Or, “Untitled Josh Paintball for Purpose Blog #1” as I submitted it…
So Miss Tami (that’s what I call her), my wife Jennifer and I were talking in the stands at the Dover NXL event and what I heard myself say was “my therapist has heard more about paintball than she ever could have imagined.” That’s right, you bastards, I talk about y’all to my doctors. Some of you (Chris) more than others. Tami got ahold of that statement and made it very clear (she’s the boss) that I should write about it. “You should write about that!” she said, and it couldn’t have been much clearer than that. So here we are.
Paintball is a remarkable thing, especially when seen through the lens of mental health. Our game, sport and industry can be a massive help for many who carry the weight of mental health struggles, and anyone who’s spent five minutes working in paintball will tell you that paintball can absolutely be the cause of a few mental health struggles as well. As a guy who’s seen both sides of that coin, I’m here to share a little bit of my story in the hope that we at Paintball for Purpose can be a help to those who are hurting, struggling or just feeling emotionally tired after a few hours of doomscrolling or five minutes watching the news.
The world… …feels heavy lately, doesn’t it? From politics, gas prices and war to the environment and a pile of negativity on social media, there’s not much escape. Next time you’re out and about, look around. Everyone’s dealing with something, or a lot of somethings at once, and it seems like many, if not most of us, are medicating somehow. Whether that’s by seeking professional help and making use of pharmaceuticals, your medicines are a little more “recreational” or you’re just doom scrolling, we’re all trying to take the edge off and for many of us, paintball has become a big help. A group of friends, a few hours focused on a goal that has nothing to do with the swirling garbage out there in the “real” world, a touch of adrenaline, some exercise and, yes, being outside without your face in a freakin screen: it’s amazing how much of a help paintball can actually be to people carrying around emotional and mental weight.
And then there’s us. Paintball for Purpose. If the weight is feeling a little heavier than usual, Paintball for Purpose wants to listen. And not just paintball people like me, either. Real, educated people who specialize in listening, understanding and genuinely helping people who are fighting emotional, mental and physical battles against anxiety, depression and the weight of the world. If you’re fighting a battle within yourself and, like my friend Julian said, “the waves are crashing”, reach out to us. We’d like to help.
Paintball has been a blessing in my life. But that doesn’t mean it’s been all rainbows and Care Bears. When Miss Tami introduced Paintball for Purpose, I knew immediately it was an opportunity for me to give back to this thing that’s given me so much. Then again, I’m just an anxious, sometimes-depressed writer, photographer, body shop manager, BBQ restaurateur, stupid looking hopper company guy, publicist, SEO marketer, tournament promoter, history teacher and paintball guy. The educated, professional therapists who devote their expertise and their time to Paintball for Purpose, and thereby to people like me who are looking for relief from the weight of this world are the ones I appreciate. If you’ve made it this far – that’s a win both in the figurative, mental health sense because you’re here and the world is better with you in it, and let’s face it, the very literal sense in that you’ve read this whole damned thing: give our professionals here at Paintball for Purpose a chance to listen, to care, and to help you. We’re glad you’re here.