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Old 05-28-2007, 10:39 PM   #3 (permalink)
mlc82
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Also, here's a copy and paste of a post I made in response to someone on a different (bodybuilding) forum, it's kind of relevant to your question of getting over the past:

I feel you there and still remember those days... I remember a couple of years ago running into this one guy who gave me hell from the time I was 13 or so until I starting lifting seriously, and he left me alone the last year of school. Seeing the guy that first time, I noticed that I now outweigh him by about 30lbs and he seemed to recognize me and wouldn't look my way, he really did seemed scared when he saw me, and I was just sitting there with my blood boiling. I honestly can't remember the last time I wanted to just beat the crap out of someone that badly. I think the main thing that kept me from it was the thought of ending up in jail for something that's #1 completely out of my character otherwise, and #2 maybe excusable when you're 16 or so, but will really make you look stupid at 22.

I see the guy at my gym every day now, and actually feel gratitude toward the dude now. If not for people like him, I'd have never picked up a weight (and more importantly, in turn, finally developed some confidence) in the first place. I can't say I feel any anger toward the guy anymore, as he could be a totally different person now also, and even if not, I think it's best to just let idiots be idiots and leave them to it.


I don't think anyone should discount the short term power of "anger" though, although that isn't the same as revenge... I've done some of my best work and had some of the best workouts ever when pissed off, which in turn really gets it (the negativity) out of your system while at the same time making it a good motivator for the time being. Revenge makes me think of a more long-term hate however, which would stay with you all of the time and couldn't possibly be a good thing for the long term.
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