Before I start the article, I just wanted to point out that I have a valid (Concealed Carry Weapon) CCW license for my state. It took me roughly 7 months. I signed up for a Conceal Carry Pistol class with range time. I had to wait a month and a half. I had to schedule an appointment that I had to wait for two and a half months. The process of getting my license took a little over three months. Let's get right into the experience!
Being emotionally mature
Miyamoto Musashi, a master-less samurai, once said, "The ultimate aim of martial arts is not having to use them." I have always carried this mentality growing up when I learned various martial arts. Luckily, I've never had to use the martial arts I've learned (Muay Thai, Boxing, and Karate) against bullies and people who wanted to start anything. I simply walked away. That meant having to be the bigger person. That is even further amplified when you have a tool like a pistol. It is only reserved for the most dire of situations.
Heightened Awareness
I began to pick up on exit points of buildings, potential cover, what people looked like, etc. Not quite Jason Bourne but observant overall. Every building I enter, I come up with an escape plan. Every time I dined in, I made sure to sit facing other people and the door. I made sure to also be seated close to potential cover or an escape route. If I saw a metal clip protruding from a person's pocket, I made mental note of that person carrying a knife. When driving, I am mostly aware of where cars are on the road. It is fun coming up with these mental puzzles to solve about, "how to survive should x happen in this location." I make sure that it doesn't take over my identity. I have to remind myself that my ultimate dream in life is to be a "Renaissance" man who is capable of many things. That old lady walking away from that bench isn't out to stab you in the back your neck because you let your guard down. That is a frivolous example. Something grounded in reality is someone dressed ghetto or maybe someone is dressed as a "fedora." Live your life normally but be cautious of others.
If you are a fellow firearm enthusiast or conceal carry as well, please feel free to comment down below! If you aren't too fond of firearms, I would love to discuss what it means to be a responsible gun owner. Often times we hear too much of the negativity of things and we don't have the opportunity to see how some things are done responsibly.