{"id":19003,"date":"2023-04-11T20:38:34","date_gmt":"2023-04-11T19:38:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thecountrygirlsuk.com\/?p=19003"},"modified":"2023-08-01T11:22:16","modified_gmt":"2023-08-01T10:22:16","slug":"lost-and-found","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thecountrygirlsuk.com\/womens-shooting\/lost-and-found\/","title":{"rendered":"Lost And Found"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Before joining The Country Girls I had always wanted to learn to shoot, inspired by my love of eating pheasant when I was younger (I genuinely had smoked pheasant sandwiches at school) but I never had the right connections to even know where to start so it remained quite simply a dream for around 11-12 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I encountered a very difficult period in my life that led to me being diagnosed with PTSD and through this I felt like I had lost myself. I didn\u2019t know what direction I wanted to go in life and I gradually became more withdrawn and lacking the energy to do anything. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I was aware of my colleague being a member (and for a while a Regional ambassador) of The Country Girls and I\u2019d often see her having fun on Instagram at events and it really got me thinking that it was something I could do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I remained in the shadows for a little while longer until I became fed up of my situation and I really wanted to \u2018put myself out there\u2019 and try new things- first on the list was finally <\/em>learning to shoot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Next thing I know, I\u2019m a member of the group and ready to get stuck in. Through the East Anglian girls group chat I was alerted to opportunities to go beating and managed to get a spot working on a local farm shoot. I was a bit apprehensive that I\u2019d somehow mess it all up as I had no idea how to beat but the day was an absolute success for me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A day in the countryside, climbing over fences and through bushes, working alongside dogs and speaking to likeminded people gave me a mega dose of mental energy and I felt better than I had for the last 4 years in that moment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had finally found the place where I fitted in and it only took me 12 years to do so! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a snowball effect from there and my connections through beating pointed me in the direction of my local clay shooting ground where I took up a \u2018have a go\u2019 session and haven\u2019t looked back since. I\u2019ve barely scratched the surface of what The Country Girls UK can give me and I already owe a lot of my recovery to the group. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I can\u2019t wait to see what the next year brings!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written by CGUK member Kathryn Dominey<\/p>\n\n\n

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