I moved to Los Angeles almost 10 years ago with almost no expectations but a simple openness. I had heard the stereotypes about its people – shallow, empty hearted, empty headed, passionless, and cold – but came anyway.
I’m sitting now at a typical LA cafe on a typical LA sunny, warm, and beautiful day. The Angelinos in my midst, milling about, conversing, keeping up their appearances, keeping up win one another. They’re all so incredibly beautiful. And I don’t mean that in an outward way but an inward way.
Overall these are my Angels – truly. I have spent the last decade surrounded by nothing less than the most kind, sincere, and pure angels I may ever come to know. Most people come to LA with the hearts of innocent children – well meaning, sometimes looking for the world’s attention, sometimes looking to turn the world on its head, sometimes looking to become great in their respective fields, sometimes seeking to create and express themselves, sometimes simply looking for the deep blue ocean, palm trees, and the bright white sand. Those who grew up here seem to embody and promote this spirit as well.
The Angelinos never fail to amaze me because they are a mass of powerful dreamers. They not only have dreams but work tirelessly to manifest their dreams of a beautiful and adventurous future.
And yet there are many problems in this place: deep poverty, injustice, power struggles, hazardous environmental conditions to name a few – in many ways this city is a microcosm for the entire world due to its sheer vast nature.
Yet each being here is my angel. I look into their deep and beautiful eyes and see an ancient knowing behind their exterior personalities – I see wisdom that is as old as time and a spirit that could form new galaxies. Each one of them is a dear teacher of truth to me for when I choose to pay attention: from the guy walking around his little black chiwawa in a baby stroller to the polite kid who just made my coffee to the woman who smashed my car into my neighbor’s lot last week. Each one a teacher and each with a different teaching.
More than all else though, these angels have taught me the respect that the world has for me. Each being greets me with absolute respect no matter in what form it comes, be it a “bless you,” a “fuck you,” or a simple acknowlegding glance. Each word, each syllable: the voice of God made manifest.
