Sunday Snippet: Han Solo (Star Wars)

“Look, good against remotes is one thing, good against the living, that’s something else.”

Unless you’ve been trapped under a tauntaun for the last week, you’ve probably seen the new Star Wars trailer. As we look forward to the seventh episode in the storied movie franchise, we must also look back at the original trilogy that started it all. The films were filled with all sorts of unforgettable line, revealing the results of a paternity test or boasting about completing the Kessel run in under 12 parsecs.

And there’s lots of sage wisdom too. Do or do not; there is no try.

Remember the scene when young Luke Skywalker is practicing his lightsaber skills against a flying spherical robot? Remember how Obi-wan puts a helmet over Luke’s head, obscuring his vision and telling Luke to simply trust the Force? It worked, for whatever reason, but well-traveled Han Solo was skeptical at best. And then, Han utters the words quoted above.

And he’s right, really.

Research and observation are valuable. Practice is important. But until you place yourself in the middle of a “game time” situation, you can never know if your skills are really up to snuff. That’s precisely what happened with my first experience with snorkeling (as a non-swimmer). I read a lot of advice online and I could have practiced in a shallow pool first, but being thrown into the middle of the ocean forced me to learn a lot more quickly.

Simulations and scrimmages can only get you so far. Sometimes, you have to just do it. Learn from your failures, revel in your successes, and you too may be a Jedi Knight one day. May the Force be with you.