Elise: Then meet me there at 4. In your gym clothes. :)
I pull into the parking lot of Hard Rock Gym a few minutes before four, seeing Elise’s Jeep already in the parking lot. She exits her vehicle as I’m parking my truck. She’s in gym clothes as well.
“Ready?”
“I have no idea what for, but I’m going to tell you I’m ready,” I say with a laugh.
We enter the gym and I immediately see why it’s calledHard Rock. At the other end of the gym is a huge rock climbing wall.
I look at her in disbelief. “We’re tackling the rock wall?”
She gives me a huge grin. “Today,youare. Don’t worry, I cleared this activity with your trainer.”
We check in and head over to the wall supervisor, who Elise calls by name.
“Hey, Joe, how’s it going?”
“Good. Haven’t seen you here in a while.”
“I’ve been busy with a lot of projects, so no time for the wall. This is my friend Jax. I’d like to introduce him to climbing therapy. He’s recovering from a shoulder injury, so can you set him up on beginner-level top-roping?”
“Sure, no problem.” He extends a hand. “Great to meet you, Jax. Let’s get you outfitted.”
As Joe gets me set up with a climbing harness, shoes, and a helmet, Elise explains what she has in mind.
“I know you’ve got some important decisions to make, and I don’t want to influence you with my biased perspective. Whenever something’s weighing heavy on me, and I need to think it through, I tackle the rock wall. The wall can be very humbling and it’s an equalizer. Even though you’re an accomplished athlete, climbing this wall isn’t necessarily about strength or physical ability. It’s about strategy. It requires patience, trust, communication, and self-awareness. I’m hoping after you give it a try, you’ll get some clarity that will help you figure some things out.”
I have to admit, it’s an intriguing proposition. I like the idea of using both my body and my brain to work through a problem. Once I put all of the protective gear on and Joe connects the rope to my harness, I’m ready to get to it. I look up, scanning thefifty-foot-high wall, mentally planning a route when Elise, who’s standing behind me, speaks.
“Not so fast, Frost. Here’s where trust and communication come in. You can make all of your own decisions, or you can ask me to help guide you through the most effective route to the top.”
I carefully step onto a hold and grab a higher one to pull myself up in order to begin the climb. I quickly realize some of the holds are larger grips than others and it’s more effective to use my legs to propel upward than to put the strain on my arms by trying to pull myself up. And I don’t know this course at all, but Elise does. Once I’m up about ten feet, I hesitate, unsure of my next move.
“Elise, I need your help.”
Putting my trust in Elise to help me accomplish the task of getting to the top of the wall helped me realize that I don’t have to take all the risk or try to control everything to go after something. Hopefully, I can make some good decisions now. Although I’m itching to get back on the ice, I don’t want to compromise all of the work I’ve put in to heal my shoulder injury. The Blades have made it to the playoffs, and some of the guys are really stepping up into leadership roles. Even though I’m still hoping to get back on the ice, I’m enjoying taking on a mentoring role, especially helping the younger players to deal with the pressures of playoffs and learning to pace themselves through the grueling nature of playoff rounds and overtime play. Elise and I have settled in to a comfortable routine of working out together and putting in work hours at the arena, she on her art displays, and I on helping out with team practices.
Maybe I can have it all.
CHAPTER 12
Elise - Goals
I’m reviewing the Ottawa fellowship interview preparation materials, making sure my portfolio properly showcases all of the things they’re looking for, when I notice something I don’t recall seeing before.A six-month residency requirement.
My heart sinks. How did I miss this? Obviously, I want to do everything I can to further my career and it makes sense that I should be physically present for the entire time, but I’ve got so much going on here right now. I’ve finally made it onto the radar of Florida’s arts scene. Plus, I’d be lying to myself if I said that I could go without seeing Jax for six months. I need to talk this through with someone, and for this, it’snothim.
“Shay! Did you know there’s a six-month residency requirement for the Ottawa fellowship?”
“Hello to you, too. And so what? You need to go where the opportunity takes you. Ottawa is the epicenter of the winter arts scene. Why wouldn’t you want to live there?”
When I don’t have a ready answer for her, she continues. “If this has anything to do with Jax…”
“It doesn’t,” I lie. She can’t see me so she doesn’t know I literally crossed my fingers behind my back as if that will negate the untruth.
“Elise. I’m your best friend and your business advisor. I wouldn’t be doing my job in either role if I allowed you to make important decisions with your heart rather than your head. Look where that got you before. You need to focus first and foremost on your career. I like Jax, but a new relationship or whatever you want to call it, can fizzle out quickly. Artistic success can be fleeting. You have to grab opportunities when they come or you could be left behind. I know this is hard to hear, but it’s time for some tough love. Get your priorities straight, girl.”
I know she’s right, but that doesn’t make it any easier to swallow. I’m so torn. Maybe I won’t even get the fellowship. But if I do…
