The Entitled

I came to Mill Valley as a visitor 13 years ago. It was all derived from getting lost on the way to Stinson Beach. I was 29 years old, and fell instantly in love. This had to be the happiest place on earth. The city was so serene, it had “hygge” (coziness) as we Danes call it, it had everything that reminded me of a European city, yet on top of it magnificent nature.

I don’t know what has changed since my move to Mill Valley about 10 years ago. I integrated quickly with the locals by becoming a participant in the actives in the Muir Woods ‘Nature Friend’ club. I worked fulltime, had a busy schedule, but still had time to find a new trail, explore Mount Tamalpais, and run to Stinson Beach with my friends. Life was simple, but good.

Yet something seem to have changed lately. Getting the cup of tea at the square as I do each morning is no longer as joyful as it consists of dealing with angry people, who previously honked at you because you took one split of a second later to get in gear at the stop sign. It is obvious you bother them, whether it is in a traffic jam, at the grocery store or at the doctors office. It wasn’t that long ago where I was at my doctors office where my nurse broke down while taking my vital signs. They had had to call 911 to a very ill man, and the feedback they had gotten from the waiting patients were far from sympathy, but disgust in their visit’s delay.

In Mill Valley, there is a presence that has to do with “entitlement”. Because people have a fancy car, a big house, or perhaps send their kids to private school, they feel entitled over everyone else.  Over the years I have witnessed angry women yelling at tellers over a 10 cent difference while driving away in their BMW, drivers harassing each other, dog walkers being yelled at, not to mention my own experiences on a bike, walking my son to school…..you name it. The list is long.

I work fulltime myself at the No. 1 ranked 2012 Fortune company, and I too have a busy life, but I’m not entitled. I’m a single mom, work towards my Masters Degree, have a mortgage to pay, and help with dog rescue in what spare time I have.  Mill Valley is pristine and so are all the cities in Marin. We live in natures paradise and we should embrace it. Each morning I am greeted by magnificent giants at my front door.  I feel honored and blessed. Across the pond, there are many lives that are not as blessed, and I think of them often.

There is no doubt that there are groups of angry and bitter people in Mill Valley, who thinks they are entitled. However, there are many wonderful  and interesting people living in Mill Valley too. Instead of the entitlement, why don’t we buy a cup of coffee for someone in line. Wave if someone honks. Explore our beautiful trails. Smile. And also hold back for all waiting with their children in the cross walks.  It is the law, and you too are entitled to follow it. The objective for MV2012, and forward, should be to drop all notions of “entitlement” instead feel blessed and honored over that we live in such a wonderful place and do something for one another.

A perspective by Bibi