Meet Richard Carranza

We recently connected with Richard Carranza and have shared our conversation below.

Richard , thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

Life is both beautiful and harsh, it brings the ups and the downs. Everything is not always smooth and proper. Sometimes we live and we learn, while others never seem to learn, so they never live. Nothing is guaranteed except for right now, this present moment. Time is so precious, it’s so valuable you can’t put such a price on it. I know the struggle real well. I was just another Brown poor boy growing up hoping for an American Dream I knew nothing of. I was a product of poverty and the system. I was another result of another Mexican American, Chicano being born in the land of the free. I was pre-destined to go down a particular path. However though, realizing at such a young age I had to flip the script of not becoming another statistical stat. Communication is key but, perception is vital for everything. Your state of mind is crucial to the opinions of your environment. Optimism equals positivity. We are what we think. Why wouldn’t I choose to think and see things from a positive aspect? Experiencing much setbacks and challenges and persevering through them, allows me to think I can. I like to believe there is always more than one way to a solution. With that being said, we must consider with much consideration of being open minded. Breaking the cycle is not easy, reprogramming however is not impossible. I have experienced great hardships in life with pain and loss, but I am still here! I choose to still see and be the positive outlook on life and the things in it. I wasn’t fortunate enough to grow up with all the material things, barely the basics, therefore I will always be grateful for what I do have. I chose to have flirted with and kiss death, with that I am always thankful for each day I am able to live. I’ve had many great, generous and kind people in my life that cared more than enough to help. I am here today because of those individuals and families. I know people care and that allowed me to see the good in people and the good in life. Gracias to the homie and his familia Mijarez. Thank you coach Rivas for believing in me and looking out when there wasn’t many others to do so. Gracias to Melissa and her familia for helping me get started as a young man in this world of life. It allowed me to understand no matter how bad you think you are or what you’re doing, there is always that one person with the light. A positive and a negative make something whole. We already know of the negatives, let’s focus on the positive to become one. My optimism comes from a life of struggle but still being blessed. It stems from knowing after every dark night there is a bright day, even if it’s gray or even if it rains. Being angry or upset, even stressed is much more work than being happy. Everything we choose to think and feel, is a choice. It is the art of free will.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

C-RICH. Soy Chicano de Los Angeles. I am a Mexican American Poet from East Los. I learned I am more powerful with my words that I share and write than my own two hands to fight! I am here to share my story, to share a story, to share your story. I am here to provide some type of insight. I know I may not change the world with my words, but if I can change yours, my purpose is fulfilled. I create to relate! I be what others can’t see in their own traits. I spark a thought in your mind. I live life to enjoy the time. I educate to think away from the negativity or hate. Life is already a mission and some of us are right on time or running a bit late. Most of us were never fortunate enough and only a few can understand and reciprocate. I am the struggle just like you. I am the light that never came through. I am the understanding just like the few. I am because I am worthy, and so are you.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Naturally, people will always have an opinion of some matter or an individual. You can’t stop them from thinking good or bad about you. No matter if you are always doing right or when you make a mistake, they will always criticize. So, don’t worry about what they think. Focus on your own thoughts and what you do. A very important skill is to listen. I am a vocal person when the time calls for. However though I listen. Listening to the right people will teach life lessons through their experiences. We will never know everything and we are not the same. We are all created in our own unique way with something to offer the world. Breaking out of your own comfortability is crucial for growth. When I began writing in my black composition notebook, I never thought it would escape from there. I began sharing with people what I wrote separately when I had the opportunity. Having an impact on the ones I would share with made me realize, I need to find a bigger audience. I wanted my words, I wanted my story to reach further to people I didn’t know. I began to search for open mics locally. My first open mic I shared at was a small, loud cafe in Echo Park. I began to search other open mics in different areas of Los Angeles I was not familiar with. I then began to search for open mics with larger crowds, in which lead to many other opportunities. If I had not decided to grow and venture out from my notebook, I wouldn’t be here now writing for you. Number one is don’t stress of what others think of you. Number two is, remember to stop or slow down and listen to the right people. Lastly is breaking out of your comfort and do the unordinary. You will never know how far you can go if you stay in the same comfort and known.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

I love my parents and I know they love me. To most and even my siblings, they didn’t do much for us. As for me though the way I see it, letting me live and learn what they couldn’t teach was the most impactful thing they ever could have done for me. They showed me respect and how to treat others. That took me where I needed to go and brought me around the right people. We always had a rough life full of survival instincts and tendencies. They showed me how to survive and appreciate the simple things in life. They set me free at a young age, I left the nest at fifteen years old. I’ve been on journey since then, traveling alone. They never really told me no, except for when I was wrong or about to do so. My mother was always a hard working waitress and kept a roof over our heads no matter what! My pops was something else! But he always saw the laughter in life and always tried to exemplify that, no matter how hard the times were. My pops always meant well and tried to do good, even though to some it didn’t appear like that. There was much my parents didn’t know about being parents. Ironically later in life there were times I had to parent my parents. They were never really shown themselves up to a certain time in their lives. They alway did their best and I know they always tried. They did well enough to keep all of us alive. My parents trusted me enough that I’d always do my best. They knew from birth I wasn’t like the rest. They knew I would prevail any test I went up against. No matter how many times they fell, they always got back up with a new step. I always paid attention and listened. I observed what not to do and I learned what I had to. I hold no regrets, I hold no anger, I have no resentments towards my parents. They brought me into this world and I will always love them for that. I am both my Mother and my Pops. I thank them for not trying to program me or the way that I think. I love them for just letting me be.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: c_r.i.c.h
• Youtube: Richard Carranza @c_r.i.c.h
• Other: TikTok @chicanorich
  c.rich.one991@gmail.com