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Joy

10 things that made us smile this week

Upworthy's weekly roundup of joy.

happy, joy, smile
Alexas_Fotos/Canva

Looking for a smile? We've got 10 for you.

Last weekend, most Americans gained an hour as we set our clocks back to standard time and questioned for the umpteenth time why we still entertain the whole daylight savings time thing. It's weird that we still do this, right? Not just me?

On the one hand, this fall time change is a gift. How often are we just handed an extra hour out of thin air? On the other hand, the sun now sets an hour earlier, which means it gets dark at a ridiculous time from now until the winter solstice.

The dark afternoons and colder weather can drum up some not-so-happy feelings for many people, so it's good to find ways to brighten our days. That's where Upworthy comes in. Each week, we round up 10 of the most smile-worthy finds from around the internet to give people an extra shot of joy.


This week's list is full of adorable kids and fabulous relatives, reminding us that so many of life's greatest joys come from our fellow human beings. So kick back, relax and enjoy these highlights from around the internet.

Feisty feminist preschooler goes off on a classically Italian rant and it's molto bene.

@giuseppe_matilde

Secondo voi ha ragione matilde ? #foryoupage @Giò Canaletti seguitela tutti su istragram matilde_vaccar

You don't have to understand a word of what this wee one is saying to appreciate her passionate embodiment of a Sicilian grandmother, but when you do know what she's saying, it's even better. In a nutshell, she's retelling how "Anna" was giving her grief for wearing a miniskirt and she said Anna needed to mind her own skirt, basically. Brava, little one. Read the full story here.

Young people showed up big for the midterm elections. If this kiddo is any indication of what's coming up, the future is in good hands.

@recesstherapy

Don't forget to vote! Do you think they should have a say?? #vote #votetiktok #recesstherapy

So much wisdom and clear thinking for a 6-year-old. Honestly, he probably could vote now. He seems to have a better head on his shoulders than a fair number of adults, frankly.

This kid punking his mom with a full-on dad joke is an inspiration.

Seriously, that's a hilarious prank. Might have buy some leeks just to pull this one on the family.

Uncle hyping up his nephew for his first steps is so joyful.

The way he freaked out, which freaked the kiddo out, and then shifted his voice to calm him down. These are just the best moments.

This year's John Lewis Christmas ad dropped. It's certainly smile-worthy, but you also might want to grab a tissue.

Every year, U.K. retailer John Lewis & Partners releases a Christmas ad that plunges us straight into our feelings. One year it was about Elton John's childhood, last year it was about an unexpected alien visitor and this year it's about a man going the extra mile to make a foster child feel welcome and connected when she arrives at his home. A beautiful glimpse of the best of humanity.

12-year-old gets a haircut from Vic Blends and he is a seriously fabulous kid.

Some kids just make your jaw drop at the way they think and talk. What a sweet kid with clearly great parents. And great to see Vic is as positive and encouraging as always.

Brothers brought swagger to their 'flower boys' role and this should always be a thing.

The moves! The fanny packs! The bride shared that they gave these two flower boy positions because they knew they would shine in those roles. "No drama over here just good vibes," she wrote. What a delightful addition to an already joyful event.

Dad 'overstood' the assignment to get his daughter some sanitary pads with wings in the very best way.

[A little f-bomb warning at the end.]

@k.othabarber

#KTB #storytime

Too hilarious. But honestly, bringing a girl wings when she's on your period is never a bad idea. Good job, dad. Read the full story here.

Let's all head into the weekend with the joy and enthusiasm of this newly adopted shelter pup.

Hope we made you smile! Come back next week for another roundup of joy, and if you want more posts like this delivered straight to your inbox, check out our free newsletter, The Upworthiest.

A pitbull stares at the window, looking for the mailman.


Dogs are naturally driven by a sense of purpose and a need for belonging, which are all part of their instinctual pack behavior. When a dog has a job to do, it taps into its needs for structure, purpose, and the feeling of contributing to its pack, which in a domestic setting translates to its human family.

But let’s be honest: In a traditional domestic setting, dogs have fewer chores they can do as they would on a farm or as part of a rescue unit. A doggy mom in Vancouver Island, Canada had fun with her dog’s purposeful uselessness by sharing the 5 “chores” her pitbull-Lab mix does around the house.

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A group of men look at paperwork.

The massive changes to the American workplace caused by the COVID-19 pandemic invited many to reconsider their professional lives. This reevaluation has led people to push for improved work-life balance, and many now are looking for work to provide a greater sense of meaning and purpose.

When the world returned to work after COVID, many believed they deserved to be treated better by their employers. This resulted in many taking a break from the workforce or changing professions altogether. It also helped usher in a more comfortable culture for calling out companies that don’t treat their employees respectfully.

Recently, a group of thousands came together on Reddit to expose the common mistruths that people often hear at the workplace. It all started when a Redditor named PretenstoKnow asked: "What's the most common lie employers tell their employees?" And over 2,600 people responded.

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A woman looking at her phone while sitting on the toilet.


One of the most popular health trends over the last few years has been staying as hydrated as possible, evidenced by the massive popularity of 40-oz Stanely Quencher cups. The theory among those who obsess over hydration is that, when you pee clear, you’ve removed all the waste in your body and are enjoying the incredible benefits of being 100% hydrated. Congratulations.

However, according to Dr. Sermed Mezher, an NHS doctor in the UK, peeing clear isn’t always a sign of being healthy.

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Photo Credit: William Fortunado via Canva

Amanda Seals breaks down history of DAP handshake

We've all seen people do it. Anywhere from basketball players on television to kids meeting up at the skating rink. Even former president Barack Obama when greeting a mixed group of men gave "DAP" to the Black men in the group, yet switched to a firm handshake when greeting the other men.

It was almost like watching the president code switch, but with body language, in a move that many Black Americans recognize as a gesture of acceptance and comradery. But did you know that there's an actual history behind the DAP that has nothing to do with looking cool? Social justice educator and actress, Amanda Seales, recently re-shared a clip from "The Real" where she was diving into the history of the handshake.

Seales, who has a master's degree in African American Studies from Columbia University, was also admittedly surprised when she learned there was a deeper meaning to the gesture.

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Health

Neuroscientist reveals perfect amount of time to spend on social media for your mental health

Over several weeks, the participants felt less loneliness, depression and anxiety.

@rachelle_summers/TikTok

Anyone can use this checklist.

There are pretty clear cut guidelines on how much screen time kids should have, but for adults…not so much. And perhaps it’s this lack of clarity that leaves people to go on full blown digital detoxes or get off social media entirely.

And while there is certainly a case to be made for that decision, for many of us, that isn’t quite feasible—especially in certain lines of work.

Luckily, according to neuroscientist Rachelle Summers, there is a way we can still be on social media, without being subjected to its negative side effects.
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Photo by Kats Weil on Unsplash

Ready for a refreshingly wholesome story?

The stereotypical image we get of bachelor parties is a booze-filled evening of depravity and bad choices. Followed of course by a massive hangover…and some regrets.

And granted, there are plenty of viral videos to show that this is sometimes the case. But there are also plenty of grooms who don’t see it as their “last night as a free man.” On the contrary, they see it as an opportunity to simply celebrate the next chapter with close friends.

Case and point: a husband-to-be named Luke, who apparently couldn’t stop “gushing” about his bride, Sam. This, according to a woman also named Sam, who happened to be at the bar Luke was having his bachelor party at.
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