Circles

Someone once told me "Hang out with the people you want to be like." Well, the problem with that is, or should I say the part they didn't tell me, is that the people you want to be like have to want to hang out with you. You can imagine my frustration when I, a kid from the streets, with no money, and holes in his shoes, sat down at a table full of millionaires, I was quickly escorted kicking and screaming from the lavish restaurant and tossed into the gutter from winced I came.

OK, that never happened, but you can imagine that it would have had I done such a thing. My point is it's easier said than done. I knew quite a lot of people who were very well-off, owners of nightclubs and restaurants, but no matter how nice I was, or how many wonderful conversations about what they did or the money they made was I ever invited into their "Inner circle".

See, my inner circle consisted of gang members, drug dealers, drug addicts, and alcoholics. I loved my friends and for the most part, I still do, but they were unsuccessful in life, with no ambition to be any more than what they were, no offense. Let me rephrase that, I am sure lots of them wished to be more than what they were/are, but they lacked the drive, and the motivation to actually do what it takes to change. I had no choice in the matter. I was told "Change or you WILL die very soon." well I chose to die later. In the process, I had to step away from lots of people, no matter how much I love them because their lifestyle was not congruent with the life I was CHOOSING to live, and I was having to reevaluate my "circle".

I began to reach out, trying to find people who were doing things I wanted to do, and despite that, it wasn't until someone accepted me into their circle did things really began to change. I am now surrounded by individuals who encourage me to be better in every way, writers, poets, and creatives all lifting each other up, and while there is a lot of good-natured razzing, I know the people within my "circle" are going places, and if they can, they will pave the way for me and others to follow.

I guess in the end It wasn't about hanging out with millionaires and being famous, it was about surrounding myself with other people with the drive and ambition to do more, to be more. If I become rich and famous along the way I will consider it a bonus, but the real wealth comes in the form of friendship, knowledge, and support provided by this amazing round table of people I find myself sitting with.

(72) Chuuch - YouTube