What’s your favorite autobiography? If you were going to recommend one autobiography to a friend, which would it be? What is it that you appreciate the most about that book? What was the biggest insight you took away from it? Why are you grateful for reading it?

One of the reasons I enjoy reading autobiographies is the ability to see the world through someone else’s eyes. By pausing my life to read about theirs I’m able to see how differing thought processes work. Often I catch myself in my own paradigms of thought as those thoughts are the ones I know best. When I think of my life experiences I have the tendency of thinking that everyone has had the same life experiences.

The most recent autobiography I’ve had in hand is The Push by Tommy Caldwell. I’m only a little ways in, but I’m already enjoying the story behind how one of the greatest climbers of all time grew into that title. Reading about his childhood has left me scratching my head on more than one occasion already. A few times I’ve had to pause, go backwards, and then remind myself that he was only 6 when he climbed Devils Tower, only 12 when he climbed The Diamond at Long’s Peak. I like to think I’m pushing the boys by having us go out to camp several times each year. When he was six he’d go off camping by himself. It’s wild!

Reading an autobiography like this is such a great way to help me expand my mindset and views. Hearing the extremes people will go to for their passions motivates me to do the same for mine. When I think something isn’t possible I can remind myself of how many times others have done the impossible. It is also common to go through periods of questioning themselves – the difference is that they push through instead of listening to the voice in their head.

Thanks!!!