One lonely Saturday night, after getting chai and vada with my friend, covering 20k steps in the scorching sun and watching stunning filipino performances in a scant shade, I was peacefully watching TV in the cold, dark room. My friend calls me checking in if I’m still alive. I assure him regardless of shriveling and sunburning in the summer, I’m doing good. He mentions how the Indian team got a medal in air pistol at the Olympics. I told him that the Indian team was good to which he replied it’s new to him because he never heard of that. I then added saying how I was also training in air pistol and rifle and competed for the state and wanted to compete at the nationals five years ago, so I knew the scores were good even back then. He paused for a moment and then asked me to backtrack two steps and told “forget having a national qualifying score, tell me about you shooting”. Going on and on, I explained how I took classes when I had some time before grad school and it was fun because I could forget everything in life for those two hours when I’m shooting. He then asks “what happened to you? I didn’t know you were that interested and that good at it! Why do you question so much if you want to do it or not?” Same brother, same. I have the same question.
The story I forgot till now, which I recollected when I was talking about myself, was that I had to struggle to go to the range back then too. I had to hike in the sun, hitchhike at times, deal with the dust and the sweat. It was hard – even then – because the bow felt strong, even then. And on top everything I go through now when I go to the range, I also had to deal with the dogs. I had feelings, back then too. The only thing which changed is that I had real problems, and shooting was the way to forget them. Hobbies are a refuge when you lose everything in life. They are a choice you make, and a decision you take. Compared to that, now that life is way too comfortable, the minor inconvenience seems like the biggest hurdle in life. It is true. However, it is all that it is. A minor inconvenience. Now I know, for sure, is that I love it.
It still is questionable if it’s worth or not doing it. Is there anything better I could be doing with that time? Doing nothing? How long? Like said previously, life’s about regulation — being in the green, pushing it up from yellow and down from red. Physically struggling a little is required to be able to enjoy the conveniences without becoming lazy. On top of that, I do need something where I need to intensely focus without thinking too much. Something where you don’t have to think too much but you do have to think intensely. Working out your body physically is the only time you truly stay with yourself and lose your ego. How can you think how great or useless you are when all you think of is panting and the next step to take. The conclusion being this definitely belongs in my day.