Rock climbing is mostly safe, mostly methodical and meditative but there are times you have to think quickly or you will fall. It doesn't have to be deadly; yo

Rock climbing is mostly safe, mostly methodical and meditative but there are times you have to think quickly or you will fall. It doesn't have to be deadly; you could learn it while on belay at a climbing gym. An electrical fault once set a payphone on fire in a dormitory where I was living. That was our only phone so it wasn't like we could call for help. Everyone stood around watching in terror as the flames grew. I grabbed a paper grocery sack out of a trash can, covered my hand with it then slapped my palm over the fire. Everyone said I was a hero. They didn't expect that of me because I have always been - particularly back then - rather shy and quiet. But to me it was the obvious thing to do.