I win You Lose
It sounds worse than it really is (I win You Lose). I’ve been converted back to traditional gear starting back in 2005, I love shooting recurve. Last summer I started hurting in my left shoulder when shooting and stiffening up real bad, come to say I was worried it was over.
My accuracy had really taken a dive and my confidence was done. I missed a good buck last season and had a bad hit on a doe, I know sometimes things like this happens, depression hit home when thinking about archery.
I would shoot for hours a day before all this happened, and was having a great time with my new found passion. It lasted seven years and I considered myself a good shot or at least a fair shot anyway.
After the smoke cleared from my head, I had to come to reality. No pain no gain was not the right mind set,I am not going to be able to shoot like that all the time. I decided to take a break, I stopped shooting, unstrung the tip and stepped back. Man was that hard, I was addicted to it, I found that out in time.
I stopped shooting in January of this year and only shot one arrow a week, it is true one, at close range mind you. In March I stopped all together, nothing.
In July My brother came to visit from Oklahoma, he was here to help celebrate my sun earning his Eagle award in Boy Scouts. My brother Wade asked me about shooting my bow, he knew how much I love to shoot, I explained what happened and told him the story. I said to him, lets give it a try it’s been long enough.
I will tell you, the feel of the bow in hand is awesome, the grip of the Silvertip just hugs your vise grip and lays in your hand like an old friend.
I was elated not having any pain, I almost wanted to cry, I did the right thing taking this break. I shoot a dozen arrows a night now, and am shooting better than ever. It took me a day or two to find my back, hit my anchor, and follow through with my focus after the release of just letting go. Some will never know how close you come to losing a passion, a love, a simple way to relaxation from shooting a bow, I do. I win you lose.