I love quotes so much, they show up in my daily life with tidbits of wisdom and inspiration perfectly timed to when I need it most. This one surfaced and I did a double take because I KNEW who Lynn Hill was. Many times, I have to look up a quote’s author….
Lynn Hill is my girlie-rock-climbing hero. I began rock climbing around 1989 while in college and she was already a star. Though I never got past a 5.11 in my climbing routes, I was in awe of her ability to scale the rock and it inspired me to always keep trying. It was awesome to have a woman mentor during a time when it was very male-dominated. I was one of the few girl climbers in my club at Mizzou…it’s been a long while since I put on climbing shoes and said, “Belay On,” but rock climbing helped me develop leg strength and agility, balance, confidence and a love for hugging rocks that has stayed with me.
There’s a great article about Lynn in the Los Angeles Times from 2020: Lynn Hill rewrote the rules for what’s possible in rock climbing.
Achievement is not about what you’ve done, but what you’ve gained from your experience.
– Lynn Hill
Photo: Kirsten climbing at Joshua Tree in 2004