INPUT ARTICLE: Article: It is a great way to bond with kids in particular. These however, are purpose built for target shooting of arrows.  The recurve has one string that causes the bow to form a "w" shape.  A longbow is simple bow that forms a "u" shape. If you are a fan of the Hunger Games, note that Katniss uses a recurve bow. Most people will look for an archery organization or shooting range.  Target shooting clubs can be seen by looking at where competitions are held.  Look for a range that holds a target meet in your area. You can also find clubs on the FITA website.  If you want to shoot outside of a range, get expert advice on how to set up a target that does not endanger others. Like anything, archery has some tricks and habits that it is best to learn when you start.  Ask for lessons.  It is best to get a recommendation from a friend.  If you don't know anyone to ask, you can talk to the archery range supervisor about lessons and instructors. Instructors normally provide equipment, thus saving you the risk of buying your own before you know what you want. After a number of lessons, your instructor will aid you in buying your own gear. There are many reasons not to buy equipment right away.  In addition to styles of bow, you want to get the right weight and right draw length.  You can take a guess what you want but many people change their mind once they get used to things.

SUMMARY: Know that target shooting is good for all ages. Know that target shooting uses compound and recurve bows. Find a place to shoot. Learn to shoot. Buy your own equipment.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: On the flip-side of negative self-talk, is the one surefire way to combat berating yourself, positive self-talk. First, notice and catch yourself - when you have a negative thought change that thought in that very moment to something more positive. Think of your negative thoughts as a parrot that keeps repeating unhelpful things over and over to you. You can choose to listen to the parrot, or tell the parrot that he’s wrong! You can use affirmations such as, “I can do this. This will pass. I can be angry and still deal with this. Right now I am safe. I will learn from this and it will be easier next time.”  Now that you have a list of negative self-talk patterns, you can identify ways to turn those negative thoughts into positive or more realistic ones. For example, if you think, “I’m so stupid,” when you drop something or make a mistake, you can immediately tell yourself, “That’s not a nice thought about myself. I’m not stupid. It’s okay that I made a mistake and I will focus on doing better next time.” In this way, you are having a conversation with yourself. The more you do this, the better you will become at correcting your negative thoughts. You can use a self-compassion thought record sheet to organize your ideas. With this, you can identify your: triggering events, feelings or images, unhelpful thoughts and images, feelings, self-compassionate alternatives to unhelpful thoughts and images (i.e. what would you say to a friend in this situation?), understanding of your change in feelings and what you did that helped. Anxiety influences and increases negative self-talk. The more anxious you are, the more critical you may be about yourself. One of the best ways to stay calm is to use relaxation or deep-breathing techniques. Sit in a comfortable position with your eyes closed. Breathe slowly and deeply in through your nose and out through your mouth. Focus solely on your breathing and how it feels throughout your body, especially the movement of your diaphragm/stomach in and out as you breathe. Do this for a few minutes or until you feel more relaxed. Sometimes, you may berate yourself through your interpretation of how others think of you. This practice is a common thought pattern called mind-reading. This means you believe you know what others are thinking. The problem is, you can’t mind-read so you don’t really know what they are thinking. Make a conscious decision to stop trying to live up to how you think others expect you to act. It can be quite liberating. If you find yourself thinking that others have negative thoughts about you, ask yourself, “Am I assuming that I know how others are thinking? What’s the evidence? Those are my own thoughts. Is there another, more balanced way of looking at it?

SUMMARY: Use positive self-talk to quiet your inner critic. List alternative positive thoughts. Practice deep-breathing to reduce anxiety. Worry less about what others think.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you find yourself without any professionally-made de-icers handy, go with rubbing alcohol, which is arguably the most effective substitute (and risk-free as far as damaging your car goes). Mix one part water with two parts alcohol, fill a spray bottle with that, and use it just like you would with a store-bought spray can. If you’re really in a pinch, you can also mix the same ratio of water with hard liquor instead. Once you get the ice off, try to remove as much of your homemade solution as possible. Start your car and give your windshield a squirt of wiper fluid. Then run the wipers to remove both that and the solution so it doesn’t linger and potentially ruin the glass.

SUMMARY:
Make an alcohol solution. Run your wipers afterward.