This was written by a great lady and change maker, Gail Vilcu. We had the chance to see each other for the first time in a long time, and the first thing we did was the same thing we love to do. May this short excerpt inspire you to have “Sidewalk Conversations that Make a Huge Difference”

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I arrived in Vancouver today, and took the train from the airport to the downtown Waterfront Station. Upon leaving the station to meet my friend Robin Wong to continue our ongoing “CHANGE THE WORLD” conversations, I was blessed to have a few moments before Robin arrived. I stepped outside to enjoy the view and was drawn to this young, homeless, saddened man sitting on his blanket, with nothing more than a sleeping bag, a backpack, a piece of cardboard and a pen that barely wrote.

While I was enjoying the view, I looked over and before I knew it, I was engaged in a deep conversation with Ritchie from New Brunswick. The conversation was inspiring to say the least. Robin arrived at this point, and to his excitement, there I was sitting on the blanket with Ritchie. He came to join us. Within seconds, we experienced hundreds of people (literally) passing by, some who stared, others curious. During this moment of listening, I began to see the little boy within this man emerge. A human being who wanted to feel a connection, to be heard, to be respected, to be appreciated, if only for a moment.

Upon leaving Ritchie, I gifted him a book that I cherish, “The Fifth Agreement”… a simple book, that brought a young man close to tears (and to be honest, a tear for both of us as well) as he thanked Robin and I and asked if it would be ok to give us a hug for taking the time to get to know him. Something that is rare in his daily experience, yet something Robin and I are always on the look-out for in our every day experience.

The simple things we take for granted can change a persons life when we take the time to give from the heart.

Can we all Make a Difference and Change the World? I think so!

LOVE these moments and LIVE LIFE NOW.
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Gail and our new friend Ritchie..

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Passionate about helping others discover a purposeful life filled with Grateful Happiness, Robin encourages others to Make Memories and Live Life to the Fullest! He enjoys Spreading Joy, Loving Life, and Making a Difference!

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