"Darts defines 100 percent of your life. That's not always easy for the people around you to deal with" - Raymond van Barneveld on carrying losses in personal life

Despite having been in the upper echelons of the darting sphere for three decades, there are still things Raymond van Barneveld struggles to deal with regarding life as a darter.

Van Barneveld used to do frequent meditation and other tricks to keep his composure on stage. In recent months, however, he has been less concerned with it. "I've definitely considered it, but I'm too easygoing about it," the 57-year-old Dutchman told the podcast 'Dartpraat'. "I really do have to start doing it again. Other little things, too. It does help. Breathing is very important, just you have to keep doing it consistently. Not like me. Then suddenly doing it four hours before a game doesn't work. You have to build in discipline. Then every time I'm on stage, I think, 'dammit, why don't I do it?' I do notice that when I've meditated or done other things, I can live better with myself."

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Van Barneveld got married last year to wife Julia. "I am very happy with my marriage and with Julia. But you notice that darts defines 100 percent of your life. That's not always easy for the people around you to deal with," he says. For example, Van Barneveld recently lost to Michael Smith on his birthday. "Then I'm not to be enjoyed after that. Nice birthday then. "Did you have a nice party?', people would then ask. Where can you get the strength to celebrate then? That processing takes a day or two."

A week after his birthday, Van Barneveld went down 6-5 against Ross Smith at the Austrian Darts Open. "It was painful, painful again," he says. "But then again I try to make some nice days by going to Graz. Enjoying with my girl and doing fun things. And because of that I can pick up the thread and go to the next tournament with good courage."

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