Climbing and competition

Thomasina Pidgeon recently wrote an insightful essay about climbing and competitiveness, particularly its role in the lives of women climbers. You can read the essay here.

This gave me a lot to think about. Does being better than someone else motivate my climbing? Or is it my own progress that drives me? I sometimes feel that improving at climbing is not happening fast enough for me, and I get frustrated. But then I remember how lucky I am to be able to climb at all, to see beautiful places and meet wonderful people. What motivates you in climbing?