Street sweeper never goes to work without a rose on his cart and there's a special reason for it

Some people find meaning in work that others overlookStreet sweeper is excited to do the work everyone overlooks. Each day, he carries a 'rose' to his garbage cart — whether it’s behind a desk, behind a counter, or on the street with a broom in hand, purpose comes from what we bring to the task, not what others assume about it. In the Swiss city of Fribourg, one man has become a symbol of that belief. His name is Michel, and he’s been sweeping the same streets for nearly four decades. Photographer Davide (@davnesto) shared a conversation with Michel on Instagram, reposting a moment that still resonates two years later.

"I always see this rose," Davide says at the beginning of the video, pointing to a flower resting near Michel’s street sweeping cart. "What’s the story behind the rose?" he asks. Michel smiles, then explains that he began placing the rose beside his broom years ago as a way to bring something beautiful into a place most people ignore. "It's been 37 years. I am a street sweeper. One day, I was strolling my chariot full of dirt and I told myself, 'Let's put something beautiful to make counterbalance — to make contrast with the waste.'" Michel added, "A little beauty in the middle of the waste."

So many people asked about the flower that he eventually wrote a book called "The Rose and the Broom." He said that "there’s a chapter on the rose," which focuses on his life and the work he chose. Michel doesn’t describe himself as someone with grand ambitions; his only desire is a job that allows him to be outside and work for the community. "I did study before that and I chose this simple job," he added. But there’s pride in the way he tells his story. "It’s a job that isn’t well considered, but it’s great in my opinion." For years, he found satisfaction in the rhythm of his work. Then, after 30 years, he finally sat down to write the book he had always dreamed of creating, and it became a way to join "the manual side and intellectual side — both together," as he put it.

Michel’s outlook is calm and content, and surprisingly, he is not the only one. A study published in the journal Work, Employment and Society found that employees in the cleaning sector report significantly higher levels of job satisfaction compared to workers in other sectors. When Davide said, "You must be proud about it," Michel replied with a smile, "Yes. I’m very happy." The post has stayed with people, resurfacing again as others reflect on how Michel’s story speaks to something universal. @jaitsmork commented, "Do you think he still hasn’t realised it is truly him who is the rose among waste in our world?" Some shared their stories of meeting him personally. @julien_perreten wrote, "It’s in Fribourg, Switzerland. He’s famous and teaches us a lot. Definition of being humble." Others called his story cinematic.

@matt_tnk18 added, I had the privilege to meet him when his book came out. I was homeschooled, and with a few families, the parents would collaborate to teach us, and they decided that we could go for a walk with this man, and he shared his story. Really, a peaceful heart. That was 6-7 years ago, and I still remember him." @faithfulinfrance quipped, "Reminds me of the protagonist in the Japanese film 'Perfect Days.' Such nobility. He brings grace to this world." @robertmkiely said, "What a truly beautiful person. He has got something we all strive for… simple inner peace."

You can follow Davide (@davnesto) on Instagram for more photography content.