It is at this time of year we take stock of ourselves, and try to get a handle on the challenges, triumphs, and tragedies of the human condition.

If life weren't a handful enough, imagine you had to surmount the hardships of being different — very different — in a society that prizes conformity and familiarity, and all of your limbs in proper configuration.

It is this time of year especially that we need stories of inspiration; stories that illustrate the incredible tenacity and courage of the human spirit; stories of human marvels.

They come in all shapes and sizes, some missing this and some having too many of that. We are uncomfortable in their presence, and we shy away from them, preferring the more mundane. But there they are, showing us again and again how insignificant our trials and tribulations are when compared to theirs.

Call them human oddities, or nature's mistakes, or freaks, or monstrosities — whatever you will — but also call them incredible, and persevering, and resourceful, and marvelous.

It is the science of teratology that chronicles the unique characteristics that set them apart from others. It is people like Joel Pednaud who chronicle their inspirational stories of triumph over odds stacked high against them. At his website, The Human Marvels, you can live their lives, and walk just a little in their shoes, muttering "there but for the grace of God," along the way.

Joel took time out from his busy holiday schedule to chat with us.

Tell us about yourself, and how your fascination for teratology came about.

I was born and raised in a small northern town in Canada. My interest in teratology stems from several sources. As a kid I was very interested in monsters and horror movies, the paranormal and that sort of thing. When I was about nine, I was in the habit of reading my brother's Fangoria magazines. They ran an anniversary story on Browning's film Freaks and the magazine featured a center spread of old carnival pitch cards. It was then that I realized monsters were real. From there I began to study human medicine, mutation, and teratology. Slowly I discovered that these 'monsters' were more human than most of society and today I have great respect for these human marvels.

Can you list your favorite human marvels, and what it is about their unique qualities that make them your favorites?