I think I'm coming down with shooting ennui

[First Shirt]

I caught myself in this situation a few years ago. Nothing really got me fired up, nothing really interested me particularly. To the point that even doing my monthly practice sessions with my carry gun was more of a chore than something I looked forward to. I'd squirrel hunt a couple times a year, I'd deer hunt a couple times a year, and would turn to if somebody had hogs tearing up their crops, but I was just going through the motions.

About four years ago, my granddaughter asked if I would teach her to shoot, and take her hunting. Apparently, her enthusiasm was contagious, because I've caught a full dose. The second year, she was actually hunting with me, not just sitting in the blind watching, and we haven't looked back.

The third year, I acquired another minion, and trying to stay one jump ahead of that pair takes all I can do. This year, we added yet another minion, and I'm having the time of my life. The fact that I get to go hunting with three of the best kids I've ever known is just a bonus.

If it goes bang, they want to shoot it, if it's legal (and edible) they want to hunt it, and I've spent more time afield and at the range in the last four years than I did in the ten before that. (Their philosophy is that missing isn't much fun, so try not to miss.)

At SM1's birthday party last month, they pointed out that next year, I won't have to come up to Tennessee to take them hunting, because they'll be old enough to go by themselves, and won't need adult supervision.

That thought saddened me much more than I would have expected. (But then they pointed out the SM3 will still need adult supervision, and that I qualify, at least based on age. Have no idea where they got their smart-assedness.)

Find a kid that likes the type of shooting you do, or would like to do. Offer to teach them (or learn with them). You'll find yourself looking forward to practice with their excitement, and the change will do you good!

[Mike OTDP]

Oh, I'm not selling much of anything. The pack-rat tendencies rule. I might sell a few guns, but not the primary competition arms or their backups.

I think it's more recovery than anything else - and it's taking more time than I'd expected.

This last posting was a career highlight - lead test director for an ACAT-I (meaning multi-billion) aircraft program. Ran first flight, set policy and training standards, etc. But it ate a lot of effort. I suspect part of the retasking was that I'd clearly burned out (the rest being that the new job was also extra-high-priority, and my position is theoretically a Subject Matter Expert job that crosses program lines).

It's just vexing...especially since I'm a member of the U.S. International Muzzle-Loading Team - shooter, member of the Board of Directors, and expect to be Team Captain in Hungary. I can't afford to lose interest. Or my edge, and that's been dulled the last two years.

[Denis]

About four years ago, my granddaughter asked if I would teach her to shoot, and take her hunting. Apparently, her enthusiasm was contagious, because I've caught a full dose.

Hurray for Minions!

This last posting was a career highlight - lead test director for an ACAT-I (meaning multi-billion) aircraft program. Ran first flight, set policy and training standards, etc. But it ate a lot of effort. I suspect part of the retasking was that I'd clearly burned out...

That sounds like a pretty objective appraisal. Try to look at it as an exchange or a relay - you work/run flat-out as long as you can, then you hand over the project/baton to the next leader/runner. No-one will look at you askance for needing or taking a breather after that effort. In fact, they'd be amazed and concerned if you didn't take one.

For Hungary: I suspect that now you can let up a bit professionally and decompress that aspect of your life, your energy and enthusiasm for extra-curricular activities will also restore themselves, pretty much without your noticing. While you wait for that to happen, continue to do enough routine training that you don't un-learn the mechanics, but lay off pressuring yourself as to the competitive edge/top of the curve stuff. Give yourself a treat by doing something different, as a few already suggested.

As long as you keep the basics intact, the winning margin stuff will surely look after itself again once you get your physical and mental decompression sorted out. It's like professional musicians - when they get concert-fatigued, they take a break from performance, and often do something musical, but lighthearted, to restore the fun side, but they still practice their scales and arpeggios daily.

Good luck, and keep talking to us here - we're bound to have some BITs for you if your're at a loose end...

[Weetabix]

At SM1's birthday party last month, they pointed out that next year, I won't have to come up to Tennessee to take them hunting, because they'll be old enough to go by themselves, and won't need adult supervision.

That thought saddened me much more than I would have expected. (But then they pointed out the SM3 will still need adult supervision, and that I qualify, at least based on age. Have no idea where they got their smart-assedness.)

Time for them to pay you back - tell them that from now on, they're taking you hunting and your new title is Minionmaster Emeritus.

[First Shirt]

Time for them to pay you back - tell them that from now on, they're taking you hunting and your new title is Minionmaster Emeritus.

Oh, no! My official title is, and will remain, Chief Herder of Minions. They've already established that. In fact, I think they've got it in writing, somewhere.