So this is my first real post/question and I'm not all too worried about the formatting. The actual story is near the bottom of the post but I need to give you the typical background info.

The bottom line here is that I have been following TRP for probably less than a year (I'm 30) but I have for the past 3 years or so known or at least wondered that there was some sort of idealogy out there that could explain why I was feeling the way I was feeling or why I was so mad at the way things are and how society can be.

I'm very much still in the anger phase because I just got out of a 5 year relationship just 6 months ago, but I'm working my ass off at improving myself every single day.

Lately I've started to really develop that DGAF mentality and even though a year ago I would have never imagined I would be this way, I've evolved to be so damn persistent about not taking shit from ANYBODY (TRP has so much to do with that and seriously, thank you to this community). It may be that I've only recently started to care about myself, and my well being. It may be that I quit smoking 2 years ago and started to run 40 miles a week. The inner desire to be successful that I always knew was burning in me finally had burst out and started to lay bricks. I just came back from a solo travel (first) adventure in which I went to Hong Kong and signed up for a 43KM trail race that was in the dark (headlamp and all) with 8000ft of elevation gain and it took me 10 hours. It was my 2nd marathon ever and I have my 3rd one upcoming in 5 weeks.

I was 250 pounds 5 years ago.

I really wasn't sure if it had changed my life, even though I've read that doing something like diving head first into a challenge you really have no idea if you're capable of completing and actually coming out finishing it will change you for the better will damn sure change you.

THE STORY

Tonight was really what propelled me to write this post. After the typical 12 hour shift at the job i'm so desperately wanting to leave (soon) I was on my way to the grocery store by myself a nice IPA because it's a rest day and I've earned it.

It's rush hour and cars are bumper to bumper coming down the hill to the grocery store and a Benz is trying to merge left into the lane where all of the cars are turning into.

The intersection before the grocery store, the Benz swerves into the lane and gets in front of me with blinker engaged and though I try to block the intent I guess I just would rather not have to deal with a fender bender and the whole ordeal so at the very last moment I back off the Benz successfully gets into the lane and into the driveway.

I was planning to fill up the tank first before going to the grocery store next door so I pull up to a pump. The Benz pulls up next to me and I see a woman roll down here window and give me the angry bitch face. As I exit the vehicle and take out my credit card and insert it into the card reader the car then starts to drive around the pump in circles as tires screech.

The car then pulls up on the opposite pump and the woman (most likely the same age as me, maybe younger, with her BB boyfriend in the passenger) demands that I apologize.

"You need to apologize to ME because I had my blinker on it's common courtesy to let me in."

I calmly walk up to her car and say "I'm not apologizing to you, have a good night."

She then looks at my work uniform and badge and says "YOU NEED TO SAY YOU'RE SORRY -company name- -first name last initial-"

I look her square in the fucking eyes and say "I don't have to apologize for anything, HAVE. A. GOOD. NIGHT."

She drives away and toward the grocery store lot.

What really surprises me here is that 2 years ago I would have damn near got down on both knees and said "I'm sorry miss, I don't want any trouble" and let a person like that who today would just infuriate me... walk all over me.

I knew at that moment I wasn't the same person I was before TRP.

When I finally got to the grocery store I went to the produce section and I spotted the couple.

I walked right up to the girl and her dude and she saw me approaching and dropped whatever she was holding.

I was the calmest I have ever been in confrontation and said to her "here's a suggestion for you, you might not want to drive like that around a gas station for the sake and safety of all of us and.."

Before I could say anything else, her hand was out ready to accept a handshake and she said "I'm sorry I'm sorry"

I shook her hand and extended my hand out to her boy who couldn't have been more than 135lbs, staring at the ground and he looked up at me and shook my hand. I shook his hand like the civil being I am and I left to go grab my IPA.

What just happened?

I've followed TRP for about a year now and I know that the ideologies and methods that have been putting into practice are tried and true but am I finally starting to see the benefits of improving myself everyday?

I can't seem to get my approach anxiety in order but this world has seemingly turned me into someone that is sick and tired of the way people treat each other and I'm ready to fight back and take what I want.

I make it a conscious decision to not be an asshole to anyone and I try and be nice to everybody I meet, but the minute some shithead (female or male) gives me a reason to not be kind to them I flip the switch and don't take any shit thrown at me.

I'm probably just rambling at this point. Fellas, never stop improving, trust your instincts, and go after what you believe in.

This post may get lost in the shuffle but if it helps just one dude just starting out like me, then it'll be worth it. That interaction led me to finally attempt to give back to this sub and write a hopefully conducive post and though I always imagined it would be some field report with an HB20, this is what it is and the journey ahead is lifelong.

Cheers fellas.

edit: two words