The 99th Monkey

While I understand that your post was meant to be humorous, there is some truth in the idea of shooting the blues away. I've found that for myself real target shooting has been a great aid in reducing anxiety and depression. The focus, precision, breathing techniques, and stance critical in good shooting form and aiming all serve to focus and relax me to the point that anxiety ebbs away. With the lessening of anxiety, the depression lifts as well. Going shooting in the morning prior to a big event in the afternoon actually makes the big afternoon event much more tolerable.

same here. it has an almost meditative quality to it - and it has the added bonus of being a skill that you can ALWAYS improve at, so in terms of goal setting, it's great.

Mr. Sobel, as a fellow Richmonder, I can highly recommend Dominion's indoor range, and might even be able to find you a horse or two :)

Hey, I meant that last paragraph. I DID look up shooting ranges in Richmond, and came up with Dominion. Now what about the horse?

The generic version of shootin therapy: smashing a bunch of cheap garage sale crockery against a big rock, one dish at a time. Wear your safety glasses. Be happy!

Eliezer, I enjoyed your piece as ever, quite charming. However, I wonder if there is something truly curative for Parkinsons in this light-hearted tale. I have a friend in his 80s with Parkinsons. Will pistol shooting really help eliminate or alleviate his Parkinsons? PS:I'm surprised and sorry you're troubled by depression

I read somewhere of a hotel in Japan where business men checked in and were allowed to smash glass against the walls of the room as a release form work tension. Perhaps this blog entry might be a more appropriate way of moving the blues along, http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-attraction-doctor/201111/how-kis...

Bet you didn't know this but I used to be a card carrying member of a shooting range in San Jose, CA. I agree with smileyginger, it's meditative to quiet the mind, focus...focus...and gently pull the trigger and see where the bullet went. I found out that I'm a pretty good shot - don't have a gun - don't want a gun. But enjoyed my times at the Range.

I take offense that you so cavalierly paint, with such a broad brush, the idea of gun use. You answered your own question, “We are mostly racist,” a very convenient label now days — if one does not agree with one. You live in Virginia. Does the word apply to you or are you somehow exempted. The word has now become so cheapened. Like a penny, it is not worth picking up in the Wal-Mart parking lot. There was a time when being called a racist really had awful, and usually correct connotations, but now it usually means you don’t agree with some politically correct drivel. We need to stop this nonsense and encourage civil and intelligent discourse about gun use and depression instead of name calling. I personally will still strive to be a “Good Samaritan” when I see a need that must be taken care of, regardless of pigmentation. I would suggest you give your $26,000 advance back to your publisher.

I don't understand what you are referring to? Where was there a reference to being a racist? And what does that have to do with my possibly learning to shoot properly at a range with instruction, and its possible usefulness for blowing off steam, if not depression? I'm very confused by your angry response. what am I missing?

Yes, it’s a choice to respond to it or not. A strong willed person can overlook what a person says about them and go about their business. However, those without strong wills can easily fall prey to the poisons of what comes out of another person’s mouth. In away it’s a type of real life trolling, as most of the time people will try to offend someone just to get a respons out of them. Of course in real life the person can also choose to ignore the words but sometimes people put too much emotion into their thoughts and let themselves go freely and be uncouth. It's the same about what you wrote about Werner Erhard and trying to stir things up for shock value. The next thing you're probably going to write about is how it's all related to the Holocaust. I enjoy your blog, but this time you went too far don't you think? Come on guns?

I think it's always a good idea to have a small caliber pistol on your person -- even showing just a bit - at church or synagogue services and also on a Chant Leaders Retreat. Then if anyone goes on too long or gets boring or too loud, a well aimed shot just above the head will usually quiet things down immediately and move the action along nicely.

i was thinking of introducing target-practice meditation at our next silent retreat. It definitely qualifies as a concentration practice.

Tom Lehrer- The Wild West is Where I Want To Be

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S769YancquU&feature=related

perfect soundtrack for the post!