When somebody breaks into my apartment in the middle of the night, I swear I’ll show them… hesitation, for a split second. Immediately after, I’ll defer to a personal contingency plan. One that I’ve played many times in my head. A plan that, up until now, I’ve had to invoke twice, in two different places. Some extraordinary (and potentially traumatic) situations are nevertheless straightforward enough to envision ourselves react in a certain way, should they occur.
Until it actually happens. Suddenly the reaction is entirely different than planned. Worse, acute paralysis could momentarily take over. Perish the thought a situation manifests itself, one that can’t be anticipated.
Sometimes, bright academics lecture students — and general audiences through (social) media — without any hands-on experience whatsoever. You can talk the talk, but can you walk the walk?
Preparing theoretically and practically are two entirely different things.