No photos, please

P H O T O  O F  T H E  D A Y

MARCH 21, 2010

 

 

People say they know you.  People say they wish they were you.  People say all these things about you, but are they really true? Do they really mean them?

People are very interesting creatures.  People want to be the people the see.  Do they really understand how much effort those people put in each day?  Do they see the hardwork they put in each day? Or do they think it is all luck? Do they know the suffering they experienced?

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There are days, I wish I was someone else living a different life.  I dream of what life will be like when I finally grow up or when I get a job -- if my business doesn't get off the ground. Yet, I thank God for the life I have.  There are things I want to change and memories I want to relive, but at the end of the day I am grateful for the family I have, the friends that I made, the memories that were discovered and all the other little things that keep going when the day decides to call it quits. 

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The other day I was blessed with one of the most touching jobs I could of ever received.  People brag about jobs they got, the celebrity they got to hang with and the money they got paid. I am not saying I have never done this.  I know I am guilty of doing it, too.  I am only human.

As days pass, the more and more I get connected to the Salvation Army.  It is an organization more in-depth than you will ever know and more fascinating than you can ever imagine. 

Each time, I go there I learn a little more about myself and who I am, along with getting an understanding of people. 

For the first time, yesterday I photographed a soup kitchen.  Most of them where regulars who came in to get a hot meal, to socialize and maybe to even get a hot shower.  There was a community forming before my eyes.  This was their way of life. 

It is hard for me to edit those pictures -- you learn so much from the facial expressions.  You sit back and realize that there really are people living on the streets, can't afford food to eat and haven't bathed in over weeks.   All that comes out from a simple photo.

There was a guy yesterday, who stated 10 year's ago I was giving to the Salvation Army and today I am here receiving from Salvation Army.  He went on to talk about how he used to be a business owner and now couldn't even afford food. 

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As I write this I can barely gather my thoughts and emotions to tell you about this situation.  It may be hard on me, but when the day calls it quits I know that is exactly where I need to be.  I am learning from people who I actually look up to.  They may not be the prettiest people, or the wealthiest people, but they are people that are inspiring me to live out my dreams. 

I try not to wish to be anyone else because there could be much more pain and suffering that I have experienced.  I can't handle that, but I can tell you this, I look up to people. Whether you are rich or poor, you can change someone's life.  It happened to me over the passed month. 

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I have no words to describe the emotions that I feel.  It is just something I wish all of you, young or old can experience.  I do not want to be put on a pedestal or be put down because of this.  I don't want to be thanked or under appreciated.  I just want you to experience this emotion that I am feeling.  

As I close this, I want you to be thankful for what you got and what you don't have.  I want you to understand that there are people out there who have a story that is worse than yours, and when you finally meet that person who is in worse condition than you are, listen to their story -- it probably is a good one.  

Be blessed.

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Remember, I can make ugly, pretty!

Lesley 

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"If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way."