Life Lessons from Target Shooter Vera Koo

Vera Koo: Alone on Valentine’s Day

Vera Koo spent Valentine’s Day alone this year, but it didn’t make her sad one bit. Find out what happened and why.

Vera Koo: How I Evolved into Being a Different Artist

Vera Koo offers wisdom about evolving into a different artist, appreciating the simple and fine things you find in life and in people.

Vera Koo: Houseboating on Lake Mead

Vera Koo’s family decides to relive the past, on a houseboat adventure. Go with her to Lake Mead and experience the magic.

Vera Koo Writes About Adventure

In this post we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite adventurous experiences that Vera Koo has blogged about. Enjoy this recap!

How I Lost and Gained Vision

In this story, former competition shooter Vera Koo describes her last few years with vision problems, and how she lost and gained back her vision.

Climbing in the 22nd Century

Vera Koo’s daughter, Shane, describes what it’s like to return to the sport of climbing, and about how it has changed.

Vera Koo Writes About Inspiration

Vera Koo has seen many trials, and luckily for us, blogs about those experiences. Read excerpts from a few of these “Inspiration” posts.

Vera Koo: On Why She is ‘Chasing the Carrot’

Vera Koo writes, “Although I cannot expect to be on top of my game at this point in my sporting clay shooting journey, it feels good to be striving toward improvement. I don’t feel stale. I feel invigorated. At 75-years old, I have a reason to exercise. I have a carrot to chase, a challenge to drive me and help keep me focused.”

Vera Koo Writes About Travel

Vera Koo loves to travel. In this post, we’ve rounded up a few of her blogs about some of her favorite adventures.

Vera Koo: Learning New Lessons from Life and Other Shooters

Vera Koo learns how to put on the brakes when training for competing, which can apply to so many other facets of life.

Bonding by Geoduck Clams

Vera Koo describes her summer vacation with family in tow, to search for the elusive geoduck clam on the shore of Washington state.

Vera Koo: On Hiking the Lanikai Pillbox in Hawaii

Vera Koo and some of her family members recently hiked to the top of Lanikai Pillbox in Hawaii. She discovered a few things about the hike and about her life in the process.

Sharing a Love of Rock Climbing with My Daughter

Shane Koo tells us how her daughter, Mia, has become interested in her mother’s passion: rock climbing. Shane believes it is a parent’s goal to be surpassed by her children, in all aspects of life.

Vera Koo Writes About Faith

This post features excerpts from two of Vera Koo’s blog posts on the topics of God and faith, and the role they play in her life.

Kayaking Excursion Unravels Into Chaos

While on a kayaking excursion, Carlos was struggling in the waters of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Hawaii when my daughter, Shane, arrived at a harrowing thought: This might be it. I’m thankful to report that it wasn’t “it” for Carlos. My husband is alive and...

Huntsman World Senior Games

Jim O’Young was my mentor when I entered the competitive pistol shooting sports more than 25 years ago, and I trust his wisdom. This time, though, I was skeptical. “Vera, you’re going to compete again,” he told me. My competition days are finished, I told Jim. I...

Shark Adventure: A Dive Into a Shark Arena

By Vera Koo, Women's Outdoor News, Published September 5, 2017 This shark adventure is a guest column written by Vera Koo’s husband, Carlos … Vera and I have different avenues toward pursuing our hobbies. Vera is drawn to activities that she can try to conquer. She’s...

Adventures with Vera Koo in India

By Vera Koo, Women's Outdoor News, Published March 25, 2015 While much of the Western world was celebrating the holidays with festivity, light, family and gifts, I fulfilled a life-long dream of visiting uncharted regions of the Eastern world last fall. My passport...

Vera Koo: From Dolls to Guns — My Journey to the Competition Shooting Sports

By Vera Koo, Women's Outdoor News, Published January 6, 2015 I did not grow up playing with toy guns. I grew up playing with dolls. In fact, as a child, I never had any interest in guns. I was raised in a very traditional Chinese family that valued women as nurturers...

Shooting Sports USA: Retiring from Shooting Sports

In this article, posted at the NRA's "Shooting Sports USA," Vera Koo explains why it became time to retire from shooting sports. In fact, she pinpoints the exact moment she decided that her days of running race guns needed to end. I was precise in everything I did...

The Quest to Dig Up the Elusive Geoduck Clam

This is a guest post written by Vera Koo’s daughter, Shane, and describes her quest to find the elusive geoduck clam while on a camping trip.

Vera Koo: When Your Friend Won’t Listen to Good Advice

We all have encountered a friend or loved one going down a path we wish we could correct. Our responsibility is to try to steer that person in the right direction with good advice. But what should you do if your friend will not listen to you? I experienced this during...

Coronavirus Pandemic: How it Changed My Lifestyle

Vera Koo shares how the Coronavirus Pandemic changed her and her family’s lifestyles by slowing things down and exploring new interests.

Thankful for Those Who Helped Along the Way

By Vera Koo, Women's Outdoor News, Published March 16, 2020 When I consider my life and how fortunate I have been, it is almost as if I am in a play with a perfectly written script. My story has had countless hurdles and challenging times, but just when it seems as if...

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