CLAIRE
Julian followed my gaze. "You do move like that," he said. "Maybe not physically on a climbing wall, but in your work, in how you've handled everything."
"I don't feel confident," I admitted.
"Confidence isn't about not being scared," Julian replied. "It's about being scared and doing it anyway."
The woman reached the top of her route and rang a bell, other climbers cheered for her. "Want to try one more wall before we go?" Julian asked.
"One more," I agreed.
We picked a moderately difficult route and I went first. This wall had smaller holds, required more strategy. I got halfway up and found myself stuck, unable to figure out the next move.
"Take your time," Julian called. "There's no rush."
I scanned the wall, looking for options. There, slightly to the right, a hold I'd
