s taught me to never give up on myself. It’s not about what you look like; it’s about how you feel.