Losing interest and hope... :(

[Littlest Furface]

I always told myself that I could be one of the best in the country, that I could get to the Olympics and make my Dad proud.

However

Since talking to my friends (one world-class, the other longbow) I have started to realise that I'm not likely to reach those goals, and i'm not having as much goodness with friends since a personal issue last year. I'm not sure whether archery is for me anymore...

Any thoughts?

x

[TJ Mason]

Don't give up! Everyone has bad spells, but they don't last. You've got the potential to be among the very best - keep faith.

[madbirdwomen]

I would urge you to think about why you feel like this, is it just new or have you been feeling like this for a while. I could understand if you were envious of your friends, and felt fed up.
They have what you ultimately aspire to become and compared to them you think you are a failure? Which i would probably feel too as being a bit of a perfectionist- if i dont get them all in the 10 then the score is crap. Have u just become fed up recently as u realise that you goal has not been met?

Have u spoke to your friends? tell them how you feel, maybe they could help you?

I,m sure your dad will be proud of you regardless of what level you are at?

Dont focus on the negative things about archery look at your achievements.

Hope u make the right decision. Just noticed your only 15 there's plenty time yet!

[Little Miss Purple]

You are young yet littlest... plenty of time reach those goals. You just need to roll with the issues as they come i'm afraid!!!

[phil_r_58]

Originally Posted by Littlest Furface

I always told myself that I could be one of the best in the country, that I could get to the Olympics and make my Dad proud.

However

Since talking to my friends (one world-class, the other longbow) I have started to realise that I'm not likely to reach those goals, and I'm not having as much goodness with friends since a personal issue last year. I'm not sure whether archery is for me anymore...

Any thoughts?

x

Why do you have to win medals and have to be a master bowman and all that ?
Yes, It's nice to get the medals, but nicer to enjoy shooting, and having archery friends, among others. I've shot at world and European shoots, and my position was in single figures. My friends included world and European champions. I've met great archers like the Ragsdales. I stopped shooting when many were predicting me as on the verge of being a European champion, 20 odd years ago, because I met the person I wanted to be with forever, but she thought archery was a childish and too expensive pastime.

But the enjoyment is the shooting and the friendships. That is the question I feel you need to ask yourself. Do you enjoy going to the club and just shooting, or going to competitions just to shoot with new and old friends ?

And as for people outside the sport causing upset, well thats life. My life has been torn to shreds by people I loved and trusted in the past few years, read my journal from the beginning if you wish to see how I started to piece it all together again. Since coming back into the sport, I have regained some pride and confidence in my abilities. The psychologist who helped me says it was the best thing I have done for ages.

And as for your dad ? Well I'm proud of my kids whatever they do. My 9 yr old has started archery with me, we have a laugh together, do a McDonald's after shooting. She isn't winning medals, but I love being with her and shooting with her, FOR PURE FUN. I would be surprised if your dad was any different. It's what us dads do you see, comes with the territory. We go to work and the pub, and tell each other what great kids you are.

[grimsby archer]

Originally Posted by Littlest Furface

I always told myself that I could be one of the best in the country, that I could get to the Olympics and make my Dad proud.

However

Since talking to my friends (one world-class, the other longbow) I have started to realise that I'm not likely to reach those goals, and i'm not having as much goodness with friends since a personal issue last year. I'm not sure whether archery is for me anymore...

Any thoughts?

x

The only people who get to the olympics are the people who think they can, but you'll always make your dad proud.

If you're not sure whether archery is for you, then surely you're not sure it isnt either. Dont give up until you're sure. Archery is supposed to be fun. Dont you enjoy the time you spend with your dad and friends at the archery club (even when the shooting isnt going well)?
If its not fun, find a way to make it fun. Your friends will appreciate it if you take the initiative and invent fun targets or whatever. That is how club secretaries are born

[wingate_52]

Don't give it up. Just go along and shoot your best and enjoy yourself. You have a lifetime ahead of you. Archery is just one of many things you will do in your lifetime.

[Thunk]

Originally Posted by Littlest Furface

I always told myself that I could be one of the best in the country, that I could get to the Olympics and make my Dad proud.

However

Since talking to my friends (one world-class, the other longbow) I have started to realise that I'm not likely to reach those goals, and i'm not having as much goodness with friends since a personal issue last year. I'm not sure whether archery is for me anymore...

Any thoughts?

x

Oh dear, oh dear!

let's look at these two separate issues one at a time.

The Olympic thing - you're not the only one to have that dream. I could tell you a thing or two about trying for the Olympics. Many years ago, when my legs came in short pants instead of my breath, I had the Olympic bug. I was in the Army and very good at athletics, and if you are good at sport in the services you probably get more support than anywhere else I can think of. I was Army champion at 5,000 and 10,000 metres, and Combined Services champion in the 3,000 metres steeplechase ( that's where my knees went!)
I was picked for international meets and ran against some of the best in the world. I was almost knocking on the door of the Olympic squad - but never quite got there.

Did I believe I would make it? In the latter stages of my athletics career the answer was probably 'yes', but before that it was just a dream, not a defined goal. My goal was always to be one step further than my current position, and I didn't consider the possibility of selection for the olympic squad until it was close enough to be a possibility. Ask yourself - if everyone in the mainstream of a particular sport gave up because they thought they wouldn't get to the Olympics, how much real sport would there be? Not much!

My advice is - put the Olympics to the back of your mind. Concentrate on being the best archer you can be. Do it to satisfy yourself, not to make Dad proud. Believe it or not, he's already proud of you - that goes with being a Dad. If you concentrate on getting better all the time you will eventually reach the absolute limit of your ability, and if that level is high enough you will go to the Olympics. If it isn't, you will at least have the satisfaction of being a very good archer and knowing that there was nothing more you could have done to get yourself selected. And there is life to be lived even if you haven't won an Olympic gold!

As to your friends and you - well that's something different altogether. Do you practice archery to be with your friends or for your own satisfaction? Your doubts about Olympic selection would seem to indicate that you do it for yourself, and if that's the case then the state of your relationships with others is a side issue - isn't it? I do know what you mean though - whatever we do is so much more enjoyable if we get on with others (I'm assuming that the friends you refer to are also in archery - forgive me if I've misunderstood). Also, there is the very strong possibility that they know that they will never be good enough, and project that outcome on to you. There is only one person who truly knows what you are capable of. That's right - it's you!


In summary: Your chances of getting to the Olympics if you continue to shoot - fairly slim, based on the number of competitive archers in the right age group divided by the number of places available. But the more you train, the better you get, the shorter the odds become!

Your chances of getting to the Olympics if you give up now - zip, zero, nothing. And the prospect of spending the rest of your life wondering if you could have got there if you had stuck at it.

I'd say a slim chance is a lot better than none at all!

[Ski]

Henry Ford once said " If you think you can or you think you can't, either way your right". Never give up, you will be amazed of what you can achieve. Whatever people say, prove them wrong. If you want it go and get it and enjoy the journey every step of the way. Do not let the bad things in life make you bitter, allow them to make you better.
Ski

[english_archer]

I hope this comes across the right way and based on nothing at all ,Not knowing how good an archer you are and after reading all the very good advice already posted one other option springs to mind, If your sure you will never make team G.B. the oylimpics etc. Rather than give up archery why not switch styles ? There are lots of very high staus compound competions out there and every long bow archer I know seems to have a whale of a time every time they shoot .
What Im trying to put across is that there is a lot more than just the olyimpics and Im sure your dad will be bursting with pride every time you do well at what ever level (the same way Im proud of the_compound_kid If he's shooting a club comp or a county match) At your age you have plenty of time to reach the top and I look forwards to cheering you on