~ Written by Jan King

I'm not usually a group joiner.

When I first saw the announcement for Lady Sentinel, it took me three months to finally attend a meeting. But once I did, I was hooked!

A little about me: I work full-time, play on a USTA women's tennis team (I'm quicker than I look!), and love weight training, pickleball, and shooting. My husband, Jeff, and I have two grandkids in Kansas City, and we see them every chance we get.

I wasn't always a fan of firearms, though. When our boys were little, I wasn't thrilled about having guns in the house. Over time, education changed my mind. In 2011, I was working as a Realtor, meeting strangers at empty houses, and Jeff insisted we get our concealed carry permits together. I once texted him my location because I was losing cell service, and judging by the looks of that house, I figured there was a wood chipper out back. I wanted him to know where to start looking for me. LOL!

Today I'm just as enthusiastic about shooting as he is. But I'd never shot with anyone besides family until Lady Sentinel. At my first meeting, Liz was a great instructor, and everyone was so welcoming that I felt comfortable right away.

What I didn't know was what those women would come to mean to me.

More Than Just Shooting

One day, I walked into a meeting and overheard two women talking about breast cancer. I had been diagnosed that very week.

I joined their conversation, and they didn't hesitate. They shared their experiences, offered referrals for second opinions, and told me what they'd learned along the way. After my first surgery, one of them brought meals for Jeff and me.

And during chemo, when I couldn't shoot, they told me to come anyway. I could just watch. I wasn't able to participate, but I was still welcome, still part of the group.

I joined to improve my shooting. I never expected to find women who would help me through a diagnosis and cheer me on through chemo. But that's exactly what happened.

I truly believe that people enter and exit our lives according to a plan. Looking back, I'm grateful that these women came into my life when they did.

If You're on the Fence

Now I'm the one handing out Lady Sentinel business cards—at the tennis court, at the range, even at my doctor's office. Knowing how to confidently handle a firearm is like knowing how to drive a standard transmission: you may not need it every day, but someday it could be vital. And learning is so much easier when you're surrounded by people who encourage you.

So if you're thinking about coming to a meeting but aren't sure, take it from someone who waited three months: take that first step and come see for yourself.

Shooting may be what brings us together, but it's never the only thing we have in common. Sometimes you join a group to learn something new and end up finding friendships you didn't know you needed.

I'm awfully glad I went to that first meeting. And I'm even more grateful for the women I found there.