Manhattan Beach Pier — Attraction in Manhattan Beach

Took a walk to the MB pier this morning as I'm a bit overwhelmed. It feels like everyone has their life together and knows exactly what they want to do. I get scared to even go on LinkedIn because I see my peers getting promoted seemingly left and right. "1st VP" of this, "Director" of that. It may come off as selfish or hating on other people's success... and actually you're probably right it is a little selfish. It's a mix of feelings. I'm happy for people, especially my closest friends, but the first reaction I have when someone talks about how well they are doing at work or how much money they make is it stings.

I don't want it to sting. I don't want to be envious of others. But I am. I know this uncontrollable flaring up of jealousy means it is touching on something I am insecure about in myself, and it's really a reflection of me and a change I need to make. It's an internal problem, not an external one.

I really do feel that I have everything outside of a job that I'm passionate about, or at least one that at least pays really well. I've traveled a lot, have hobbies that I LOVE, have the best friends I could ever ask for, a beautiful and loving family unit, etc. But maybe that's the trade off. Can't have everything?

I think having a passion outside of work can be both a blessing and a curse. I LOVE to write, it simply feeds my soul. It's like a drug that just makes me feel better. I feel 'off' if I go too long without writing something, even if it's just journaling. Getting thoughts out of my head and onto paper is so cathartic for me.

On the flip side of the coin, I've found that being this passionate about something makes it exponentially harder to do things that you aren't passionate about, aka work.

I've been around people at prior jobs who have no passions, so they pour all their creative energy into their day jobs, and as a result they are extremely successful. But I've seen these people have exorbitant amounts of money, and be miserable. So I'm definitely not jealous of that ahahah. I wouldn't trade places with any one of them.

Honestly, I realized as I'm writing this, I'm less jealous of the money and more jealous of the passion that people have in their day job. I'm really not envious of people who make a sh*tload of money but don't like their work, have no free time, and no fulfillment. We have MAYBE 80 years on the planet, I'll be damned if I throw my prime years away just to make money that I can't take with me after it's curtains.

I think the obvious answer is do something you are passionate about for your work. Then you are unstoppable.

See this is why I love to write, I talk to myself and get to the bottom of what I am feeling.

After posting up on a bench at the MB pier with J.Cole’s “Friday Night Lights” mixtape in my ears and writing this, I feel much better. Thank you for reading through this stream of consciousness ahahahaa.

IG...

Our 10-day road trip along the Pacific Coast Highway from San Diego to up past San Francisco included stopping at Manhattan Beach because that's what a trip up the PCH is, stopping at beaches, looking out at the coastline, driving through touristy towns, and some regular towns too. So this beach was your typical California beach with a pier, as a few of them have. This pier has a small, free aquarium at the end of it, which wasn't open when we were there, and I wouldn't go in it anyway because I can't stand to see fish in prison for no good reason. And is there ever a good reason to put fish in prison? Well, I guess maybe those orcas who are biting our boats, but aren't we kinda trespassing on their property, polluting their home and whatnot? Maybe they've got good reason to bite our boats. Anyway, I loved this beach because it was vast, it was clean, we saw a large pod of dolphins swimming by, flipping and flapping in the water. Fishermen were on the pier and they're not supposed to do overhead casting as the signs on the pier state, but they were doing just that, so watch your head when you walk by a fisherman. At the public restroom you might overhear some very funny conversations like the one we heard: a father talking to his young son. "Stop touching that, don't touch that, why are you touching that? Do you want to go home with grandma?" Whimpering, "no." Three seconds of silence. "Stop touching that! Why are you touching that!?" When you leave the beach and hit the nearby streets, there's legal jaywalking in the crosswalks -- I've never seen that before. The stoplights all turn red and all the cars have to stop and all the walk signs light up and you can cross diagonally! Wish we had that in my neck...

I visited the Manhattan Beach Pier a couple of weeks ago, and it quickly became one of my favorite spots in the Los Angeles area. There’s something so peaceful about walking down the old wooden planks with the ocean stretching endlessly in front of you and the waves crashing below. The atmosphere is relaxed, the kind of place where time seems to slow down and all you want to do is breathe in the salty air and take it all in.

The pier itself is beautifully maintained, and the view from the end—especially at sunset—is absolutely worth the stroll. I watched surfers riding waves just beside the structure, and it felt like something out of a movie. At the very end of the pier, there’s the Roundhouse Aquarium, a small, free aquarium that’s surprisingly charming and a nice little surprise if you didn’t know it was there.

What I loved most was how the whole area has a welcoming, beach-town feel. People were out walking their dogs, families were playing in the sand, and the nearby cafés and shops just off the beach added to the charm. I grabbed a coffee and sat for a while watching the volleyball games on the sand, just enjoying the energy of the place.

Parking can be a bit tight, especially on the weekend, but it’s worth the extra few minutes it might take to find a spot. And even when it’s a little crowded, it never feels overwhelming—just lively and full of people enjoying the California coast.

All in all, my visit to Manhattan Beach Pier was one of those simple, perfect afternoons that stick with you. If you’re looking for a classic Southern California vibe with stunning views and a calm, easygoing atmosphere, this...