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One doesn't always have change to spare, but when someone reaches their hand out, the least anyone can give, is a smile.

This is how all the interactions I have with people panhandling start. With a smile. And a genuine "Hi. How are you?"

I've had amazing conversations with people on the streets, I've learned things about history and geography; I've learned about cultures I'm not from; about our society, about literature, art, and philosophy. I've laughed, and I've cried; I've both felt joy and anger; hope, and despair.

To me, these are so much more than pictures, or even portraits. They are memories; recollections of encounters that shaped me into the person I am today. I've grown more as a human being by speaking with all these people than by listening to all of the teachers who's class I attended during my education.

And I'm sharing them here today for I hope they'll make you want to stop, listen, and grow with these people too.

More info: Facebook

#1

Fernand Is Probably The Nicest Guy I've Ever Met. And Many People Commented The Same Thing When They Saw This Picture On My Blog

Fernand Is Probably The Nicest Guy I've Ever Met. And Many People Commented The Same Thing When They Saw This Picture On My Blog

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Giorgio Prodoti
Community Member
8 years ago

cat persons are the nicest

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    #2

    Mario Went To Prison After He Killed The Man Who Raped His Little Baby Boy. He Then Lost Everything

    Mario Went To Prison After He Killed The Man Who Raped His Little Baby Boy. He Then Lost Everything

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    SnoopyCereal
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    While killing him was a horrible way to solve this, I hope that your baby boy is doing fine.

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    #3

    I Asked Him What Feeling He Wanted His Picture To Convey, He Said "Love." And I Snapped This As He Was Saying "I Love My Wife"

    I Asked Him What Feeling He Wanted His Picture To Convey, He Said "Love." And I Snapped This As He Was Saying "I Love My Wife"

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    Dinetk
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    Worked!

    #4

    She Once Hit A Man With A Stick, Because He Had Just Done The Same To His Dog

    She Once Hit A Man With A Stick, Because He Had Just Done The Same To His Dog

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    Neeraj Jha
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    Totally fair.

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    #5

    After Posting His Picture, Someone Actually Hired Normand To Do Some Construction Work

    After Posting His Picture, Someone Actually Hired Normand To Do Some Construction Work

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    Smoofy
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    YAY!

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    #6

    He Told Me About The Time A Little Girl Gave Him Her Lollipop And It Made Him Cry

    He Told Me About The Time A Little Girl Gave Him Her Lollipop And It Made Him Cry

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    UniversalMel
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    Awww kids are so adorable

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    #7

    Mostafa Speaks 8 Languages. Including Yiddish

    Mostafa Speaks 8 Languages. Including Yiddish

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    SnoopyCereal
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    YAS! Yiddish!

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    #8

    Fanny Ran Away From Home, And Her Abusive Step Dad, When She Was A Teen

    Fanny Ran Away From Home, And Her Abusive Step Dad, When She Was A Teen

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    Kat_girl
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    She needs a hug.

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    #9

    He'd Probably Convince The Grinch That Smiling Is The Best Thing Anybody Can Do

    He'd Probably Convince The Grinch That Smiling Is The Best Thing Anybody Can Do

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    Shruti Naik
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    it is! he convinced me!

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    #10

    He's Inuk, And He Married A Cree Woman. Though It Was A Difficult For Some People Of Their Respective Communities To Accept, This Was The Happiest Day Of His Life

    He's Inuk, And He Married A Cree Woman. Though It Was A Difficult For Some People Of Their Respective Communities To Accept, This Was The Happiest Day Of His Life

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    Shruti Naik
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    his happiness is infectious! im smiling just looking at him!

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    #11

    Katt Definitely Wins First Place In Terms Of Sign Creativity

    Katt Definitely Wins First Place In Terms Of Sign Creativity

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    Tiffany Zhu
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    I would have given her money.

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    #12

    They Had Just Started Saying "I Love You" To Each Other

    They Had Just Started Saying "I Love You" To Each Other

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    Grazina Strolia
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    I love the cat!

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    #13

    He Used To Be A Professional Skater. Went Too Far With The Partying That Comes With It

    He Used To Be A Professional Skater. Went Too Far With The Partying That Comes With It

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    Sykz
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    I wonder if can do a come back.

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    #14

    He Has A Wife And A Baby

    He Has A Wife And A Baby

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    Giorgio Prodoti
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    and a dog.

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    #15

    They've Been Together For Nine Months

    They've Been Together For Nine Months

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    Dinetk
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    Sweet

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    Never miss a story that brings joy to the world. Add us on Google

    #16

    She's Fighting The System To Be Able To See Her Daughter Again Someday

    She's Fighting The System To Be Able To See Her Daughter Again Someday

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    Krishna Vishwas
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    May lord give her all patience, strength and help she needs.

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    #17

    He Used To Work For The Cirque Du Soleil

    He Used To Work For The Cirque Du Soleil

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    Garifalia Kalamidas
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    Why not anymore ? What's the story.

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    #18

    He's Doing All He Can To Find Himself An Apartment And Get Back On Tracks. But When You Start From Literaly Nothing, There Are Many Hoops To Jump Through

    He's Doing All He Can To Find Himself An Apartment And Get Back On Tracks. But When You Start From Literaly Nothing, There Are Many Hoops To Jump Through

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    MauKini
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    That sign is heartbreaking.

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    #19

    Her Favorite Author Is Simone De Beauvoir

    Her Favorite Author Is Simone De Beauvoir

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    C
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    Yay!

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    #20

    He Taught Me A Lot About Heroin Addiction, And What Withdrawal Does To Your Body

    He Taught Me A Lot About Heroin Addiction, And What Withdrawal Does To Your Body

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    PyroarRanger
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    Woah...

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    #21

    They Taught Me How To Say Merry Christmas And Happy New Year In Inuktitut (The Inuit Language)

    They Taught Me How To Say Merry Christmas And Happy New Year In Inuktitut (The Inuit Language)

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    C
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    Merry Christmas = Quviasugit Quviasuvimmi, Happy new year = Ukiortaami Pilluaritsi.

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    #22

    Jake, The One Standing Up On The Left, Voluntarily Overdosed Himself A Couple Of Days Ago. He Had Been Clean For 45 Days Then. He Hated The Fact That He Loved Heroin. He Will Be Sorely Missed By His Friends

    Jake, The One Standing Up On The Left, Voluntarily Overdosed Himself A Couple Of Days Ago. He Had Been Clean For 45 Days Then. He Hated The Fact That He Loved Heroin. He Will Be Sorely Missed By His Friends

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    UniversalMel
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    R.I.P. Jake.... You will be remembered by many

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    #23

    He Quit Drinking A Few Months Ago. He Made The Decision To Quit On The Day He Set Out To Kill Himself

    He Quit Drinking A Few Months Ago. He Made The Decision To Quit On The Day He Set Out To Kill Himself

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    Janine B.
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    I really hope he's going to make it. Best if luck and lots of strength to you Sir.

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    #24

    "We're Salt And Pepper". Salt Was A Military Man, He's Decorated Three Times

    "We're Salt And Pepper". Salt Was A Military Man, He's Decorated Three Times

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    Krishna Vishwas
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    It's a shame that a military man who did so much for his own country is living like this.

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    #25

    He's A Rock'n'roll Lover. Anything There Is To Know About The Beatles, He Knows

    He's A Rock'n'roll Lover. Anything There Is To Know About The Beatles, He Knows

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    Shruti Naik
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    maybe he could start a blog? he knows so much, that talent shouldn't get wasted!

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    #26

    I Didn't Get To Speak Much With The Gentleman, But I Think The Spot He Picked For Himself Says A Lot About His Personality

    I Didn't Get To Speak Much With The Gentleman, But I Think The Spot He Picked For Himself Says A Lot About His Personality

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    Gayle Bynum Cardosa
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    Damn I hate to see an elderly man outside like that.

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    #27

    He Plays Jingle Bells Quite Well

    He Plays Jingle Bells Quite Well

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    Bella Smith
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    Good on you

    #28

    He Became Religious When He Quit Using Drugs

    He Became Religious When He Quit Using Drugs

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    Molly Tallmadge
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    Google translated sign: I'm hungry please help me

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    #29

    Reggie Taught Me A Magic Trick

    Reggie Taught Me A Magic Trick

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    Krishna Vishwas
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    He is so handsome

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    #30

    They Taught Me How To Say "Be Happy" In Inulktitut

    They Taught Me How To Say "Be Happy" In Inulktitut

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    Daria B
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    Again, share with us your knowledge, if you don't mind.

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    #31

    He Was A Marksman In The Canadian Military. Ok I Have My Doubts About The Veracity Of The Story He Told Me, But Still, It Was A Cool One

    He Was A Marksman In The Canadian Military. Ok I Have My Doubts About The Veracity Of The Story He Told Me, But Still, It Was A Cool One

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    Beaver-Moose
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    WOOHOO CANADAAAAA!

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    #32

    Gilles Passed Away In Late 2016. He Was Fernand's Best Friend. They Considered Each Other As Brothers

    Gilles Passed Away In Late 2016. He Was Fernand's Best Friend. They Considered Each Other As Brothers

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    Cosmo
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    RIP

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    #33

    Even Though They Each Have Their Own Place, Evan And Elizabeth Sleep Outside Some Nights, Just To Stay Together

    Even Though They Each Have Their Own Place, Evan And Elizabeth Sleep Outside Some Nights, Just To Stay Together

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    MauKini
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    Maybe the place where they are staying doesnt allow visitors?

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    #34

    They Taught Me That Happiness Comes From Within. They Said "We Are Happy Because If They Weren't, Then They'd Be Miserable"

    They Taught Me That Happiness Comes From Within. They Said "We Are Happy Because If They Weren't, Then They'd Be Miserable"

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    PyroarRanger
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    That's amazingly true

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    #35

    He's Cherokee

    He's Cherokee

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    Neeraj Jha
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    Cherokee has some swag thing going on there... Good for you!

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    #36

    This Is Ozzy. His Best Friend's Name Is Also Ozzy

    This Is Ozzy. His Best Friend's Name Is Also Ozzy

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    Sykz
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    Hard truth of life.

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    #37

    He's Actually Saving Up Money To Buy A Playstation

    He's Actually Saving Up Money To Buy A Playstation

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    Gayle Bynum Cardosa
    Community Member
    8 years ago

    My father is an anti-smoker but he used to smoke 50 years ago for many years. Now when he sees a homeless person with cigarettes and other people say things like "well he can afford cigarettes so..." My dad has an interesting response. "That person has nothing." He says. "If a small pleasure like cigarettes can be the one indulgence or pleasure in an otherwise wretched life then who are we to deny them that?"

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