Life is intimidating

Los Angeles County is both exciting and intimidating at the same time. It’s exciting due to LA being one of the major cities in the world. People immigrate to this city from all over the world. The great melting pot that is Los Angeles is one of the major tourist attractions that bring a diversified group of people to our backyard throughout the year. This very notion has to bring pride to any Angelino, the glamour of Hollywood, the music and art’s culture, and not to mention the best weather all year around. These are only a few of the many things that make Los Angeles one of the most exciting cities to live in. However LA would not be able to live up to the hype without a little drama. Therefore the most intimidating part about living in LA is the fact that within these cities limits are the most affluent power players. From the city of Beverly Hills to the Hollywood Hills, and stretching to the coast of Rancho Palos Verdes to Malibu, are the resident’s dwellings and cash flow which floods into the local politics and into the capitol building in Sacramento.
The intimidation comes by the way of the politics that are intertwined into the daily life of all Angelinos. Decisions that are made in this city are heavily influenced by the power player and their bank accounts. Now for an ordinary Angelino like me and coming from the streets of the most urban areas, cash flow like that is not present. On the other hand, even though there will always remain those power players who get to hang out at the lavish banquets and write a check at the end of it, the young spirited individuals who hope to one day not only make it out of the under developed parts of LA, but to make a name for themselves will be there just beside those individuals. There remains no intentions on my part to distraught the idea of becoming successful and having this kind of cash flow. Rather my intent in heavily concerned on how one measures success.
The power players so to speak measure of success amounts to fiscal capabilities. Humbleness is what comes by the way of a person who seeks an improved way of living but does it with no intention on the benefits. I have recently met an individual who has put all that into perspective for me. A man who has been succumbed by the influences of gang activity and all that entails from this life has such an inspiring story. For part of life, he was under the control of the powerful Mongol biker gang and has had his stints in the prison systems from the age of 16. However, this individual has championed his way to success, but not by man’s definition. Defeating a drug addiction and overcoming the negativity to achieve his goals, Mark is well rounded guy who has made it to the top of the educational pole. Professor of Anthropology at UCLA (now retired), Mark has accomplished what most would think can’t be done from a person of this background. Ultimately what is comes down to as stated by Mark “people would say that the most a person from my personal experiences can achieve is a new outlook on life and perhaps a religious life at best….they’re not suppose to travel the world and end being a professor at UCLA after going through what I went through.” This attitude is found being pressed upon many individual who make it out of the most destructive situations. If they are given the opportunity they will achieve. This however is not the number one thing on a person’s mind when coming into contact with a guy like Mark after finding a new perspective on life. It is unfortunate, but there needs to be more people like Mark in our world, those who have seen people give up on them but still fight relentlessly to reach their goals.
God Bless.