How is New York?

New York is nothing like I imagined it to be. I admit, I did romanticize this place and on occasion I still do. There is so much to see and I find myself surpised by something new everyday. There is a unique beauty here, unlike any place I have ever seen. Even though it can be beautiful is is also a very ugly place. I sit and ponder how is it possible that in a city full of millions - there is still not enough love and help for the homeless. Then I think about a homeless man who I've met recently. I remember his hope. He is making the best out of bad situation. How is that not beautiful? He paints the city in tiles using vibrant colours. People who pass by donate money for his work and that is how he gets by. Sometimes people give him a place to live, sometimes he gets gigs doing random jobs but when that all ends he just works with what he has got. He has amazing artistic talent. He knows he screws up and maybe he knows this is it for him. He appears happy and everyone liks him. I stood there and chatted with him for about 30 mins and we must have been interrupted 10 times by people he knew. I think maybe it's not about where you live, but about how you live.