That’s an attitude, sir, that calls for the most delicate judgment on both sides. Because, as you know, sir, in the heat of action men are likely to forget where their best interests lie and let their emotions carry them away. — The Maltese Falcon

The funny thing about shooting a stage at the pistol club is that I have a chance to see how things are laid out, I usually get to watch at least one other person go through it, and I still let the adrenaline get away from me.  Things I told myself not to do happen as if I’d practiced them.  Things I practiced, well, let’s just say that my muscle memory isn’t what it ought to be at times.

And that’s in a situation where I not only knew what to expect, but had mapped out in my mind how I was going to get through it.  Imagine what would happen when I was surprised, frightened, or just a little bit angry.

When you let your emotions, excitement, or whatever take control, things are going to go by really fast, and you are going to spend a lot of time, if you’re lucky, picking over what you did.  As much as you can, slow down, take a breath, and use your forebrain as something more than what you display your bangs on.