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12 of the Best Humans of New York Posts

by melyssa grifn

69 comments

A few months ago, I discovered Humans of New York (HONY), an Instagram account and blog that
features one-questioninterviews of New Yorks unique inhabitants. HONY is the brainchild of NYC
photographer and blogger, Brandon Stanton. After perusing through his quick portrait and interview
snippets, I was stunned by each persons story and the human experience Brandon is able to
create.And with over four million fans and a #1 best-selling book, Im not the only one who thinks
so! Since HONY has moved and affected my life, I wanted to share a few of my favorite posts with
you today, in hopes that you can nd the beauty and honesty in them, too. I also recommend
following HONY on Instagram its without a doubt the most meaningful account I follow. Have a
beautiful day, friends!

1.

People waste way too much energy taking things personally. That Facebook post is probably not
about you. It was probably an accident that you werent tagged in that picture. And the person
youre dating is probably acting sad because thats how they respond to setbacks at work, not
because of anything you did.

2.

I had a child when I was sixteen. I got kicked out of high school because of all the absences. My
family and community pretty much wrote me off. But right away I got a job at a sporting goods
store. Soon I was able to get a job as a receptionist at a tax company, and they gave me enough
responsibilities that I learned how to do taxes. Eventually I learned enough to become an
associate. Then I got offered a job at a smaller company, and even though it was a pay cut, they
offered me responsibility over all the books accounts payable, accounts receivable, everything.
It was less money but I wanted that experience so I took the risk. And Im so glad I did, because
six months later, the controller of that company left and I was given that position. They told me they
couldnt ofcially call me the controller because I didnt have a college degree. So I nished my
degree 5 months ago just to make it ofcial! So after having a child at sixteen, I made it all the
way to controller of a company, without even having a college degree. Can you believe that?
Honestly, Ive been waiting to tell that story so long that I told it to a customer service

representative on the phone last week. She was nice about it and pretended to care.

3.

Whats your favorite thing about your mother? She loves life more than anyone Ive ever known.
I hope she doesnt mind me telling you this, but recently shes had some health problems. And her
health got so bad at one point, she called me and said: I was starting to wonder if there was any
reason to go on. But then I had the most delicious pear!'

4.

When I told my mom that I was going to rehab, she was about to catch a ight to her 40th High
School Reunion. I told her: I guess you wont be bragging about me to your friends. She said:
Actually, Ive never been prouder of you.'

5.

Im glad I had a daughter. Ever since my grandmother died, Ive needed the female energy in my
life. Its good energy. I mean, when things go wrong, another man can tell you that everything is
going to be OK. But not like a woman can.

6.

Do you remember the happiest moment of your life? This one time I was in Hawaii with my
family, and we were walking to the beach, and we came to the top of this giant hill. And I said, Im
going to take it. And I put my skateboard down, and started rolling down the hill, and I got going so
fast that the board started to shake because the trucks were loose, and toward the bottom of the
hill I came to this crack, and the board got caught and I was thrown onto the pavement. I got all
bruised and scraped and my mom was screaming because shes a total freakout. That was the
happiest moment of your life? Yeah, I was just glad I took the hill.

7.

When I started, these rocks were bathed in light. Now theyre just shadowy masses. So I have to
decide how I want to remember them.

8.

At the end of my senior year, I took some advanced level entry exams from Cambridge University.
They are very difcult and very important. When the exam scores came in, my friend called me
and told me that the principal was looking for me. My father was sitting next to me. He saw my face
and asked me what was wrong. I think I did very poorly, I told him. Because the principal is
looking for me. He told me that he would come to her ofce with me to support me. When we got
there, there was a huge line of students waiting to get their scores, but the principal called me in.
She told me I was one of three students in the school to get all As. My father was so nervous
when I came out, and when I told him, he hugged me so hard that I could tell he was trying not to
cry. He was so happy, he took all the money out of his wallet, handed it to the security guard, and
told him to pass it out to everyone in line. It was the happiest moment of my life.

9.

In my heart of hearts, I wanted to do the right thing, but selling drugs was easy. Everyone was
doing it. I mean, Im not using that as an excuse, I made my own decisions. But I grew up around
these Robin Hood gures who would sell drugs, then buy supplies for kids who were going back to
school, or pay rent for an old woman who was about to get evicted. All my friends were doing it. It
almost seemed fashionable. I never felt proud of it. I always thought Id transition to a job with the
Transit Authority, or a job like this something Id feel good about, but instead I transitioned to jail. I
did six years. When I got out, it was tempting to go back to the easy money, because everyone
around me was still doing it, and I couldnt get a job. But luckily I found an agency that helps excons, because there arent many companies looking to give people a second chance. Ive had this
job for a few years now. You know what product Im selling now? Myself. Everyone around here is
my client. Times Square is a drug to these people. And Im picking up all the trash so that they can
have the full Times Square experience.

10.

10.

I was an English teacher. The demands of the system required that I give out grades, but I never
felt good about it. How do you grade someones writing? Writing is about revision. Its about access
to self. If a student writes a poem, and its the best they can do at the moment, how are you
supposed to compare that to the student sitting next to them? How are you supposed to give one a
90, and one an 85?

11.

Right after I lost vision in my eye, I was so bad at walking that I ran into a girl eating ice cream,
and knocked her cone out of her hand. She screamed: Are you blind!?!? I turned to her and said:
I am blind actually, Im so sorry, Ill buy you a new cone. And she said: Oh my God! Im so sorry!
Dont worry! Its no problem at all! Ill buy another one. So we walked into the ice cream store
together, and the clerk said: I heard the whole thing. Ice cream is free.'

12.

Whats your greatest struggle right now? No struggles.

CHECK OUT THE HONY INSTAGRAM AND LET ME

KNOW YOUR FAVORITES, TOO!
p.s. You might like this15 Ways to Be a Good Human Today
All photos and interviews via Humans of New York // Brandon Stanton

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name

G E T I T N O W

email

A U T H O R : M E L Y S S A G R I F F I N
Melyssa Grifn is the founder of The Nectar Collective, a go-to hub for bloggers
and online entrepreneurs who want to learn how to stand out and make an
authentic income on the web. Through workshops, ebooks, and ecourses, Melyssa
offers community and expertise for budding online rockstars. As a former web
designer and blog coach, Melyssa also has experience working one-on-one with
over 150 creatives. And if we're being honest, shes also obsessed with scented
candles and her crazy corgi, Monja.

KEEP ON READING...

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W E E K L Y W I S H E S # 6 1 ( G O A L S E T T I N G L I N K - U P )

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Kiersten
McMonagle

2 years ago

I saw this project for the rst time on Facebook, and I absolutely love it! I really like some of the
ones you share here! It's such an inspiring project
1

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Kiersten McMonagle 2 years ago

I love following them on FB! Such a nice way to break up my newsfeed. :)

Reply Share

Amy
@
So
There
by
Amy

2 years ago

Just recently discovered this on Facebook! In Love.

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Amy @ So There by Amy 2 years ago

I know right? I love it, too! :)

Chrystina
Noel

Reply Share

2 years ago

What an awesome post. I hadn't read some of these before. The one about the delicious pear is
incredible.

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Chrystina Noel 2 years ago

I know, right? I really love that one. :)

Reply Share

Elena
aka.
Midsommaricka

2 years ago

HONY is so awesome! Ever since I discovered it I love it deeply.

Sometimes there are statements that make me laugh and sometimes I read one and sit there for
a few minuted just thinking and sometimes I have to cry but either way it's one of these
awesome little breaks during the day where I stop!

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Elena aka. Midsommaricka 2 years ago

I totally get what you mean! I do the exact same thing. :)

Lix
Hewett

Reply Share

2 years ago

Lix
Hewett

2 years ago

oh my god, I'm crying at Starbucks, shut upppp.

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Lix Hewett 2 years ago

Exactly how I feel when I read these! haha

Reply Share

Katrina
Sophia

2 years ago

love HONY so much, I follow it in every social channel! some made my weep. but mostly making
me smile.
thanks for sharing, your top 12 is awesome!
Katrina Sophia
Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Katrina Sophia 2 years ago

I am totally with you! And I follow them everywhere, too. :) I just love it!

Sarah

Reply Share

2 years ago

I love reading these. They make me so happy.

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Sarah 2 years ago

Me too :)

Reply Share

TheSubtleHipster

2 years ago

I love HONY. I didn't know there was an instagram! I've been really inspired by HONY. This is
something I want to do - be able to incorporate photographs and people's stories into my future
profession. There is one for Boston too. http://portraitsofboston.com/
I would love to do this. Kind of gives me an idea...

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > TheSubtleHipster 2 years ago

I love that it gives you an idea! I'd never seen the Boston one before, but I'm all over it! :)

Allison
Keltner

Reply Share

2 years ago

I loooove these! I always get a little thrill when a HONY post pops up on my Facebook feed. I'm
so impressed with Brandon, not just for the photography, but the way he manages to get people
to share their stories like that -- I get really uncomfortable talking to random people so I'm in awe
of those who do that so well. Thanks for sharing these!

of those who do that so well. Thanks for sharing these!

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Allison Keltner 2 years ago

I totally know that feeling you get! I love when he posts a new one -- I could read them all
day! And I totally agree. He seems to have a special gift for making people feel
comfortable. I'm so glad he's channeled that gift into this project.

Marilyn

Reply Share

2 years ago

I love HONY! I got the book for Christmas too. There was one the other day that I just stared at
for a while because the image was just so powerful. It was a man from Liberia talking about not
having a home anymore after their civil war, just heart breaking.

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Marilyn 2 years ago

Ohh I need to get that book!! And I totally know that feeling. Sometimes I have to stop
and think for a minute after reading them. Such beautiful and heartbreaking stories.

Reply Share

Stephanie
Martel

2 years ago

What a great idea for a blog post, Melyssa! I love HONY--I'm secretly obsessed with his posts on
Instagram, it gives me a little boost everyday.

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Stephanie Martel 2 years ago

Thanks Stephanie! I'm obsessed too. :)

Kolbi
Gray

Reply Share

2 years ago

AHH! I'm in love with HONY! So glad you are digging it!

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Kolbi Gray 2 years ago

Yay you too!! :)

Mika
P.

Reply Share

2 years ago

Oh my God! Thanks for posting this- it's incredibly moving. (': I've seen HONY around, but never
really read it, but this is beautiful. I'm thinking about posting some of my favorites on my blog
soon as well!

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Mika P. 2 years ago

Do it! HONY is my favorite thing these days!

Do it! HONY is my favorite thing these days!

Reply Share

Allie
@
Between
Dreams

2 years ago

I LOVE this. I can denitely see myself falling down the rabbit hole, reading story after story - so
captivating.

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Allie @ Between Dreams 2 years ago

I've denitely been there! I love scrolling through his Instagram feed. Such beautiful
stories!

Carly

Reply Share

2 years ago

#1, #10, and #12.

Humans of New York is such an amazing project and I will never get tired of peeking into
peoples' life stories.

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Carly 2 years ago

Amen to that!

Reply Share

Pernickety
Pitstop

2 years ago

Following now! Thanks for sharing this, I'd never heard of HONY but have fallen deeply in love Like eating the most delicious pear. Love that! x

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Pernickety Pitstop 2 years ago

I love that one about the pear! LOVE! And I'm glad you discovered HONY here -- it's really
my favorite thing. :)

Susanne
V.

Reply Share

2 years ago

Amazing, I always love seeing the posts on facebook. I didn't know there was an instagram
account aswell.

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Susanne V. 2 years ago

Yeah! He posts the same photos, but I love reading the most "liked" comments on
Facebook, too!

Reply Share

Kristin
|
Eat.
Fly.
Love.

2 years ago

I love HONY - I actually discovered Brandon's work while working up a case study on the DKYN

gae, and became totally addicted. He does such an amazing job of capturing the little
meaningful moments in visual and written story. I mean, there are no words for it. It's magic.

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Kristin | Eat. Fly. Love. 2 years ago

I completely agree! Magic sounds like a good word to describe it. :)

Divya

Reply Share

2 years ago

I recently started following HONY and have been follwoing each of the stories! its the best thing
in the day! :-)

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Divya 2 years ago

I completely agree! :)

Monique
Muro

Reply Share

2 years ago

Yeah I can't stop reading those and simultaneously tearing up over everything. Learning about
other humans is so comforting. Makes me feel less alone. Thank you so much for introducing me
to this... xo

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Monique Muro 2 years ago

I know the feeling exactly, Monique! :)

Johanna

Reply Share

2 years ago

I follow the original Tumblr (have been for a year or so), and for some reason, it's even more
meaningful because it's there? Like, Tumblr is so random and full of fandoms and pretty photos,
having HONY break it up with so much realness always seems to hit me even harder.
Great feature!

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Johanna 2 years ago

I think I feel the same way about seeing it on Instagram, sandwiched between pictures of
food. :)

Kenzie
@
CME

Reply Share

2 years ago

What inspiring people! I will denitely be following that Instagram account.

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Kenzie @ CME 2 years ago

Do it! It's my favorite one :)

Do it! It's my favorite one :)

Reply Share

Kenzie
@
CME > Melyssa Grifn

2 years ago

I can easily see why!

Ursula

Reply Share

2 years ago

This is so touching. Can't wait to look up the instagram account

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Ursula 2 years ago

I know you'll love it! It's addicting. :)

Kayla
Hollatz

Reply Share

2 years ago

Thank you so much for highlighting HONY! I know we've talked about our love for this series on
Twitter before so it's so great to see it on your blog. They are all so incredible. It's a great
reminder that we all have a story to tell.

Reply Share

Melyssa
Grin

Mod > Kayla Hollatz 2 years ago

Yes!! I think after our Twitter conversation I realized I'm not the only person addicted to
this thing, so I decided to share it. I agree, they are so incredible! :)

Reply Share

Camila
@
AdventitiousViolet

2 years ago

wow, they are heartbreaking and yet full of hope and love!

Reply Share

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