Grieving, Grounded, and Still Climbing

Two years ago, I lost my mom. Since then, I’ve felt lost in every sense of the word. I’ve been trying to find myself in this world searching for meaning, for direction, for something that feels like me again. Grief stripped everything down, and I’ve been slowly trying to rebuild from the rubble.

The only thing that’s helped me reconnect with who I am is climbing. It’s more than movement; it’s medicine. On the wall, I feel present. I feel challenged. I feel like myself. Climbing has given me a reason to keep going and a way to start piecing together the person I want to be.

But now, just as I’ve started to find some mental and physical footing, financial crisis struck, and my car got repossessed. It was my only way to get around, to keep moving forward. Without it, everything feels stuck again. I hate asking for help. I’ve tried everything I can to avoid it selling gear, requesting loans, picking up side work, cutting costs but I’ve hit a wall. This is my last option.

I’m trying to raise $800 to get my car back and keep chasing stability. If you can help even a few dollars it means the world to me. Anything helps, truly. I fully intend to pay back every donation once I’m back on solid ground.

Beyond survival, I want to pursue what gives me purpose: making climbing videos, getting into route setting, and finding more ways to contribute to the climbing community that’s helped me stay afloat. I want to give back, not just get by.

Thank you for reading this. Even just being seen means something.