How many moments? I dunno, maybe depending on the person and circumstances, probably not more than one per second on average. Assuming that it could take about a tenth of a second to recognize a situation, then perhaps another nine tenths to start some action in response. I think one per second is fair. If we agree on that, then simple arithmetic can supply a total number of moments in any length of time rather easily.
If we largely discount childhood then, say the first sixteen years, which is not so accurate in my own case, but may be on average fair for most as well. Then subtracting sixteen from your current age, or my own, and then doing the arithmetic may be a good estimate of potentially momentous moments, on average.
1,198,368,000, one billion 198 million, 368 thousand moments for me so far. Of those I would be hard pressed to count a full thousand of potential momentous moments as truly momentous. I am fairly certain I could easily count more than one hundred, perhaps as many as 300 if I really pressed hard.
What would I count as momentous moments? Certainly any time my own life was at certain risk, easily if someone elses life was at risk as well, then there are the grey moments, when death was not the risk, but perhaps a change in life of grave manner, losing some part of anatomy or skill, or ability. Then there are lighter shades, such as gaining or losing a job, or some other life changing event, meeting a new someone, gaining a child, etc. If we consider the bright side of life and include some of the more serious of those, then perhaps I could count 500 momentous moments.
But, setting aside those lighter and brighter shades, lets just say 300 moments at risk of life or limb, or otherwise of such seriousness that though not as dark as risk of death, certainly risk of negative impact on life quality for an extended period of time, say more than a year.
Now, one may be wondering what this discussion is leading to. I intend to come round to that eventually and I hope that you will read on until things clarify somewhat.
Some might say that my adult life was rather interesting, perhaps exciting, or even dangerous comparatively. Others may disagree, having a more interesting, exciting or dangerous life experience than my own. I am fairly convinced that on average my life is more than most, less than others so far. This is not a contest, it’s a discussion I am engaged in with a laptop and a social network.
In any case, regardless, the truth that I see is that generally my life has been filled with mundane boring average moments punctuated by those momentous moments. Overwhelmingly, no matter what endeavor I engaged in, each potentially momentous moment that turned out to be just another moment, without anything of import actually occuring, far outnumbers the pivotal momentous moments when things turn from mundane to emergency.
There other punctuations as well, for instance if one were expecting to come upon a moment when a firearm might be the tool needed for survival, as bodyguard, or even a hunting expedition, then generally one is expected to practice firing the weapon, at targets and such. Practice is exalted as the training exercise that one needs to engage in until the target can be struck on demand. Once the practice has progressed to that point, then maintenance practice is expected at regular intervals to keep that skill sharp and focused. For many people this is required, and needed. For others, such practice can actually dull a fine and honed sense of natural ability to a point of uselessness. I’m not denigrating training, which IS required for any skill, or ability, but constant practice does not mean necessarily any improvent.
So, training is required, but practice can be overdone, for some people. I know this, because I am one of those people. I have almost always in any case of physical skill such as weapons use, bowling, billiards, wrestling, etc. found that my first shot is my best shot. Then again I have found the same to be generally true of mental skills or abilities as well. If I am faced with a need to accomplish something that is actually within my skillset or range of ability, regardless of whether I have ever actually done it before, generally my first attempt has the best sucess rate. If I attempt to do the same thing, over and over, (practicing), then I find that the results get worse, not better.
With that in mind, how can one train to do something without practice??
The mind is wonderful as a training tool. Within the mind, if used properly one can make, test and discard scenarios, actions and behaviors. In the mind training can be as brutal and deadly as needed, without the risk of civilians being physically involved, yet active and behaving as civilians. Choices can be made based on assumptions, with the scenario played out to test those assumptions, then evaluated for reality checks.
If the mind is engaged in this training mode often, and one does not allow the training to become mere imaginative speculation, whimsical daydreaming, then one can easily train for multiple, perhaps hundreds of momentous moments within a single hour of intent based mind training.
Some may scoff at the notion that training in the mind has any real benefit when applied to reality, because reality requires more than thought, even if the mind is prepared, the body must also be prepared with exercise and exertion, to strengthen and tone, with stretching and movent of muscles that will be able to perform correctly and accurately when required. That is why they practice, so that the body is ready to perform when required. I agree, with the concept that the body must also be prepared. However with my own experience of practice causing a dulling of skill, blunting of ability in myself, I have discovered that by dancing, yes dancing, I can exercise and stretch and tone muscles to respond without dulling my skill or blunting any ability.
The dance is physical, and the tune that I use, is whatever scenario is current in my mind. The beat changes as well as the melody as my mind works out the players, behaviors and actions, assumptions that are tested and discarded. The dance is never exactly repeated, and the body learns to adapt to any circumstance as needed to keep the mind engaged.
This is not a perfect thing that I do, there are limits, usually physical limits that are just not available, even if the mind is capable of demanding an action. These training moments are cusp events that require a moral decision or an evaluation of assumptions, usually. Then there are emotional limits, social limits etc that must be tested and evaluated.
Now then, if you have read thus far, you may likely be wondering when I may be prompted to bring this back round to that discussion that involves the social network.
.001% ,(or less), of those escalating moments are real. The situation is critical, immediate and very serious. If a resolution is going to occur, someone has to move, now. There is no time to think things through, gather resources or consider options. People could die or be injured, and anyone that is involved could be at risk, so you don’t want to be there. I don’t want to be there. If I am there, I have likely already run the situation as a scenario, or something so similar to be the same, and already made my plans, and considered options. I will move as I have determined beforehand in what I consider an appropriate fashion.
.999%, or less, of escalating moments are a trap. Some persons or circumstances arrange events such that it appears to be real. I am moving as if it IS real, and then hopefully, some facet appears that clarifies the situation and I have to stand down. I don’t mind standing down, That is not a problem, but I am angry about being caught in a trap, because of the risk to myself and others if I do not get the brakes on and take action that is not appropriate. So far I have always been able to stop before things get too far out of hand. However every time I get caught in a trap makes it less likely that I will move when I should, or stop in time for the next similar circumstances. That puts myself and others at risk as well.
99% of escalating moments are a test, they do not trigger a response in me beyond noting that the situation changed, and then sorting through scenarios that could have resulted, and running them if I had not already considered that.
That is essentially what I posted;
99% of the time it’s a test, and I don’t do tests. .999% of the time it’s a trap, and traps just piss me off. Then .001% of the time it’s real. When it’s real, you REALLY don’t want to be there.
There. Not a threat, I’m not going postal. Just a reality statement.
45