Has archery 'saved' you?

[adirondack46r]

Originally posted by adirondack46r:
A couple years before I was old enough to deer hunt I came home from school one November afternoon to find out my father had been accidentally shot by another hunter. In a moment, the thing I had looked foward to since I was a small boy was taken away. It would be years before I was allowed to pick up a gun.

My father lived, and instead of a gun we picked up a couple of bows. While not always trad, archery became a passion. The journey began painfully but archery has become more a part of me with each passing year. It didn't save me, but it certainly did enrich the last 35 years.

[b.glass]

As some of you already know, we lost our 18 year old son on April 1st. I have been into trad archery for 10 years now and have to say that it has been a very real part of getting through this. When I need to be in control of emotions, taking my mind to the woods, bow in hand has been the needed medicine. I have to tell katie that I felt a connection with you and your pain. I thank God for giving me this love of the bow and arrow, and the people I have met through them, for they have been sent from above.

[Jager]

Sure hasnt saved me any money!  

[David Hewitt]

Ditto on the friends that trad. archery has brought me and it has become one of the best things my 10 year old son and I do together.

[Mike Bolin]

In 2006, I worked in Oklahoma for the better part of a year. I was homesick and bored! I hooked up with some trad shooters out there, via this forum, and started shooting with them. I gained some very good friends and kept myself occupied and out of trouble. I won't say that trad archery saved me, but the connection with the fellars there in the Tulsa area sure helped me keep my sanity! Mike

[katie]

Thanks guys.  She had just turned 50 when she passed.  You always think you have plenty more time.  I guess you never know.  That is probably why she was always after all of us to go out and live!  That is what we all plan to do from now on.
Little story.  2 weeks before she passed, she was home alone and fell on the tile.  She had been fighting breast cancer for the past year.  The chemo had taken her strength.  She tried to get up a few times but could not.  When she told me the story, I asked her if she laid on the floor and cried.  She looked at me like I was nuts.  She said "Are you kidding me?  I looked up and said 'God, let's make this one funny'"  Then she crawled back to her bed singing "There is no business like show business".  Only her.  She was defeated on the floor and sang a show tune.  I think of that story every time I am on my butt feeling sorry for myself.  I will never face anythig as tuff as what she went through.  Tough as nails!  Talk about a role model!

[styckbow]

Sutto what a great thread I feel I have to add my 2 cents. My wife and I and our 4 kids all shoot traditional we enjoy attending as many shoots as we can as a family we are not wealthy but we were living a great life. I had a good job iwas coaching archery at the local club and about 3 years ago I started to feel sick I went to the doctors but they could find nothing I continued with my life I found I was getting too weak to shoot my 56# flat bow so I purchased a 49#long bow and continued to shoot last september I was too weak to shoot anymore had to go on disability from work and could not even hunt that season in November I was told by my doctor I had a serious illness and to get my affairs in order as I was going to die within 3 months. I decided to prove the doctor wrong and altough I couldn't work I continued to coach and shoot as much as my weakend state would allow I looked forward to the time I could spend with my family and freinds shooting my bow. With a new doctor and the help of my family I started to improve striving to make it to the next shoot and then the next my team of doctors were amazed I made a very fast recovery my stenght returned but my employer refused to allow me back to work right when I was at my lowest I found Trad Gang and your stories kept my hopes up your prayers sustained me one fellow tradganger invited me on a black bear hunt helped me fufill a lifelong dream this summer I got to shoot with some of my idols at NALS and now I am coaching almost 70 kids and I am the head archery coach for the zone one team for the Alberta Winter games and just over a year and two months after being told I was going to die I have a clean bill of health from my doctor and I attribute that in a large part to traditional archery giving me something to look foward to good people to spend time with and the fantastic people here at tradgang that held me up when i was at my lowest Thank you all Delin

[rdoggsilva]

When I got out of service in 1971 I was really hitting the bottle and in a very bad mood. My wife's dad was into archery and got me to go out shooting with him. I found it fun and took my mind off the bad things I had seen and done as a 19 year old. I don't talk much about what I saw and did, but beleve archery saved my and sit my soul on the right path.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Yes it has, Here is a post I did a few days ago.  What Does Hunting mean to You

[suttoman]

'Styckbow' - thanks heaps for sharing your story - I am so glad to hear it has a positive ending.  I could tell many stories of folks who have been written-off by doctors, but through loving family and tenacity - like you are around to tell the tale.  Well done.

'Mysticguido' - I did read your thread and thought it was great.  You had great guts to share so personally.

I felt really bad putting up this similiar thread and hoped you did not think I 'stole your thunder'.  I would never have put it up right now but did not realise in was there until I posted this thread.  I jumped on as usual to check the threads for the day and discovered your thread.  Sorry!

Sutto

[sharps4590]

This truly a great thread and should compel all of us to reflect more.

Sutto, you're the one who gave of yourself to your friend.  Trad archery was merely the common denominator.

Other than my family I have 3 major passions in life and all of them outdoor related.  Hunting with and shooting trad muzzleloaders, hunting with and shooting trad bows and fly fishing with bamboo fly rods.  Of course that entails all the other activities related to those three sports.  

Here is something I've noticed.  In all three of those....sports....the attitude, care, concern and yes, love, of the people involved are the same.  It appears to me that there is a....type?....of person who pursues activities that require more committment from them.  I believe that committment carrys over to the folks they/we associate with.  Thus Sutto's committment to his friend and all the other examples given in this thread.  

It isn't so much that it's trad archery muzzleloaders, fly fishing or whatever.  It is, as many have already said, the quality of people who participate.  Ultimately, it's all about relationships.  God go with each of you!

Vic

[suttoman]

Thanks Vid - well said!!

[suttoman]

Oops - sorry for the typo - Vic

Sutto

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Originally posted by suttoman:
'Styckbow' -
'Mysticguido' - I did read your thread and thought it was great.  You had great guts to share so personally.

I felt really bad putting up this similar thread and hoped you did not think I 'stole your thunder'.  I would never have put it up right now but did not realize in was there until I posted this thread.  I jumped on as usual to check the threads for the day and discovered your thread.  Sorry!

Sutto

2 Different thread. But alike. Kind of like Hunting, It's all Good....I feel I was Saved Spiritually & Mentally. ..