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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.

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#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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#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
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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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#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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#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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#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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#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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#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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#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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#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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#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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#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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#17

He Used To Work For The Cirque Du Soleil

He Used To Work For The Cirque Du Soleil

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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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#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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#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
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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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#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
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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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#27

He Plays Jingle Bells Quite Well

He Plays Jingle Bells Quite Well

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#28

He Became Religious When He Quit Using Drugs

He Became Religious When He Quit Using Drugs

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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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#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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#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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#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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#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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#35

He's Cherokee

He's Cherokee

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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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#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
6 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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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