Foreword:
Lifeismadeupofcountlessmoments,someofwhicharefleetingandothersthatlingerinourmemoryforalifetime.Thisisastoryaboutamomentthatleftalastingimpressiononmylife,amomentthatIhaveneverbeenabletoforget.Itwasachanceencounterthatchangedeverything,abriefexchangethatalteredthecourseofmyjourneyforever.
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IwaswalkingdownthebusystreetsofNewYork,lostinthought,whenIsawher.Shewassittingonthesidewalkwithherbackagainstthewall,surroundedbyapileofbagsandblankets.Hereyeswereclosed,andherfacewaspeaceful,asifshewereasleep.ButasIgotcloser,Irealizedthatshewasnotasleep;shewaspraying.
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Istoppedinmytracksandwatchedherforafewmoments.Shewasoblivioustothenoiseandchaosaroundher,lostinherownworld.Ifeltanoverwhelmingurgetotalktoher,toaskherwhatshewasprayingforandwhyshewasonthestreets.ButIhesitated,unsureofhowshewouldreact.
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AsIstoodthere,contemplatingwhethertoapproachherornot,amanwalkedbyandspatonher.Sheopenedhereyesandlookedupathimwithanexpressionofdeepsadness,butshedidnotsayanything.Themanwalkedaway,laughing,andIcouldfeelmybloodboiling.
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IknewthenthatIcouldnotjuststandthereanddonothing.Iwalkeduptoherandintroducedmyself.Shesmiledatmeandwelcomedmewithopenarms,asifshehadbeenwaitingformeallalong.
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Wetalkedforhours,abouteverythingandnothing.Shetoldmeaboutherlifeonthestreets,aboutthepeopleshehadmetandthestrugglesshehadfaced.ShespokewithsuchgraceandwisdomthatIwasinawe.
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Asthesunbegantoset,sheaskedmetojoinherfordinner.Ihesitated,unsureofwhattoexpect,butsheinsisted.Wewalkedtoanearbyparkwhereshehadsetupamakeshiftkitchen,andshecookedmeasimplemealofriceandbeans.
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Asweate,shetoldmeaboutherfaithandhowithadhelpedherthroughthetoughesttimes.ShespokeaboutGodwithsuchconvictionandlovethatIfoundmyselfwishingIhadherfaith.
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Afterdinner,wesatinsilenceforawhile,watchingthestars.IfeltasenseofpeacethatIhadneverexperiencedbefore,asifallthenoiseandchaosoftheworldhaddisappeared.
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Aswesaidourgoodbyes,shegavemeahugandwhisperedinmyear,"Remembertoalwayslookforthebeautyintheworld,evenwhenitseemslikethereisnone."Herwordsstayedwithmelongafterwepartedways.
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ThatencounterchangedmeinwaysIcannotdescribe.ItmademerealizehowmuchItakeforgrantedandhowlittleIknowabouttheworld.Itopenedmyeyestoadifferentkindofbeauty,abeautythatexistsinthemostunexpectedplaces.
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Istartedvolunteeringatashelterforhomelesspeople,hopingtomakeadifferenceintheirlives.Ilearnedtoappreciatethelittlethingsinlife,likeawarmmealoracomfortablebed.
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Ialsostartedtoreflectonmyownlife,onthechoicesIhadmadeandthepersonIwantedtobe.IrealizedthatIhadbeenlivingalifethatwasnottruetomyself,thatIhadbeenchasingafterthingsthatdidnotmatter.
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Iquitmyjobanddecidedtotraveltheworld,toseenewplacesandmeetnewpeople.Iwantedtodiscoverthebeautyintheworldthatthewomanonthestreetshadspokenabout.
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Duringmytravels,Imetmanypeoplewhotaughtmeaboutlifeandlove.IsawthingsthatIneverthoughtwerepossibleandexperiencedmomentsthatleftmespeechless.
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ButIneverforgotaboutthewomanonthestreets,theonewhohadshownmeadifferentkindofbeauty.Iwrotetohereveryfewmonths,tellingheraboutmyadventuresandthankingherforchangingmylife.
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Yearswentby,andIlosttouchwithher.ButIneverforgotabouther,andIneverstoppedreflectingonthelessonsshehadtaughtme.
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Oneday,Ireceivedaletterinthemail.Itwasfromher,anditwasthelastlettershewouldeverwrite.Shehadpassedaway,butbeforeshedid,shewantedtotellmehowproudshewasofmeandhowmuchshelovedme.
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Isatthere,withtearsstreamingdownmyface,rememberingthemomentswehadsharedandthelessonsshehadtaughtme.Iknewthenthatshehadleftalegacy,onethatwouldliveoninthelivesofthoseshehadtouched.
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Idecidedtohonorhermemorybycontinuingtovolunteerandhelpthoseinneed.Irealizedthatherwordshadbecomemymantra,thatIalwayslookedforthebeautyintheworld,evenwhenitseemedliketherewasnone.
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ThatencounteronthestreetsofNewYorkhadchangedeverythingforme.Ithadopenedmyheartandmymind,andithadtaughtmeaboutthepowerofcompassionandlove.
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AsIsithere,reflectingonthatunforgettablemoment,Iamgratefulforthewomanonthestreetswhoshowedmeadifferentkindofbeauty.Iamgratefulforthelessonsshetaughtmeandthelegacysheleftbehind.
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Ihopethathermemorywillinspireotherstolookforthebeautyintheworld,tobecompassionateandloving,andtolivealifethatistruetothemselves.Becauseintheend,thatisallthattrulymatters.
