17 Comments
Commenting has been turned off for this post

Wow! 🤩 Very hearty congratulations on your growth. I’ve only been a subscriber for a short time, but I recognize how far you’ve come.

Thank you for your explanation of negative bias. I have that too. I’m surprised at the kindness of strangers even when it’s probably just common politeness.

Enjoy learning how to shoot. I went shooting once and I thought it was fun.

Expand full comment

Holler at me if you need help or advice, actually please do if you don’t. Im a Glock armorer, soon to be a type 07 ffl, and have taken numerous classes and shot various kinds of pistol competitions. I’d be happy to help in anyway I can.

Expand full comment

Oh and I also deal with cptsd (not diagnosed but it’s been suggested by my therapist, and I don’t think she’s wrong) and various other effects of a crap childhood - although yours has mine beat by a country mile.

Expand full comment

I like to think of trips to the range as ‘bang therapy’. I hope you enjoy it. Sounds like you found a good match student/ instructor. Be safe, It’s hella fun.

Expand full comment

Congratulations Holly both on the new job and the decision to step out of your comfort zone to get into firearms.

If math and guns further interests you, please check out Handwaving Freakoutry’s Substack

https://hwfo.substack.com/

And David Yamane’s work, particularly his book “Gun Curious”

Expand full comment

Thanks for reminding me again why I subscribed to your Substack.

Often while reading or listening to a post by someone else my attention deficit immediately kicks in and I don’t remember anything from the post immediately after completing it. But with your posts my mental destraction is minimal even though my attention deficit disorder is generally very severe.

Expand full comment

❤️❤️❤️

Expand full comment

I have to say this post did not follow the arc I thought it was going to. But it educated me about what genuine "trauma aware" means which is good because anytime I learn something it is good. I'm also happy for you that you are now sufficiently far out of the depression hole that you can feel safe with a firearm. Hopefully going out in the sunshine to shoot holes in pieces of paper will increase the healing effect!

Expand full comment

So glad to see the upward arc of many things in your life.

This is indeed a very good and substantive growth step.

Very well done Holly!!

Expand full comment

Thanks!! And yes, my life is moving in the right direction, very much so.

Expand full comment

I'm glad to hear you've found someone so very helpful and fits your needs just right.

Expand full comment

Thank you! You have been very helpful to my efforts in this regard, as I think and hope you know!

Expand full comment

I always like to hear how I have helped people. You're welcome.

Expand full comment

This was a beautiful essay. I can’t wait for the followup where you report how simply, gloriously *fun* it is sending a fuck-ton of relatively cheap brass downrange. My first handgun was a Ruger Security Six revolver. After I got comfortable with it I felt like Annie Oakley.

Expand full comment

Cool story! What brand did you end up going with? I always find the comparisons from this article worth a chuckle.

https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2021/12/30/what-if-gun-companies-restaurants/

Expand full comment

Sig Sauer 9mm.

Expand full comment

A very solid choice!

Expand full comment