by Jenny S.

As many people have observed, I struggle with the word “fun” when it comes to defensive training or anything firearms related. When I first made the choice to learn about guns, I remember feeling so confused when the instructors suggested I “go have some fun” on the range. This made absolutely zero sense. For me, fun is a night on the town with my husband. It’s trying a new restaurant, or sleeping in. It’s seeing live theatre with friends. To me, shooting guns was something to be taken very seriously, and was not about having fun. I saw the range as the place where I practiced some of my new defensive skills. This was more like a mental and physical workout than anything else, and particularly in the beginning, I often left feeling exhausted from the heavy lifting. This was decidedly not “fun.”

That being said, I know there are many people out there who consider the things I call “training” or “defensive practice” to be sincerely fun. In fact, I’m friends with some. They tell me they enjoy geeking out over the mechanics of the tool. Or they get a real thrill from the immediate feedback on a skill they’re building, as they inspect their targets. Some even see firearms as an interesting thing to collect. While these things don’t resonate for me, personally, I understand that the enthusiasm and joy they elicit in others are authentic and sincere.

Recognizing that it takes a lot of energy to treat this stuff so seriously all the time, I challenged myself to find the “fun” the instructors spoke of. Sure enough, I found it in the most unsuspecting of places. The following is my personal short list:

1. Trap Shooting

During our Lady Sentinel field trip to a local outdoor range, I learned about trap shooting. For those who aren’t familiar (like me, before this field trip), trap shooting is a game where clay discs or pigeons are launched in the air, and the goal is to shoot them before they reach the ground. Playing this game was my introduction to recreational shooting, and was the first time I had “fun” with guns. I hadn’t previously understood how one could practice shooting in any circumstance that wasn’t defensive in nature. Recreational shooting wasn’t even in my realm of understanding at this point. However, there isn’t a single realistic circumstance I can think of where Joe Citizen is going to be required to shoot a clay pigeon because they fear for their life. The point of this exercise is to have fun. It is, after all, a game. I also enjoyed being the “trapper,” which is the person charged with launching the clay pigeons in the air for the other shooters. To me, this was like playing the role of referee, and I enjoyed having that level of control.

2. Before/After Class

You may notice that I like to come early and stay late during our monthly meetings whenever possible. That’s because I view this as the valuable time where I’ve gotten to know so many fellow sentinels. When I first started coming, I wrongly assumed that I would have nothing in common with anyone else in the room. I quickly learned that my assumption was very, very wrong. The schmoozing before and after classes is a point of connection that keeps me coming back, because it is the basis for the friendships I’ve developed within the group. It’s where common ground is found, and outside plans are made.

3. Social Gatherings

If you can’t come early or stay late to our monthly meetings, our social gatherings are also a good opportunity to get to know the other women in this group. From our winter parties, our Situations breakfast, or even our outing to Dogwood Social, the laughs were plentiful, the conversations were thought-provoking, and a good time was definitely had. These events were where I learned that Beth loves going to the theatre almost as much as I do, and also that Alicia makes a mean cinnamon sugar cookie.

4. LS Competitions

While my main reason for partaking in competitive shooting remains to sharpen my defensive skills under stress simulation, there’s another really important reason I keep showing up. Every single time, I’ve consistently been pleasantly surprised by the supportive morale boost I get from my fellow sentinels. The pats on the back, the positive hoots, and the generous high-fives are so uplifting. I wholeheartedly believe that everyone should have an opportunity to be cheered on by their personal fan club.

5. Setting and Reaching Goals

While growth is often uncomfortable and challenging, setting achievable goals and reaching them is particularly rewarding. There’s a real confidence boost that comes from achieving hard-fought goals, and it’s ok to celebrate each mini-victory along the way. Whether it’s mastering a new drill, or building the courage to try something that scares you, reaching goals can be more than just fulfilling. It can be enjoyable, too.

In My Pursuit of Fun, I Also Learned Some Important Lessons

1. First, fun is a mindset, not unlike growth. I realized pretty early on that my inability to have fun wasn’t because of anything anyone else around me was doing. I was the obstacle. When I started to loosen up, and got out of my own way, I had a much easier time seeing the fun. I stopped looking at my defensive training as a chore, and instead looked for opportunities to make it more enjoyable. By incorporating fun elements, I turned my training into something I’m more apt to keep doing regularly.
2. Fun can be different things for different people. Not everything will be fun to everyone, and that’s ok. There is still value in showing up, even when it isn’t necessarily your personal idea of “fun.” Maybe the activity errs on the side of rewarding, enjoyable, or fulfilling, rather than “fun.” Either way, it’s worth it to show up.
3. Enthusiasm is contagious. By surrounding yourself with others who are enthusiastic about something, even when you think you’re not, surely a little bit of their enthusiasm is bound to rub off on you. Ask them what they like about it. Find out what makes it fun for them. You may be surprised to find that it’s something you hadn’t recognized before, and that you like the same things, too.

Similarly to fear, “fun” is a feeling that can be changed by our behaviors. If, like me, you struggle to find it, I encourage you to consider this mindset shift. Instead of waiting to find the fun, make some moves to create it. Doing so begins to actively shift our brain chemistry, and can lead to our feelings of enjoyment in no time.

What’s one small thing you can do to make your time on the range more fun?