STORIES

Moments of Humanity in Morocco with Francis Boulanger

Francis Boulanger has a rare gift—the kind that doesn’t come from books or titles. It’s the ability to connect with strangers, soul to soul. With presence. With intention.
While riding his motorcycle through Morocco, he experienced a moment that etched itself into his memory.

He’d pulled off the road when he spotted a shepherd making his way up a steep hill. Below, goats wandered peacefully, unconcerned with anything beyond their next bite of grass. The two men—Francis and the shepherd—had never met. They didn’t share a common language or even exchange names.
But the shepherd looked at him, smiled, and placed a hand gently over his heart.
No words were needed.

Just that simple gesture—a smile, a handshake, a moment of shared humanity. It was more powerful than any photograph. Because the goal wasn’t to capture—it was to connect.
In a world so often driven by distraction, these moments of genuine human connection are becoming rare. But they remind us that people everywhere are quietly yearning to be seen.

Later, after stopping to throw on his raincoat, Francis was greeted by five kids who came running toward him, laughing, jumping, asking for wheelies. Francis pulled out his bag of Cheetos he just got at the petrol station and shared it with them. The moment was pure joy.

“We can’t save the whole world, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do something kind when we can. Whether it’s sharing a snack, a handshake, a smile—these things matter. They create a bond. No words needed.” Francis says.

And maybe that’s the lesson. That the most powerful perspectives don’t always come from racing ahead, but from pausing. From noticing. From the quiet magic of stillness, solitude, and sincere connection.

Moments of humanity are everywhere. We just have to slow down enough to experience them.