Vanquish the foe

I write a lot about continual improvement which is no surprise as I hold that concept as a baseline-ethos. Sure, there was a time, when I was a younger man, that winning meant more than it does now but these days if I improve when measured up against myself then I'm a happy chappy.

This is constant throughout my life in most of the things I do but very prevalent with my shooting. Gone are the days in which what I do behind a gun has much implication and instead I just want to do better than I did last time and, funnily enough, taking that pressure to dominate away usually delivers the results I need and truly want. Self-improvement.

OK, that's all warm and fuzzy stuff...But here's the thing...This Saturday I'm planning to utterly destroy a whole bunch of people at the range...Hmm ok, maybe destroy isn't the best word-choice in this case...I'll change it up to vanquish!

So here's the thing

I friend I've known for a long time called me earlier in the week and tore into me for not going to the range much lately. I'll be honest and say I've not felt in the mood to run and gun but also be honest and say that by not going my skills will decline and that's not acceptable. This chap knows it, cares, and gave me a wake up call. I needed it.

Some may wonder, what purpose I have to have to keep my skills sharp these days, and in truth there's no real purpose other than my own need to have a good skill-level, reluctance to lose acquired skills that took a lot of time and effort to gain and the fact that the world is pretty messed up and I like to be prepared. Other than that? No reason...Oh, and it's fun. Other than that...No reason.

So I'm off to the range for a competition this Saturday where I'll probably get my ass handed to me by all and sundry because I haven't been there to practice for a while. That's right folks, I'll not be vanquishing anyone at all, probably not even myself as continual improvement doesn't happen when one doesn't work to continually improve.

I've been a shooter for over thirty years and am still learning - I don't believe anyone knows it all despite there being many know-it-all's around the place. One of the coolest things is the opportunity to learn new concepts, be it technique, firearms in general, ballistics, tactics, the art of making ammunition or simply about oneself. That's what's kept me shooting, the learning and continual improvement...And a little foe vanquishing also...I'll not lie. 😉

I'll go to the range, accept the absolute thrashing I'll get in that run and gun competition and have a good time doing it...The lesson? Don't be a slacker and get to the range more often.