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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#21 They Taught Me How To Say Merry Christmas And Happy New Year In Inuktitut (The Inuit Language)
47points
#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
46points
#23 He Quit Drinking A Few Months Ago. He Made The Decision To Quit On The Day He Set Out To Kill Himself
46points
#24 "We're Salt And Pepper". Salt Was A Military Man, He's Decorated Three Times
45points
#25 He's A Rock'n'roll Lover. Anything There Is To Know About The Beatles, He Knows
44points
#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
43points
#27 He Plays Jingle Bells Quite Well
37points
#28 He Became Religious When He Quit Using Drugs
35points
#29 Reggie Taught Me A Magic Trick
33points
#30 They Taught Me How To Say "Be Happy" In Inulktitut
33points
#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
30points
#32 Gilles Passed Away In Late 2016. He Was Fernand's Best Friend. They Considered Each Other As Brothers
30points
#33 Even Though They Each Have Their Own Place, Evan And Elizabeth Sleep Outside Some Nights, Just To Stay Together
30points
#34 They Taught Me That Happiness Comes From Within. They Said "We Are Happy Because If They Weren't, Then They'd Be Miserable"
29points
#35 He's Cherokee
28points
#36 This Is Ozzy. His Best Friend's Name Is Also Ozzy
27points
#37 He's Actually Saving Up Money To Buy A Playstation
27points
