Summary

The author reflects on Will Smith's outburst at the Oscars, drawing parallels to personal experiences and societal norms, emphasizing that anyone can be susceptible to a momentary lapse in judgment when emotions run high.

Abstract

The article discusses the incident where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock at the Oscars, using it as a springboard to delve into the broader human condition. The author shares a personal anecdote of a similar lapse in self-control during his teaching career, which led to professional repercussions. Through editor feedback and introspection, he recognizes the importance of managing emotions to prevent such outbursts. The piece also touches on the role of the amygdala in emotional responses and advocates for the necessity of dealing with hard emotions to avoid anger-driven actions. The author does not condone Will Smith's behavior but uses the incident to highlight the fine line between composure and lunacy that everyone walks.

Opinions

The author believes that everyone is potentially just one step away from an emotional outburst akin to Will Smith's, emphasizing the universality of such experiences.
Editorial advice is valued by the author, as it led to a more personal and impactful narrative in his writing.
The author acknowledges the impact of unchecked emotions on behavior, drawing from both personal experience and scientific understanding of the amygdala's role.
Despite not excusing Will Smith's actions, the author empathizes with the situation, suggesting it serves as a reminder of the importance of emotional regulation.
The article suggests that moments of vulnerability can offer insights into our own capacity for unexpected behavior, prompting self-reflection and personal growth.

Will Smith Taught Me We’re All One Step Away From Lunacy

His experience could happen to anybody

I have an interesting perspective on Will Smith’s Oscar slap on Chris Rock based on my personal experiences.

I published a story yesterday in The Book Cafe and on Facebook about how a scene from Will’s memoir Will explains what caused him to slap Rock.

And the comments on Facebook made me realize we’re all one bad moment away from losing it like Will — and my personal experiences attest to this too.

I originally submitted my story to Know Thyself Heal Thyself and jules advised I needed to add more personal experiences to meet the submission guidelines.

And I love when an editor takes the time, to be honest with writers.

I followed Jules’ advice

I added a personal experience of a time I lost it with my wife and information on how I coped with hard emotions like Will by avoiding dealing with them.

I submitted it to The Book Cafe because I focused more on the book, but later the Facebook comments brought back a memory that I’ve buried for 30 years.

Several of my friends had a moment when they lost and I remembered mine.

The painful memory is that I slapped a student in my first year of teaching. I’m not going to make any excuses about not having teacher training at the time.

I was 22 and teaching at a private school, and like Will’s slap, it just took one moment where a kid was laughing at a child who fell down and was crying.

I bent down to talk to the student and told him it wasn’t kind to laugh when someone else is hurt, and he ignored me and kept laughing at the student.

And my amygdala, the area of our brain responsible for our emotions, was activated and I slapped the student — without as much force as Will’s slap.

I wasn’t rehired

Still, it was a slap, and I wasn’t hired back for the next school year. And I wasn’t able to teach at a public school when I disclosed the information. I was hired at a school, but the teacher’s commission ruled against my teaching.

(Two years later, I reapplied and my teacher certification was approved.)

I had no clue at the time I was one step away from lunacy… and that’s all it takes for a person to have a bad moment when your amygdala is revved up.

My story is below, and I hope it sheds light on Will’s slap, and it provides a different perspective on how close we all are to having a moment like Will.

I don’t condone Will’s slap, but I think we’re closer to him than we admit, and my story focuses on why it’s so vital to deal with emotions that lead to anger.

Will Smith’s Memoir Explains Why He Slapped Chris Rock

Does the 20-year-old self ever fully grow up?

medium.com

Thanks for reading my story.

Tagging my Medium pals: Erica Marie, Jane Kelley, Denise Estey Lindquist, Susan Wheelock, J.R. Spiers, Harold Zeitung, Sade Tolani, Carolyn McBride, Margie Pearl, Michael L Butler, Sreese, Deborah Camp, The Sober Vegan Yogi.

You also might like:

Three Words Changed The Narrative of My Life After I Could Finally Say Them

These words were not easy to say.

medium.comCh

Check out my YouTube video on writing better titles for your stories or if you’d like to buy me a cup of coffee, I’d greatly appreciate it.