Ian Burbidge

It’s dark, cold and the summer seems far from a January perspective. It’s much easier to draw the curtains, pour a glass, open a book and relax at home at the end of the day, rather than head out for a run or do something practical and energising. Perhaps that’s a part of human nature; a primeval instinct to slow down, recuperate, hibernate. But I know that the only way I will grow as a person is through the experiences that challenge me. Sometimes those experiences aren’t challenging in themselves. It’s the simple act of getting out of that zone of comfort that is the challenge. 

Last week I made the effort to head out to archery in the evening, the first time in several months. I’ve not really got back into archery over the last year – after many years out of the sport – and I felt the need to create the habit and actually start to integrate myself into the local club. To participate and contribute, feel part of something. The easy option is not to go out into the cold and dark and the unknown, but go I did. And, two days later, I can feel the ripple effects of that simple action. 

I realise that to seriously get back into archery I need to remember all that I used to know and do; the process of recall helped by regular practice, but also through strength work to build my stamina. I’ve reinstated my strength training routine, sought out some core books and my past journals, did a bit of a check over my equipment to see what I might need to repair or update. 

I realised that I had activated that part of my brain – and my identity – labelled ‘archer’, aspects that had lain dormant for several years. It felt strange at first, to reawaken and reacquaint myself with that old identity, to try it back on for size. It felt good. And with that activation comes energy, activity, something different to think about. New people to meet and talk to. Somewhere different to go and spend time. One action, a small effort over a couple of hours, has helped me unlock new energy and excitement. 

So long as we are putting ourselves and our energy and our positive intent out into the world we can never know what might happen as a result. Who we might meet, what we might learn, how we might change, what opportunity might open up or what serendipitous circumstance might be revealed. 

I may feel the nervous palms of mild discomfort with some of those actions – perhaps it was simply meeting new people – but that means I am alive and that I am putting my own needs for growth and learning and contribution first. Sitting at home, curled up, doing little, gazing at the fire, none of that is fuelling my energy nor channelling that of the universe. Occasionally that’s an important part of rest and recuperation, but only when it’s in balance with doing things that bring us energy.