Brandon Stanton's Blog, page 523

"I never thought about age at all. But for some reason, when I...

"I never thought about age at all. But for some reason, when I turned 50, it hit me all at once. I realized that I was more than halfway through my life, and there was still so much that I haven’t done. Mainly for others. There’s so much I haven’t done to help other people."
"What’s one thing you’d like to do for another person that you haven’t done yet?"
"Well… I’d like to spend enough time in the lives of my grandchildren so that they learn that life is about helping others."

"I’ve seen some paranormal shit, man. One time I was at my...

"I’ve seen some paranormal shit, man. One time I was at my girlfriend’s parent’s house. We were in the bedroom, and the room was completely dark, but the door was ajar and there was a light on in the hall. And this silhouette of a man appeared and completely blocked the light from the hall. I pointed it out to my girlfriend, and I swear, the silhouette just dropped straight into the floor. I only tell that story to strangers. Because my friends and family would think I was on drugs."

"I may look like a schlub, but I’ve attended 6,000 art...

"I may look like a schlub, but I’ve attended 6,000 art lectures at The Met, and I’ve got more degrees than a thermometer."

"I’m frustrated by how school administrations approach...

"I’m frustrated by how school administrations approach drug education. They seem determined to present the most frightening information, as opposed to the most accurate information. God forbid someone try to explain that marijuana is not nearly as dangerous as heroin."

"What are you writing?""It’s the result of a panic attack,...

"What are you writing?"
"It’s the result of a panic attack, that sort of turned into something else…"
"Can I see it?"

The NY skyline swirls around me,
Cars and brick and tree trunks
mashing together,
glass windows gnash jagged teeth
The body of a dead girl was
found earlier today,
bleeding out on the sidewalk.
Rising from her body came
an awkward boy,
stammering and confused
and full of wonder
and terror all at once
The boy’s grandparents keep
a photo of the boy in a 
dark chesnut wig,
all made up and dressed to the 9’s
(They believe her to still be alive)
Ladies and gentlemen and variations
thereupon, observe this paradox-
She lives, he dies, she dies, he lives;
yet they cohabitate side by side
in a singular trembling body. A body that
cannot contain them both, for the
world is not ready for such a 
body.

"I have time for a social life, but not a personal...

"I have time for a social life, but not a personal life."
"What’s the difference between the two?"
"Well, a social life is about going to events to meet acquaintances, for business and things like that."
"And a personal life?"
"… a personal life is when you’re around people who won’t judge you if you get wasted and do stupid things."

"I’m an audacity coach."

"I’m an audacity coach."

Seen in Columbus Circle

Seen in Columbus Circle

“The pigeons always come, but I wasn’t expecting the ducks!”

“The pigeons always come, but I wasn’t expecting the ducks!”

“I came to America about two months ago. I began working here...

“I came to America about two months ago. I began working here shortly after I arrived from Ghana. At this shop you must begin as a stock boy. The work can sometimes be very hard, a lot of stacking and carrying boxes. But I am a very hard worker. There is nothing I will not do if you tell me to do it. They told me that if I did a good job as a stock boy, eventually they would move me into sales. And thanks to the goodness of God, they have just now chosen to move me into sales.”