As the daughter of Hispanic immigrants who arrived in New York City in 1948 and 1952, I was born and raised in New York City till age 22 (with a brief interlude in Miami for two years). I was fascinated by the cosmopolitan environment in which I called home, several years ago the zip code I was raised in was designated as home to the most international population in the country. NYC, an amazing melting pot of every sort of person that exists on the planet, and then some awfully odd beings to which I attribute my belief in extraterrestials! 
Nonetheless, I often found myself observing, maybe even staring or piercing one by one at the ecclectic bunch of subway passengers possibly to their annoyance although who knows what they were really feeling anyhow; the status apparatus body language in NYC was look mad and avoid eye contact. I was the odd ball. Naively, I would smile at everyone because I liked people; many years later I realized that there really wasn’t a neon sign behind me that read, “Please speak to me and no matter what I say continue to speak, jiberish if you prefer, and feel free to follow me home!” Many years later, I realized that that was why all the freaks would approach me and men would make what I thought were “uninvited” passes at me; they misinterpreted my friendly smile as an invitation. In reality, I had developed an intrigue in people, their drama, their suffering, and their joys.
Everyone in New York is a “character” of one sort or another. Although I have yet to study it scientifically, I dare say that the spectrum of human beings on the planet all have at least one representative in the Big Apple (you’ll immediately be able to identify them as they ask you for directions to the UN!). Furthermore, as I observed the haves and have-nots, (myself reminded of my have-not status each time the train left Manhattan and submerged into the dark tunnels leading to, yes no-other than stuck in the 70’s, Queens {Musical symbol } “Night fever, night fever. . .}, I wondered what determined the haves from the have-nots in all respects. Does it surprise you to learn that later in life I was working as a psychotherapist in a psychiatric unit in Miami and continued to be perplexed and continue to be consumed with the same question my life to date: What or who determines our unique circumstances, e.g. how was it decided or determined who would be a “schizophrenic or bipolar” vs. a “well-adjusted individual”; “depressed vs. happy”; “poor vs. rich” and endlessly so on. I was not sure, but regardless it just did not seem fair.
Know what, I don’t like not fair; and… I won’t put up with it; simply will not tolerate it, no Sir, not happening! It’s amazing, how what I wouldn’t do for myself, I would for the underprivileged. I think its called anuerisism, no that’s a brain hemorraghe. Living vicariously? No, not that either? Take a break for a moment while I look it up….
Unsuccessful, owe you the word, can’t look it up cause can’t spell it cause don’t know it. Another vicious cycle but that’s out of the scope of this book. Know what I’m suffering now. That’s why we have to put a stop to this.
Regardless, I was frustrated, torn over why the suffering had to suffer and I decided to do something about it. Unbeknownst to me, I had already begun my lifelong quest, an unceasing passion and drive to understand the process of human suffering, it’s cause, it’s purpose, and by far most importantly our liberation from its grasp, yes, the end of human suffering!! A very daring statement, indeed, but who better than me, a relentless almost menopausal New Yorker with a chip on her shoulder against suffering, time to dust off and polish up those brass knuckles again. “Suffering consider yourself served this OFFICIAL DECLARATION OF WAR!!!” WATCH OUT!!
No disrespect intended; quite to the contrary it made me the psychologist I am today: an open-minded person that values and respects our individuality and values our differences and is very comfortable thinking out of the box as well as in it. Can you imagine if there was only one spice for food and all foods and beverages could only be seasoned with that one spice. Yuk! In my opinion, beauty is in the contrasts; all is valuable; expand your mind with different perspectives, not that you need to adapt them but simply savour them, and then decide if you want to adapt it; I noticed that wise, intelligent, evolving people do this.