Here’s to the Crazy Ones.

“Because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” –Steve Jobs

by Alyssa Ramos

Note: The photos in this post will be a collection of the some of the random things I have accomplished so far…I’m not done yet.

It has of course occurred to me that I might be crazy, and I may have perhaps even thought it was a bad thing for some time when I felt like I was a misfit for having different ideas and perspectives than everyone else around me. Sometimes I think back and wonder how I was ever even accepted into a sorority of perfect, beautiful, fun girls when I was going to college in the first place on a whim because I got bored and wanted a challenge, like oh say biochemistry and a 360 degree change in lifestyle. I’ve wondered what the hell I was thinking quitting the job I spent four years at college for because I wanted to raise money for animals, and why it felt so right to cancel that flight home from LA and never rebook it. But looking back on all of the crazy random shit I’ve done, I can honestly say I’m damn proud of my life, obsessed with it even, and I wouldn’t change a thing about it. And furthermore, I am so incredibly grateful for the fateful events and people I have met along the way, and the crazy ones like me who I know will leave their mark on the world.

The idea for this topic sparked me last night at Comedy Night at The Parlor, which I would have written about instead, especially the part where I was deathly afraid of getting heckled in the front row and then of course the first act immediately calls out me and my date, saying we look like we’re an American Apparel ad and the threesome of his dreams…but that’s not my point. I don’t take compliments well. I get all shy and awkward and make faces similar to my Pomeranian when he knows he’s in trouble. So while the comedians actually complimented my appearance, it had little affect on me, but when my worldly date/potential soul mate or universe twin’s fellow worldly friend complimented my past and current feats, I couldn’t have been more proud.

Not many people know how many things I’ve actually done, and that’s ok, I’m writing an entire novel about it that you all better buy and read, but when this guy, who from what I gathered is quite successful in both his finance career and personal aspirations to model, took interest in everything I had to say, I was more flattered than any superficial compliment anyone could ever give me. I kept trying to tell him “It’s a long story…all of my stories are long stories”, and his response was, “It’s Ok, what good story ever lasted ten seconds long?” So I told him about my accidental move to LA which he replied “That really happens? I thought that only happens in movies”…I told him he should read my blog. Then after telling him about my previous job history, from vet tech to corporate philanthropy planner to accidental writer, he said, “You’re how old?” to which I said, “25”, and he said, “Oh ok just checking, I thought you were going to say 48.” And it really made me realize that although I’ve taken some major risks, I’ve always full heartedly gone after what I really wanted to do. I’ve done a LOT of crazy things, but if I hadn’t, I sure as hell wouldn’t be sitting in my West Hollywood apartment writing a blog about my life, that’s for damn sure.

As I sat there watching the comedy show, I realized how many “crazy ones” surrounded me, even on that random Monday night. The comedians, who may not be the most attractive people, still had the balls to get up in front of a crowd just to make other people laugh. My date, who might just be even crazier/more ADD than me, who just booked a last minute hiking trip up Mount Rainier (in -20 degree weather) and wasn’t at all hesitant to say “I’ll go” when I told him I wanted to volunteer with orphans in Africa for a month. In fact, I’m pretty sure if anyone ever listened to one of our conversations they would hear more combined thoughts and ideas in ten minutes than they’d probably have in an entire year. But that’s exactly the type of person I’d want to talk to.

To me, Hollywood is an amazing place. It’s where the people crazy enough to go after their dreams go to fulfill them. The city is filled with dreamers; from foreign aspiring models and actresses, to start up Internet moguls, to accidental writers, we all have chosen that we want our dreams to come true, and not just stay in our heads.

But it’s not just here in Hollywood; the majority of my current friends (and there’s A LOT of them) have or are currently traveling the world, and although I’ve been to four out of seven continents and about fifty countries, I still get jealous and crave to experience more. I have friends, new and old, who I hardly see, but keep in contact with regularly who have either started their own company or are working their asses off to get the job they WANT to have. The people who have hired me without previous experience have done so on a gut feeling, and were all entrepreneurs and founders of the companies that I worked for, and have often told me that a person willing to go after what they want to do and learn, is much more valuable than a person who just thinks it’s what they’re supposed to do. There are endless references I could make, but the recurring trait is inevitable to deny in all of these “crazy people”.

We aren’t afraid. We we aren’t afraid that we aren’t going to make enough money, because to us, money is just the fuel we need to get by while we explore life, and strive for our real goals, the things we love to do, and who we want to be. We aren’t afraid to love, no matter how many times it may have hurt us, we love with all of our hearts, both people and life. We aren’t afraid of a challenge, because we know anything is possible, and it’s what pushes us to be better than we already are. We aren’t afraid to live our lives to the fucking fullest and travel randomly, meet new people, and speak our minds, because we understand that we only get one shot to do it, and hardly enough time.

We are the ones who are crazy enough to try change the world, and to make our own dreams come true. Some people might frown upon us for going against the norm, and may even believe we’re destined for failure…but we’ve already won, because we love what we do, and we got you to notice it. So follow YOUR dreams, and remember, “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” –Steve Jobs.