There is a surge of superficiality in the world right now, a trend that has, regrettably, also influenced me. I have had a date with destiny that was long overdue and been faced with the harsh reality that I ultimately created for myself. It was brutal, and I had to deal with the consequences of my poor life choices, only to discover that I was ill-equipped for real life. This is a tale of caution but also one of hope, depending on your perspective. People, under enough pressure, will change their ways. If that change is for the better, is something that each individual has to decide for him/herself.       In the past, I used to be a passive-aggressive a-hole in my day to day life. I worked the minimum amount necessary to be considered valuable to the company that I worked for, I entertained a small number of shallow relationships with the people around me, just enough so that they kept talking to me, and I spent my time dreaming of a better tomorrow and endlessly imagining how one day…