Joy

10 things that made us smile this week

Upworthy's weekly roundup of joy.

woman with dog, teacher in classroom, twins in crib

Upworthy/Instagram , @primrosetheband/TikTok, @thattwinmama_/TikTok

10 reasons to smile

Did you know that August 26 was National Dog Day? I'm more of a cat person, but I do appreciate other people's good doggos, and we have a whole collection of sweet pupper videos as just one of our 10 things that made us smile this week!

We also have a hilarious wedding album mishap, an adorable twin baby reunion, a mom's delightful prank on her college freshman, a try-not-to-laugh Magic Flute Challenge and more.

We could all use more reasons to smile, so kick back, relax and enjoy this week's roundup of joy!

1. Mom's mishap with her daughter's wedding album has everyone in stitches

@niki_nibs
Our mother is single handedly the most hilarious person we know, and its usually completely on accident. Favorite wedding gift EVER!!! @shutterfly #shutterfly

This will be hilarious for as long as they both shall live. Check out the full story here.

2. Dapper British man offers strangers "devastatingly effective' compliments

@troy_hawke
Complimenting strangers in Notting Hill. Try it for yourself with Compliments on @Bumble #troyhawke #nottinghill #bumble #ad #compliments

What if we all perfected the art of the compliment? Read more about Troy Hawke here.

3. Scroll through some pupworthy adorableness from our National Dog Day roundup

See on Instagram

So much doggo love.

4. Baby twins were separated for the first time ever and their nighttime reunion was so sweet

@thattwinmama_
Will forever make me😭… cant think of anything stronger than the #twinbond ❤️ #twinsoftiktok #twins #twinsisters #babylife #twinlove #sisterlove #feelgood #babiesoftiktok #sharethelove #newmom #4u #sistersforever

There's no bond like a twin bond. Read the full story here.

5. Mom pranks her college freshman son with a full-size cutout of her for his dorm room

@jillwagner81
@Hakin Wagner Dad and i are always with you😂 #maryville #moveinday #college

I mean, he did say he wanted posters. Tee hee. Read the full story here .

6. Someone felt guilty that their birth played a role in their mom's passing, and a mom offered the best response

See on Instagram

Speaking as a mom, YES. Exactly that.

7. Try not to laugh at this Magic Flute Challenge video (sound up from the beginning)

How long would you last? I lost it at the strangled rooster 😆
by u/enacheionut1991 in ContagiousLaughter

Watch each person's face. So dang funny. See more Magic Flute Challenge fun here.

8. Teacher gets his students' attention with the most awesome call-and-response prompts

@primrosetheband
Gotta find creative ways to get them to listen! #teacher #musicschool #teacher #primrose

WRESTLE WITH JIMMY! Weezer simply has to be part of a well-rounded education. Read the full story here.

9. She was about to go live when a kid interrupted for the cutest reason

See on Instagram

Aw, kids are the best. Everybody needs a hug sometimes.

10. Glide your way through the weekend like this loon landing on a lake

— (@)

Seriously, that's one of the most satisfying videos I've ever seen in my life.

If you loved this roundup, I have some fabulous news. You can get these posts delivered to your inbox each week simply by signing up for The Upworthiest, our free newsletter, here.

Keep smiling, everyone!

uplifting

Community

Wonder how volunteering can change your life? Ask a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Those who give back get so much in return.

True

Larissa Gummy was first introduced to the work of the Peace Corps in high school. All it took was seeing a few photos shared by her ninth-grade teacher, a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, to know that one day, she would follow in those footsteps.

This inspiration eventually led Larissa away from her home in Minnesota to Rwanda in East Africa, to give back to her family’s country of origin and pursue her passion for international development. Though her decision confused her parents at first, they’re now proud and excited to see what their daughter has accomplished through her volunteer work.

And just what was that work? Well, it changed from day to day, but it all had to do with health.

Mostly, Larissa worked for Rwanda’s First 1,000 Days Health project, which aims to improve the conditions that affect the mortality rate of kids within the first 1,000 days of being born (or almost three years old). These conditions include hygiene, nutrition, and prevention of childhood diseases like malaria and acute respiratory infections (ARI). Addressing malnutrition was a particular focus, as it continues to cause stunted growth in 33% of Rwandan children under the age of five .

In partnership with the local health center, Larissa helped with vaccination education, led nutrition classes, offered prenatal care to expecting mothers, and helped support health education in surrounding communities. Needless to say—she stayed busy with a variety of tasks.

Keep Reading Show less

community

Identity

13 side-by-side portraits of people over 100 with their younger selves

These powerful before-and-after photos reveal just how beautiful aging can be.

Centenarians — people 100 years or older — are a rarity. Their lives are often scrutinized as holding the key to aging.

Czech photographer Jan Langer 's portrait series " Faces of Century " shows them in a different light: as human beings aged by years of experience, but at their deepest level, unchanged by the passing of time.

In the series, Langer juxtaposes his portraits with another portrait of the subject from decades earlier. He recreates the original pose and lighting as closely as he can — he wants us to see them not just as they are now, but how they have and haven't changed over time. That is the key to the series.

Keep Reading Show less

Joy

An 8-year-old snuck his handwritten book onto a library shelf. Now it has a 56-person waiting list.

Dillon Helbig's 81-page graphic novel— written by "Dillon His Self"—captured the hearts of his local librarians and their patrons.

KTVB/YouTube

Dillon Helbig's 81-page graphic novel captured the hearts of his local librarians.

Writing a book is no easy task, even for adult professional writers. Many would-be authors dream of a day when their work can be found on library shelves, unsure if it will ever come.

But for 8-year-old Dillon Helbig, that day has already arrived—in truly unconventional fashion—thanks to his own determination to make it happen.

Dillon wrote his 81-page graphic novel, "The Adventures of Dillon Helbig's Crismis" (written by "Dillon His Self") in a hardcover journal with colored pencils over the course of a few days. He even put a label on the back of the book that reads "Made in Idho" [sic] and put an illustrated spine label on it as well. Then, without telling anyone, he brought it to his local library in Boise, Idaho, and slipped it in among the books in the children's section.

Keep Reading Show less

family

Internet

Someone created a video of what it's like to party in your 30s and it's internet gold

Everybody out by 10.

Malena Tudi|TikTok

A real life look into what it looks like to party in your 30s

Something happens at some unknown point in your 30s where partying no longer looks the same as it did when you were in your early 20s. There's no real warning. In fact, sometimes it happens mid-party. You're having a good time dancing, taking a Jägerbomb, then you slowly feel the youthful excitement drift from your body.

You realize you have a big meeting Monday you have to prepare for and you'd rather hear your cat's best motorcycle impression than spend one more second being bumped into by sweaty people in the club. And just like that, a different partying expectation is formed. One where you know that dropping it low may mean that you can't get back up.

Where sensible shoes take priority and you're not going if there aren't comfortable chairs, a reasonable end time and music at an acceptable decibel level. Malena Tudi , perfectly captured what it's like to party in your 30s, it's instantly clear that bumping and grinding with strangers isn't on the list.

Keep Reading Show less

tineco mop-vac

10 things that made us smile this week

Upworthy's weekly roundup of joy.

1. Mom's mishap with her daughter's wedding album has everyone in stitches

2. Dapper British man offers strangers "devastatingly effective' compliments

3. Scroll through some pupworthy adorableness from our National Dog Day roundup

4. Baby twins were separated for the first time ever and their nighttime reunion was so sweet

5. Mom pranks her college freshman son with a full-size cutout of her for his dorm room

6. Someone felt guilty that their birth played a role in their mom's passing, and a mom offered the best response

7. Try not to laugh at this Magic Flute Challenge video (sound up from the beginning)

8. Teacher gets his students' attention with the most awesome call-and-response prompts

9. She was about to go live when a kid interrupted for the cutest reason

10. Glide your way through the weekend like this loon landing on a lake

Those who give back get so much in return.

These powerful before-and-after photos reveal just how beautiful aging can be.

Centenarians — people 100 years or older — are a rarity. Their lives are often scrutinized as holding the key to aging.

1. Prokop Vejdělek, at age 22 and 101

2. Bedřiška Köhlerová, at age 26 and 103

3. Ludvík Chybík, at age 20 and 102

4. Vincenc Jetelina, at age 30 and 105

5. Marie Fejfarová, at age 101

6. Antonín Kovář, at age 25 and 102

7. Anna Vašinová, at age 22 and 102

8. Stanislav Spáčil, at age 17 and 102

9. Anna Pochobradská, at age 30 and 100

10. Antonín Baldrman, at age 17 and 101

11. Marie Burešová, at age 23 and 101

12. Vlasta Čížková, at age 23 and 101

13. Ludmila Vysloužilová, at age 23 and 101

Dillon Helbig's 81-page graphic novel— written by "Dillon His Self"—captured the hearts of his local librarians and their patrons.

It was the largest such event ever filmed.

Photographer James Balog and his crew were hanging out near a glacier when their camera captured something extraordinary.

It was the largest such event ever filmed.

But once upon a time, Balog was openly skeptical about that "global warming" thing.

In fact, it wasn't until 2005 that Balog became a believer.

Watch the video of the event of the glacier calving below:

Talk about playing hard to get.

No more going cross-eyed!

Everybody out by 10.