Why do we all climb?

This is a question that I have so often asked myself.  I have yet to come to a conclusion that makes any amount of sense.  It's funny to be on a trip and have that be your purpose and simply contemplate that purpose.  In many ways it's a meaningless activity.  I realize this when I talk to non-climbers, which is a large majority of the population, and they are like cool, so what else is new?  Then at the same time, you wonder if it's an experience where if you haven't done it, you don't know how cool it is.  The feeling you get when you push yourself thru your fear and finish a hard move.  It's personal challenge. 

However as I climb more and think more about life and what is and isn't important.  I also realize how much time I spend on this activity, how consuming it is, and how selfish it is.  Like the other day, I was talking with my family and found out that my dad will have to go in for surgery to remove his spleen and a benign tumor on his pancreas.  I had no idea. Most likely because people think they won't be able to get a hold of me, I assume due to poor reception or lack there of.  It made me stop and think how detached from reality I am.  That there is still a big world out there, and I will return to.  That I can be oblivious to it, and yet it will continue to move on.  At some point though, I will have to step back into that reality and all that comes with society and life.  It's pretty insular right now - off in my world of the outdoors and climbing and such.  I'm not saying that it's a bummer or anything.  This is something that I have always wanted to do.  I feel like it's a very selfish thing though, taking so much time for myself, my goals, with little account for the rest of the people in my life.  I also think that I have made a lot of sacrifices in my life.  Iraq, VMI, etc.  It's hard to take time for yourself and not feel like you are being too self-centered.  Who know's what the right answer is.  I guess it's about balance, which isn't an easy thing to do.

I do know that I am a person who needs many types of activities going on at once in order to feel fulfilled.  That I love physical activity and movement, but it needs to be balanced.  I want to have a job that helps other people/world, relationships, artistic outlet's, and spiritual time.  That's what I need though, and everyone is different.  When I left for this trip, I knew that there would be a lot of self-growth and realization.  I really wanted to evaluate how important and what part of my life climbing fit into.  I wanted to see where I was at as a person and where and what I placed importance on.  It's still culminating and evolving, but it's definitely happening.  I have realized what my faults are, how aware of them I must be and everyday try to chip away at them.  Until they become smooth and loose some of there edges.

I'm still not sure why I climb and even if it's worth it sometimes.  I guess it's like all things in life, ever changing ever forming and reforming.  I do know that I love it, but it has it's place.