Smile ! This is fun!

        Smile!  You're shooting a longbow in the tradition of the old masters, carrying the tradition along with the flight of the arrow perennially fresh in your mind's eye!

        "Smile"....a little nugget of wisdom from John Schulz.

        I was working on my shooting in front of John during one of his classes, under his critical eye and was really concentrating.  "Nate...Nate...Nate...hold on a minute" John made me stop my routine..."Smile...this is supposed to be fun, it's not a job".

       Those words really hit home with me and changed how I look at shooting.  Too often, as we concentrate on shooting, we get caught up in the focus of it all, and we get pretty intense. The intensity can lead to stress.  As we know, stress can be very detrimental to good shooting.

      My recomendation?  Smile. Just as I was told, Smile before you shoot each arrow, smile before you draw.  Relax your mind and muscles, and remember that this arrow shooting business is supposed to be fun.  The Hill and Schulz teaching of being fluid and dynamic can only really be followed if we are relaxed.  

        So go out and have fun shooting arrows in the coming year.  Smile as you enjoy the rhythm of the shot and smile when those arrows find their way to the center of the target in the New Year.

       Smile, and Shoot Straight.