Ad·dic·tion [uh-dik-shuh n] noun the state of being enslaved to a habit or practice or to something that is psychologically or physically habit forming, to such an extent that its cessation causes severe trauma

Hello, my name is Anna and I am a rock climber.

I haven’t seen my family in almost 2 months. I missed Thanksgiving (Red River Gorge trip).

I missed Christmas Eve story telling (Potrero Chico). I missed my birthday party (Indian Creek). I missed Easter dinner (Seneca Rocks). I missed Canada day camping (Daks).

My dad tells me he loves me via facebook message.

Hello, my name is Anna and I am a rock climber.

My friends are also all rock climbers. When we are not rock climbing, we talk about rock climbing, using jargon no one else can follow. Or we watch movies about rock climbing. Or read magazines about rock climbing. Or listen to podcasts about rock climbing. If we go to a restaurant, at least one person tries to climb the side of the building. A one-armed chin up contest at a party is not unusual.

I used to have non-rock climbing friends, but I haven’t seen them since the weather turned warm.

Hello, my name is Anna and I am a rock climber.

I have a job. This job facilitates my rock climbing. When I am working, I am planning my next rock climbing trip. I am waiting for the end of the day so I can go rock climbing. I am counting down until the weekend so I can go rock climbing. When work inevitably interferes with my rock climbing, I quit. And move into my car. Until the money runs out. Then I get another job.

Hello, my name is Anna and I am a rock climber.

I wake up in the morning with claw hands that can take up to an hour to be able to open fully (actually, one finger doesn’t straighten fully anymore, but Im pretty sure I can get it back again). My right ankle hasn’t worked or looked quite right since I broke it bouldering. Neither has my left ankle—I broke that bouldering too. I have little to no feeling over the first knuckle of both my hands where I jam. And it is awesome.

I wish my fingers would hurry up and go numb too so I can climb hard finger cracks.

Hello, my name is Anna and I am a rock climber.

Rock climbing is not an addiction, it’s just something I like to do.

I can stop any time I like.

What Rob Ford and I have in common