
From adorable doggos to heartwarming humans, here are 10 tidbits of joy to boost your spirits.
I'm not quite sure how it happened, but his week's list is somewhat dog-heavy.
It's a bit odd, because I'm really more of a cat person. I've had more than a dozen cats in my lifetime and not a single dog. I do love other people's dogs, though, and there's no shortage of awesome stories about dogs that occasionally make me question my loyalty to cats.
Animals in general are joy-bringers, though. Along with the dogs, we've got bears and an otter this week that I think will bring a smile to even the most hardened of hearts.
And there are awesome humans, too. Sometimes it's easy to become dismayed with our fellow humans, especially when most of what we see are headlines about bad behavior. It's good to be reminded that there are so many people doing so many great things in the world.
If you need a boost of faith in humanity or just a little mood boost with some endorphin-pushing animal videos, we've got you covered. Here are 10 things that made us smile this week:
The dramatics of this husky are entirely extra and it's hilarious. (Sound up.)
"You went and got groceries WITHOUT me? Waaaaaaah!" And how he just escalated with the foot tap. Such a drama king.
Then there are these guys with the cutest doggo photo shoot ever.
We all have that friend when you try to take a picture.. pic.twitter.com/LNRC6J4aPE— Buitengebieden (@Buitengebieden) 1652120810
How do you train dogs to do this? Or do they just do it on their own?
Chef José Andrés inspires with his words about utilizing our talents to change the world.
"Longer tables, not higher walls." Chef José is an international treasure. Read the full story here.
Ths mama bear wrangling her toddlers across the street is every mom.
Anyone who\u2019s gone somewhere with a toddler can relate to this \n\nOn a serious note - a big shout out to all those people who stopped their cars and patiently waited! \n\nin/crazyforcouturepic.twitter.com/Sm39VJZkMH— Jess \ud83c\udf3b (@Jess \ud83c\udf3b) 1652305719
Been there, mama. Totally feel you.
Girls ask their stepmom to adopt them after 12 years and the joy is palpable.
Speaking of mamas, oof, this one hits right in the feels. Stepparents can be a gift, and this family clearly has no shortage of love.
As if sea otters needed to get any cuter…
Sea otters will often cover their eyes with their paws to help them sleep during the day.pic.twitter.com/16l99GTBxy— Wonder of Science (@Wonder of Science) 1652361498
It's not even doing anything and I think I might die from the cuteness.
The delightful anger management skills of this young one.
@larobenz BRO I CANNOT WITH HER 😭😂😂😂😂 @emmali. #TheSuicideSquadMovie #stitch #fyp #foryou #viral #blowthisup #kids #emmali #kidstiktok #funny #comedy
That grin, though. He may want to sleep with one eye open, but that girl has got charm times a hundred.
Couple celebrating their 67th anniversary get a tear-jerking surprise from their kids.
Well, shoot. That one required a tissue warning. So sweet. Read the full story here.
On a personal note, the teens are all right.
My teen daughter and her friend went to Dairy Queen and were helped by a woman who was just a ray of sunshine. She was juggling lots of different things, but was warm and cheerful and kind with everyone, from co-workers to customers. My daughter and her friend noticed.
She took their order for two mini Blizzards, but then handed them two smalls (the next size up) instead. They told her they'd ordered minis, and she smiled and said, "I know. It's all right. Enjoy." They were delighted.
They didn't see a tip jar but wanted to do something to show their appreciation. So they went to the grocery store down the road, bought a small bouquet of flowers, and went back.
When they handed her the flowers and explained how they saw and appreciated her excellent service, she was shocked and thrilled.
"You guys! I'm gonna cry!" she said. "Oh you've just made it all worth it! Can I give you a hug?"
And she did. And it was all just pure joy. And my daughter came home beaming about the whole experience.
The teens are all right.
Let's pounce into the weekend like this dog pounces into the ocean for the first time.
guess which dog has never seen the oceanpic.twitter.com/Mm15BomgBK— Puppies \ud83d\udc36 (@Puppies \ud83d\udc36) 1652323913
Bounding with joy. Let's do it.
Hope that brought a smile or six to your face! Come back next week for another roundup of joy and delight.
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- Scientists Discover One Of The Greatest Contributing Factors To ... ›
- Mom and stepmom become best friends and co-parents - Upworthy ›
- Toddler's sweet reaction to finding out her mom is adopted - Upworthy ›
12 non-threatening leadership strategies for women
We mustn't hurt a man's feelings.
Men and the feels.
Note: This an excerpt is from Sarah Cooper's book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings.
In this fast-paced business world, female leaders need to make sure they're not perceived as pushy, aggressive, or competent.
One way to do that is to alter your leadership style to account for the fragile male ego.
Should men accept powerful women and not feel threatened by them? Yes. Is that asking too much?
IS IT?
Sorry, I didn't mean to get aggressive there. Anyhoo, here are twelve non-threatening leadership strategies for women.
Encourage.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When setting a deadline, ask your coworker what he thinks of doing something, instead of just asking him to get it done. This makes him feel less like you're telling him what to do and more like you care about his opinions.
Sharing ideas.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When sharing your ideas, overconfidence is a killer. You don't want your male coworkers to think you're getting all uppity. Instead, downplay your ideas as just "thinking out loud," "throwing something out there," or sharing something "dumb," "random," or "crazy."
Email requests.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pepper your emails with exclamation marks and emojis so you don't come across as too clear or direct. Your lack of efficient communication will make you seem more approachable.
Idea sharing.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
If a male coworker steals your idea in a meeting, thank him for it. Give him kudos for how he explained your idea so clearly. And let's face it, no one might've ever heard it if he hadn't repeated it.
Sexism.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you hear a sexist comment, the awkward laugh is key. Practice your awkward laugh at home, with your friends and family, and in the mirror. Make sure you sound truly delighted even as your soul is dying inside.
Mansplain.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Men love explaining things. But when he's explaining something and you already know that, it might be tempting to say, "I already know that." Instead, have him explain it to you over and over again. It will make him feel useful and will give you some time to think about how to avoid him in the future.
Mistakes.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Pointing out a mistake is always risky so it's important to always apologize for noticing the mistake and then make sure that no one thinks you're too sure about it. People will appreciate your "hey what do I know?!" sensibilities.
Promotions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Asking your manager for a promotion could make you seem power- hungry, opportunistic, and transparent. Instead, ask a male coworker to vouch for you. Have your coworker tell your manager you'd be great for the role even though you don't really want it. This will make you more likely to actually get that promotion.
Rude.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Sometimes not everyone is properly introduced at the start of a meeting. Don't take it personally even if it happens to you all the time, and certainly don't stop the meeting from moving forward to introduce yourself. Sending a quick note afterward is the best way to introduce yourself without seeming too self-important.
Interruptions.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When you get interrupted, you might be tempted to just continue talking or even ask if you can finish what you were saying. This is treacherous territory. Instead, simply stop talking. The path of least resistance is silence.
Collaboration.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When collaborating with a man, type using only one finger. Skill and speed are very off-putting.
Disagreements.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
When all else fails, wear a mustache so everyone sees you as more man-like. This will cancel out any need to change your leadership style. In fact, you may even get a quick promotion!
In conclusion...
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
Many women have discovered the secret power of non-threatening leadership. We call it a "secret power" because no one else actually knows about it. We keep our power hidden within ourselves so that it doesn't frighten and intimidate others. That's what makes us the true unsung heroes of the corporate world.
About the Author: Sarah Cooper
Sarah Cooper is a writer, comedian, and author of 100 Tricks to Appear Smart in Meetings. Her new book, How to Be Successful Without Hurting Men's Feelings, is out now.
The comedic book cover.
With permission from Sarah Cooper.
A satirical take on what it's like to be a woman in the workplace, Cooper draws from her experience as a former executive in the world of tech (she's a former Googler and Yahooer). You can get the book here.
This article was originally published on March 25, 2019.