I am sitting in a Starbucks on the corner of Sixth Street and Spring Street in Los Angeles. I have seen so much that is extremely different from what I am used to in my little town back home. I’ve seen multiple people of different color, backgrounds and people with many different breeds of dogs.

I’ve witnessed a woman putting her needles in her purse after getting high in the bathroom and showing the small amounts of blood that dripped on the floor. I’ve sat next to a middle-aged man working on his biology homework as he told me he wants to help create medicine to help combat addiction, but that if he doesn’t succeed, God will be there with him. I bet he has an incredible story.

I’m sitting in front of a window where it seems like hundreds of people have passed by. Some people are making odd faces at me as they walk by, some people talking with their friends, some are walking slow as they carry their belongings on their back, but all are continuing on with their evening.

Ever since I was a young girl, I always saw the beauty of this city. I saw the famous Los Angeles tall skyscrapers and the art and culture on every main street. Tonight, I found myself not only fearing the world, but feeling somewhat anxious for my safety. I put my computer in a CVS bag in case someone thought of robbing me. I put my keys and wallet in my pocket in case someone was going to run off with my purse, and I kept my phone near me in case I needed it for an emergency. This isn’t the city I saw growing up. Or maybe it is and I have let this world unknowingly change my perspective. Was I just naive back then? Am I being more cautious now that I am an adult?

I dreamt of the day that I could move into any place I could find as long as it was in the heart of this beautiful city. I started to second guess myself because maybe I wasn’t ready to leave my small little town and be a big girl.

But after spending a couple hours in the same seat, peering out the window, I became more calm, even to the point where I considered leaving my laptop on the tabletop to have the man next to me watch it while I ordered a tea. Like any situation, I realized that it takes a bit of time to adjust to change.

Jim Rohn said, “Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.” If I want my life experiences to be adventurous and fun, I have to be willing to adapt to change. This has been an interesting night, one for the books.

I am sitting in a Starbucks on the corner of Sixth Street and Spring Street in Los Angeles. I see the beauty in this city shine bright and watch people with stories ready to be told. I am at my future home.