Be Yourself

Written By: Rebecca McGranahan

I saw an old friend the other day and we engaged in light conversation. She asked me where in CA I was living and I watched her face turn to horror when I told her that I’d been living in Long Beach, CA for 11 years. Long Beach CA is not only known as a beach community to native Californians, it is also known for it’s crime rate and gang activity. Clearly knowing this, my friend said “why on earth do you live there?” and looked at me with true confusion. I responded as such: “Long Beach is not just a place to come see the ocean, it is my home. It is a busy city full of lots of good things and people. While it is similar to other beach communities in SC, it is also an unusual place to live. On any given day, it is not odd to see something new or out of the norm. Seeing a person walking down the street with a cockatoo on one shoulder and a monkey on the other would not surprise the average Long Beachian. Here I explained, people of all walks of life and socioeconomic backgrounds, proudly wear their individuality like a badge across their chest.

People of all colors greet one another on the street. It is a normality to thank the bus driver before you exit the bus and many of us know one another. Our city is nearly completely pet friendly and our pets, at least in my city, are yet another example of how we bond. Restaurants allow pets for the most part, we walk our pets, play with our pets and parade them proudly down the street like some sort of fashion statement we are proud to wear as our furry friends are another way we express ourselves. While LB may have it’s problems, so does every other city. In my town, we sport our LB gear, celebrating our town and I might dare say, tolerating each other in a way the world could learn from. I think my town could teach people something about being your authentic self without worrying about what others think. As our residents prove daily, being yourself shouldn't be something to hide. Our differences should be celebrated and accepted as those differences ultimately make us unique.” After my friend and I parted that day, I walked home with my head held a little higher. I realized I am proud of the people in my town. While others may look down on my community, I believe my city sets a bar. A whole community where you can be yourself, love your fellow man and be accepting of others is a beautiful thing and I believe the rest of the world could learn from us.

Written By:

Rebecca McGranahan

Assistant Blog Writer

Certified Holistic Lifestyle Advocate