The healing power of shooting Trad

[Raineman]

Allow me, if you will, to express some thoughts please, and bear with me.

I work in job that affords me a relatively low stress time for 2 1/2 seasons a year. The "cold weather" season, however, is worse than a Wall Street pit as far as stress goes.

When the cooler temperatures are approaching and are upon us, I get VERY busy. I am also involved in the few hours I have off with preparing for deer season. I have been nursing a very sore elbow (I guess it comes with age) and have been neglecting my daily sessions of killing foam, as well as trying to spend some time in a ladder with my bow. Getting wrapped up with the "job", I forgot to enjoy life.

That is.....until I got home from work this afternoon, snapped at the family, and decided to tune a Zebrawood Pearson I acquired a few weeks ago. I needed some time to myself, and it was showing. After I had calmed myself, and played with the bow, I had a few minutes to pick up the Super Kodiak.

AHHHHH....The Super K........It was as if I had just seen an old friend. It was an instant transformation of feeling, and an overwhelming calm that came upon me. I shot a dozen or so (which were amazingly accurate) and the better half came out and just smiled at me, which I gladly returned. She said, "you missed her, didn't you?". I obviously did.

It is absolutely amazing the healing power of this lifestyle. When you have that "one bow". It is perhaps the most simple, perfect, and misunderstood anecdote to life that I have found. I hope I seldom forget to come back to the simple and pure pleasure that we all enjoy.

Thanks for letting me ramble, I just felt compelled to tell it. I am glad I have a place where folks understand what I'm trying to say.

[T.J.]

I am the same way! This is a great reminder to all. Thank you

[T-Mac]

Hey Raineman

I know just how you feel. I work as a meat cutter for The Kroger Co. Every week is hecktic because people always seem to want to eat. But starting next month untill the first of the year the stress of dealing with the public and their holiday needs can be beyond belief. If I couldn't come home and pick up one of my bows and lose myself in that place one goes where he is just????? I'm not sure where we go, but it sure can make thing come back to normal in our spirit. I don't know what I did before, but I sure love what I'm doing now. Some people may be "claritin clear", but I get "trad clear" in my spirit each day.

[vermontrad]

Trad clear, well said...

[Turkey-duke]

No kidding, I am trying to finish writing my thesis so that I can finish my edumication and without that 30 minutes of shooting each day I might just not make it.  Two more weeks and it should all be done - then I can get after some live critters!!!

[702plmo]

I too find that shooting my recurces is very stress releaving.     I get home in the early morning hours and it is still dark.   I shoot my bow with the help of the garage lights.    
   Shooting my bow after a stressful shift really relax's me.    I wish more people could find something to realive stress rather that using the illegal stuff to realive their stress.

[NDTerminator]

I know what you mean.  Police Sgt/SWAT Team leader here.  I eat stress with my morning coffee...

[Wulomac]

You figured out what most of us miss.  Well done!

[TexMex]

It is my stress Therapy
nothing like it!

[knife river]

It also sounds like you have an understanding wife.  Count your blessings.

[Izzy]

I hear ya, I believe it is the concentration on form and target even if it is instictive that blocks everything else out as well as the silence and arc of an arrow in flight.At this point I couldnt do without shooting for very long.I would be a cranky SOB.

[Dave Pagel]

No doubt.  I am responsible for the relationship between my company and one of the major automotive companies.  There are days I have to just get home and fling a few or I am an angry bear around the house.

Dave

[MI_Bowhunter]

I drive an hour and a half plus, one way, to work.   Its only 60 miles but traffic seems to get worse and worse.

It's amazing how the simple act of shooting an arrow can help rinse away the stress of a day.