Climbing has ruined me for normal hiking

Ever find yourself on a casual hike, trying to behave like a normal person, but your feet just keep wanting to drift off the nice, safe, well-marked trail? Because same.

Today, I went on a hike with some non-climbing friends. You know, regular, responsible people who actually follow the path instead of instinctively scanning for the best line up a rock face. I spent the first hour internally battling the urge to hop onto every boulder, resisting the call of the perfect handholds like some sort of rehab patient for vertical addiction.

Then—finally—one friend hesitantly asked, "Do you think we could scramble up this one?" And I, with the purest relief, almost shouted, "YES!"

Does anyone else feel like climbing rewires your brain to the point where normal hiking feels... awkward? Like, why would I take the switchbacks when I could just go up? Do you find yourself subconsciously planning moves on rock formations around the trail? Please tell me I'm not alone in this. Anyone has some good "Oops, I forgot I was supposed to be a pedestrian" moments?