I was 19; decided I wanted to go an adventure.

So I got in my Kia Sportage and left for the road with somewhere west in mind. I didn’t know where I would end up, and I didn’t let anyone in my family know that I was brushing my teeth and washing up in a gas station somewhere in Tennessee.

I was very naive. I had never really left my hometown to go anywhere other than Florida. So I was pretty much overwhelmed with wanderlust and idealized people like Chris Mccandless at the time for the rebellion and journey (hinting at my introversion and lack of social experience)

I drove through many towns and offspots. Brought my shitty camera in the idea I’d be famous for my pursuits. I stopped pretty much wherever I felt like going, but still I had no idea what the fuck I was doing.

I would sleep overnight at Planet Fitness. Because I had some money from the job I had a week prior; lost. This is how I got into fitness, and learned pretty much my passion for it.

I ended up in Chicago. Big city, having never actually been to a city with skyscrapers and shit for more than 30 minutes I was completely overwhelmed. I arrived in a place called Wicker Park (gentrified ghetto) and was shocked by everything

  1. Beautiful women everywhere

  2. People everywhere

  3. Paid parking

4: Homeless people (crazy right)

I parked my car at a CVS and alerted my family that I was now in the city; alone.

Everything was fresh and exciting; the architecture of the buildings, The streets, the history. I viewed myself as a tourist and was so eager to explore and do as much as I could before reverting to my original plan. (California?)

Some nights I was alone wondering around the city by myself. Expecting people to find that interesting. Other nights I’d crash at strangers homes from an app I found for travelers. These people would show me around give me tips for where to go it was nerve inducing but so much fun. For once I didn’t think about how much of a loser I was, or my lack of friends/success. I was enjoying my little struggle.

I ended up staying with a wealthy gay man For a bit in the financial district. (Crazy after dwelling in a Planet fitness parking lot) All the sudden I had a gorgeous view of the city after experiencing much of the rough and up and coming.

I applied for a job as a butcher at a Whole Foods; and then came my transformation.

I was hungry for success, for better, to get out of my car permanently and maybe find an apartment. Some nights I’d crash on the side of the road in my car. Other nights I had a luxury couch to sleep on and a view my old self would’ve been shocked to experience.

I got the job, out of luck with a spotty resume and no experience and I was making bank all the sudden. (For a 19 year old homeless kid)

I became obsessed with bettering myself. I guess along with the nights spent starving; Freezing and dodging of parking lot security, brings ambition; I was full of it. A surreal feeling. I didn’t care that I was living out of my car. I didn’t tell anyone; no one knew either because I was dressed very well frequently. That’s beside the point, I was living and enjoying the shit out of life despite where I slept at night. Anyway, to conclude this tale and make it relevant to this sub, i will list what exactly happened to me and how I improved for the better. Being a somewhat hopeless kid my previous life.

  1. Being out of your comfort zone is good; most times

  2. Women sense your ambition and motivation

  3. When your freezing your ass off in a car with sweaty clothes from the gym; you will love working.

  4. I had no insecurity, I only had things I knew I could improve on; my skin, body, personality, hair, etc.

  5. I struggled, but I was never sad. I felt like life was going somewhere; and with my motivation to get better I knew I would be successful

  6. Fitness is important; I worked out for two hours each morning before leaving the parking lot. I learned about eating at a caloric surplus...HEALTHY protein dense foods. (I had several new stains inside my car from making protein shakes at 1:00 am under my cocoon of blankets.

  7. When I was on my path, I was horny yes; but i was carving a spot for myself in this beautiful city. That was the most important thing.

  8. There was no Time for me to be sad and brooding or to jerk off in the bathroom to porn. I was around people, noise constantly. Stress constantly but I only ever cared when I wanted to sleep.

  9. I was so unappreciative of what I had in my hometown; a bed, a warm room, a shower, access to many resources including school and a healthy social life. But i didn’t take advantage because I was socially anxious and weak inside. I needed this crazy self righteous struggle to find internal peace and comfort in myself.

  10. All you have to do is make the leap. Don’t think; I hated my life, it became to much one day and I hit the road.

  11. I realized I could do anything. If I could leva my hometown with only an idea of how I’d end up. Pack 20 lbs of muscle on to my frame, get a job a good job (for me), sleep overnight in subzero temperatures, improve my skin and appearance, dress well, not eat for four days awaiting a paycheck and still explore the city for fun. That I could anything, this includes approaching the hottest girl at the store and hanging her on the first date (yea me, homeless virgin)

I might try to edit this post a bit; I’m not sure if it even helps or if it will be taken down or not. My writing is all over the place but hopefully the gist is apparent. I may delete it too who knows