jamesq | Trapped in the Cocoon (Reply)

Still depressed, though it's ebbing away thankfully. Not quick enough for my liking though.

This was not a good week for me. I'm seriously thinking of talking to the boss about taking a sabbatical. Assuming it's even an option. I feel like I'm struggling to get out of a cocoon, but just can't break through.

I did get a good piece of advice on Friday at archery. I was shooting terrible and getting frustrated by it. I turned to see EP frowning at me, clearly disappointed in my shooting.

Now EP is the best archer in the kingdom, so when he says "Can I give you some advice", I decided to listen.

"When you miss the shot, you try to make up for it by immediately going for a bullseye. It's like you have to erase the last shot with a better one now. Then you go so fast and you're so tensed up that you do worse, not better. Don't try for a perfect shot after a bad shot. Take your time and try for one that's just one step better."

By one step better I understood him to mean go for a two-point shot after the one-point shot, rather then the five-point shot.

I went away and did that, ending up with a much better score then I previously had. I'm glad I didn't snark off at him like my original urge was. This reminded me of my advice to others when i used to bowl:

Don't bowl angry.
Go 10% slower

It's something I need to apply in the here-and-now of my life and not just my hobbies.

Don't try for a big win right now, just try to do a little bit better then I did yesterday. Go a little slower instead of spinning my wheels. Don't bowl (drive/shoot/work/live) angry.

I'm tired in my mind and my body and my soul. It's a weariness brought on by stress and depression. tomorrow, I'll try to be one step better. But first, some sleep.