Everybody knows Kelly Clarkson has pipes and any fan of Disney’s “Moana” knows that Dwayne Johnson can carry a tune. But I don’t think in a million years anyone would have guessed the two singing together could result in a truly spectacular duet. All in full twang, no less!
Clarkson and Johnson (can’t you see their names co-headlining a tour?) paid tribute to honky-tonk superstar Loretta Lynn, who passed away on Oct. 4 at age 90, by singing arguably everyone’s favorite country song from the ’60s about rejecting drunken sex—“Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’.”
The “American Idol” singer expectedly shines in the song—displaying effortless vocal power while retaining Lynn’s signature lilt. But much to everyone’s surprise, her voice paired well—like, superbly well—with The Rock’s, who held his own during the performance as well.
“His voice really actually fits that song,” one listener wrote. “Who would have guessed Dwayne is a countryboy??”
Seriously. Take a listen.
By and large, listeners considered Johnson and Clarkson’s duet to be a sweet and wholesome tribute to the late country music icon.
“Smiling through the whole thing. So unexpected but so wholesome. This makes my heart so happy. RIP Loretta,” commented one person.
“Paying tribute to the WONDERFUL Loretta Lynn with vocals sung by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson and Queen Kelly is nothing more than AWESOME and I liked how both of them duetted together for this song!” added another.
Perhaps the biggest secret revealed by this performance, however, is that Johnson has been a country boy this entire time, and even once had his own country music ambitions.
During a virtual interview with Clarkson in 2021, the “Jumanji” star shared that “I grew up loving real, traditional country. When I got to Nashville … I used to hang out down there and listen to all the acts, and I did have it in my mind that I was gonna become a country music singer.”
It was that confession that inspired Clarkson to invite Johnson to sing a duet—so yeah, basically this musical treat was a year in the making. And after this performance, it looks like he might get another chance at that dream, after all. I know I’d buy the collab album. Yeehaw.
In March 2023, after months of preparation and paperwork, Anita Omary arrived in the United States from her native Afghanistan to build a better life. Once she arrived in Connecticut, however, the experience was anything but easy.
“When I first arrived, everything felt so strange—the weather, the environment, the people,” Omary recalled. Omary had not only left behind her extended family and friends in Afghanistan, she left her career managing child protective cases and supporting refugee communities behind as well. Even more challenging, Anita was five months pregnant at the time, and because her husband was unable to obtain a travel visa, she found herself having to navigate a new language, a different culture, and an unfamiliar country entirely on her own.
“I went through a period of deep disappointment and depression, where I wasn’t able to do much for myself,” Omary said.
Then something incredible happened: Omary met a woman who would become her close friend, offering support that would change her experience as a refugee—and ultimately the trajectory of her entire life.
Understanding the journey
Like Anita Omary, tens of thousands of people come to the United States each year seeking safety from war, political violence, religious persecution, and other threats. Yet escaping danger, unfortunately, is only the first challenge. Once here, immigrant and refugee families must deal with the loss of displacement, while at the same time facing language barriers, adapting to a new culture, and sometimes even facing social stigma and anti-immigrant biases.
Welcoming immigrant and refugee neighbors strengthens the nation and benefits everyone—and according to Anita Omary, small, simple acts of human kindness can make the greatest difference in helping them feel safe, valued, and truly at home.
A warm welcome
Dee and Omary's son, Osman
Anita Omary was receiving prenatal checkups at a woman’s health center in West Haven when she met Dee, a nurse.
“She immediately recognized that I was new, and that I was struggling,” Omary said. “From that moment on, she became my support system.”
Dee started checking in on Omary throughout her pregnancy, both inside the clinic and out.
“She would call me and ask am I okay, am I eating, am I healthy,” Omary said. “She helped me with things I didn’t even realize I needed, like getting an air conditioner for my small, hot room.”
Soon, Dee was helping Omary apply for jobs and taking her on driving lessons every weekend. With her help, Omary landed a job, passed her road test on the first attempt, and even enrolled at the University of New Haven to pursue her master’s degree. Dee and Omary became like family. After Omary’s son, Osman, was born, Dee spent five days in the hospital at her side, bringing her halal food and brushing her hair in the same way Omary’s mother used to. When Omary’s postpartum pain became too great for her to lift Osman’s car seat, Dee accompanied her to his doctor’s appointments and carried the baby for her.
“Her support truly changed my life,” Omary said. “Her motivation, compassion, and support gave me hope. It gave me a sense of stability and confidence. I didn’t feel alone, because of her.”
More than that, the experience gave Omary a new resolve to help other people.
“That experience has deeply shaped the way I give back,” she said. “I want to be that source of encouragement and support for others that my friend was for me.”
Extending the welcome
Omary and Dee at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Vision Awards ceremony at the University of New Haven.
Omary is now flourishing. She currently works as a career development specialist as she continues her Master’s degree. She also, as a member of the Refugee Storytellers Collective, helps advocate for refugee and immigrant families by connecting them with resources—and teaches local communities how to best welcome newcomers.
“Welcoming new families today has many challenges,” Omary said. “One major barrier is access to English classes. Many newcomers, especially those who have just arrived, often put their names on long wait lists and for months there are no available spots.” For women with children, the lack of available childcare makes attending English classes, or working outside the home, especially difficult.
Omary stresses that sometimes small, everyday acts of kindness can make the biggest difference to immigrant and refugee families.
“Welcome is not about big gestures, but about small, consistent acts of care that remind you that you belong,” Omary said. Receiving a compliment on her dress or her son from a stranger in the grocery store was incredibly uplifting during her early days as a newcomer, and Omary remembers how even the smallest gestures of kindness gave her hope that she could thrive and build a new life here.
“I built my new life, but I didn’t do it alone,” Omary said. “Community and kindness were my greatest strengths.”
Are you in? Click here to join the Refugee Advocacy Lab and sign the #WeWillWelcome pledge and complete one small act of welcome in your community. Together, with small, meaningful steps, we can build communities where everyone feels safe.
This article is part of Upworthy’s “The Threads Between U.S.” series that highlights what we have in common thanks to the generous support from the Levi Strauss Foundation, whose grantmaking is committed to creating a culture of belonging.
It’s a tale as old as time: tension caused by generational differences. From Baby Boomers to the up-and-coming Gen Alpha, every generation seems to have a little bit of beef with the others—especially Gen Z.
Gen Z has claimed that Boomers are “angry”. And Gen Zers are no longer subscribing to work burnout culture that Millennials did. And now, Gen Z has decided to come for Gen X.
One brave…or naive Gen Zer decided to declare that Gen X is “the worst generation” seemingly unprompted. But a Millennial quickly put them in their place.
In a stitched video, Millennial Laura High gave a succinct cliff’s notes version of why it’s best to not speak negative thoughts on Gen X aloud.
“I love Gen X. We all love Gen X…we all love Gen X,” she said before bringing the camera close enough to whisper. “Okay here’s the thing, you do not seem to understand who Gen X is, okay? Gen X is Boomers if they knew how to turn a document into a PDF, okay. They do not Karen out. They get quiet and they get revenge.”
High then shared the secret kept by her generation: “we do not summon the latchkey kids unless it’s our literal only last resort.” She advised the unknowing Gen Zer to go to the edge of the woods to leave offerings to appease any Gen Xers that would likely be offended by the video.
Gen Z and Millennials respond
Commenters agreed with her sentiment.
“There is a reason millennials leave Gen X alone, and they learned it the hard way. My fellow Gen Z’s will learn soon… very soon,” one commenter said..
“Elder Gen Z raised by two Gen X parents. I do NOT back the younger half of Gen Z on this. I’m running into the woods on their behalf and leaving Ferris Bueller for my dad and a DQ blizzard for my mom,” another echoed.
“Last thing she will hear from the woods, Red Rover Red Rover, we call Karen Hashtag over,” said a third.
“If you’ve never played Red Rover with Gen Xers, just know you were lucky to have your head still attached to your shoulders after the game was over. There were no tears allowed and no telling your parents, they were gone anyway. In short: Gen Xers are ruthless, and it’s best not to cross them. Seriously.”
Gen X responds
A happyu00a0Gen X couple have patience for younger generations, like Gen Z. Photo credit: Canva
Thankfully, Gen Xers are also open to peace offerings (and humor). Here are a few of their suggestions:
“I will accept ding dongs (in original foil) and a VHS of ‘the last star fighter’ I will also except a mix tape if it include at mix of metal, new wave, and Yaz.”
“We will also accept any of the original Star Wars trilogy, Star Trek 2, Raiders, or Die Hard…though John Hughes films will likely will be the safest choice.”
“As an Elder Gen X (1971) I accept offerings of ice cold Boone’s Farm and those little chocolate donuts in the plastic sleeve. Laura, you’re safe. Gen Z? Run.”
“We will also allow The Neverending Story .”
Moral of the story: tread lightly Gen Z. Tread very lightly. If you hear someone clinking together empty glass Coke bottles outside your door, do not come out and play. It’s a trap.
This article originally appeared two years ago. It has been updated.
We can all be sure that as society evolves, many things that seem normal today will be cringeworthy to people in the future, whether it’s our fashion, politics, civility, or our treatment of the environment.
If we look back just 30 years ago, same-sex marriage was illegal, people routinely smoked in bars and restaurants, and it was fashionable and cool to vogue.
So, when we look back on the world of the 2020s, there are bound to be many things that we’ll be embarrassed about in 30 years, especially when we are forced to live with the repercussions of the decisions we make today. On a lighter note, we’ll all also have clouds full of photos of ourselves wearing hairstyles and clothes that look utterly ridiculous in hindsight.
In the summer of 2024, we asked the Upworthy community to share their thoughts by asking a big question on Facebook: “What’s something that’s accepted now that we’ll be embarrassed about in the future?” Our readers responded with funny takes on current fashion and concerns about technology use and how we treat our fellow human beings.
Here are 21 things we accept today that we’ll probably be embarrassed about in the future
More than a few current fashion trends will look silly in the coming years
“Yoga pants. I love them to death, but I can easily see them as the parachute pants of tomorrow.” — Deborah
“Barn doors in your house.” — Joyce
“Tattoos all over the body.” — Vicki
“People wearing socks and sandals.” — Jeremy
“Wearing pajamas in public.” — Ivy
“Huge, over-sized false eyelashes.” — Patricia
Hopefully, people in the future will be more considerate when using technology than we are today.
“Walking around with your eyes locked on your phone. Or eating at a table with 4 people looking at their phone. One day, we will either fall off a cliff or realize life is what is happening off the screen.” — Elise.
“Texting in the presence of another person.” — Kate
Three women on their phones not paying attention to each other. Canva Photos
We can also hope that in the near future, we will be able to solve many of today’s pressing public policy issues so that the next generation will live happier and healthier lives.
“Lack of healthcare for everyone.” — Sharon
“Making the planet unlivable for human beings.” — Karen
“Spending hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayer’s money to build a sports arena for a billionaire. Then charging the taxpayers outrageous amounts to attend events there.” — Stacy
“How the US is systematically clawing back women’s rights to decide what they do with their bodies. It’s beyond shameful.” — Jason.
Some people are concerned about the way students and their parents behave in modern-day America.
“Parents trying to run schools: yelling at teachers for their child’s poor performance, yelling at principals when their child gets in trouble, book banning based on an individual’s religious ideologies, etc.” — Beth.
“Entitled children talking back to their parents and teachers.” — Connie
“Cry rooms at universities where students can go and work out their anxiety and cry and be upset if their professor uses words that are too difficult for them. Universities are institutes of higher learning, not institutes of babysitting. That will be an embarrassment in the future, as it is an embarrassment to me and many others now.” — Della
In 30 years, we may be embarrassed to look back on the level of general civility in 2024.
“Panic buying of toilet paper during the pandemic.” — Tony
“Ageism. It’s everywhere, all the time, and no one seems to mind. No one is defined by the amount of time they’ve spent on the planet but it’s used as an identity and as a weapon (ask any teenager, 40-year-old woman, or retiree…). I can only hope that one day it will be a source of embarrassment that we were all so dismissive and judgmental.” — Rosy.
While this list may seem like a litany of complaints people have about living in the modern world, it should give us hope. If we’ve overcome past embarrassments, today’s can be fixed as well.
This article originally appeared two years ago. It has been updated.
A good commentator can make all the difference when watching sports, even when an event goes smoothly. But it’s when something goes wrong that great announcers rise to the top. There’s no better example of a great announcer in a surprise moment than when French skier Yannick Bertrand took a gate to the groin in a 2007 super-G race.
Competitive skiers fly down runs at incredible speeds, often exceeding 60 mph. Hitting something hard at that speed would definitely hurt, but hitting something hard with a particularly sensitive part of your body would be excruciating. So when Bertrand slammed right into a gate family-jewels-first, his high-pitched scream was unsurprising. What was surprising was the perfect commentary that immediately followed.
This is a clip you really just have to see and hear to fully appreciate:
It’s unclear who the announcer is, even after multiple Google inquiries, which is unfortunate because that gentleman deserves a medal. The commentary gets better with each repeated viewing, with highlights like:
“The gate the groin for Yannick Bertrand, and you could hear it. And if you’re a man, you could feel it.”
“Oh, the Frenchman. Oh-ho, monsieurrrrrr.”
“The boys took a beating on that one.”
“That guy needs a hug.”
“Those are the moments that change your life if you’re a man, I tell you what.”
“When you crash through a gate, when you do it at high rate of speed, it’s gonna hurt and it’s going to leave a mark in most cases. And in this particular case, not the area where you want to leave a mark.”
It’s not the Winter Olympics without watching this clip (sound on) at least a hundred times
Imagine watching a man take a hit to the privates at 60 mph and having to make impromptu commentary straddling the line between professionalism and acknowledging the universal reality of what just happened. There are certain things you can’t say on network television that you might feel compelled to say. There’s a visceral element to this scenario that could easily be taken too far in the commentary, and the inherent humor element could be seen as insensitive and offensive if not handled just right.
The announcer nailed it. 10/10. No notes.
The clip frequently resurfaces during the Winter Olympic Games, though the incident didn’t happen during an Olympic event. Yannick Bertrand was competing at the FIS World Cup super-G race in Kvitfjell, Norway in 2007, when the unfortunate accident occurred. Bertrand had competed at the Turin Olympics the year before, however, coming in 24th in the downhill and super-G events.
As painful as the gate to the groin clearly as, Bertrand did not appear to suffer any damage that kept him from the sport. In fact, he continued competing in international downhill and super-G races until 2014.
According to a 2018 study, Alpine skiing is a notoriously dangerous sport with a reported injury rate of 36.7 per 100 World Cup athletes per season. Of course, it’s the knees and not the coin purse that are the most common casualty of ski racing, which we saw clearly in U.S. skier Lindsey Vonn’s harrowing experiences at the 2026 Olympics. Vonn was competing with a torn ACL and ended up being helicoptered off of the mountain after an ugly crash that did additional damage to her legs, requiring multiple surgeries (though what caused the crash was reportedly unrelated to her ACL tear). Still, she says she has no regrets.
As Bertrand’s return to the slopes shows, the risk of injury doesn’t stop those who live for the thrill of victory, even when the agony of defeat hits them right in the rocks.
There are times to speak up, moments when it’s best to say nothing, and opportunities be very considerate in your response. But when you’re on the receiving end of a back-handed compliment, a foolish remark, or a coworker takes you down a peg, and your emotions are up, it can be hard to have a thoughtful response. Often, we say something we shouldn’t.
How is it that some folks fly off the handle and say things they’ll later regret, while others can stay calm and remove themselves from the situation or take the high ground? One way to be less impulsive with your words is to use the “name it to tame it” neuroscience hack, originally coined by author and psychiatrist Dr. Dan Siegel. When used properly, it allows you to step back from the moment and choose the best response in a challenging situation.
When someone upsets you, the first thing to do is to go inside yourself and describe the emotion that you feel in your body. Are you angry? Are you sad? Are you afraid? Do you feel rejected? Are you disappointed? The moment you name the emotion, it will begin to subside and give you the emotional and mental room to respond to the person who caused the negative emotion, rather than impulsively reacting.
How to respond to a reactive emotion so you don’t fly off the handle:
Event happens:
1. Your body stiffens up
2. You feel an intense emotion
3. You examine the emotion and give it a name: “My body is telling me I am angry.”
4. You should feel the emotion beginning to subside
5. Choose your response instead of being impulsive
“Name it to tame it” works because, when we have a strong emotional reaction, our lizard brain kicks in, and we go into fight, flight, or freeze mode. The lizard brain is not known for giving thoughtful and strategic responses to challenging situations. When we name the emotion, our prefrontal cortex, or the thinking brain, kicks in. The thinking brain looks at the situation and says, “Alright, we don’t need to run or fight here. It’s best to give a strategic response.”
When we tune into the negative emotions by naming them, they relax because they feel heard, like when a child has hurt their knee or a loved one has real concern and you gives them undivided attention. Once the emotions are named, they are tamed. Then, you are more likely to respond to the negative person with grace and speak from the best part of yourself.
Dr. Dan Siegel, who coined the phrase “Name it to tame it,” explains the brain science behind the technique in the video below. He does a great job of explaining how it allows us to transfer our thoughts from the downstairs brain (the lizard brain) to the upstairs brain (the thinking brain), so we can calm down and respond appropriately to the situation.
When curling became an official Olympic sport in 1998, it was met with a fair amount of curiosity and confusion, at least among people outside Canada, Scotland, and the Scandinavian countries where it has long been a winter sport tradition. Without an explanation of what’s happening, curling can look downright bizarre: large stones sliding across the ice toward a target, while people vigorously sweep the ice in front of them as the person who threw the stone yells unintelligibly.
It’s not obvious what skills are required for curling just by watching, which initially led people to poke fun at the event. More recent Olympic Games, however, have seen interest in curling grow as people find the sport strangely riveting. Now, curling has reached even greater heights of popularity, as evidenced by satirical curling-at-home videos popping up on social media.
Many of them use a combo of a Roomba and a Swiffer, which works perfectly:
No one knows the exact origins of curling, but there is evidence of the sport (or something like it) being played by monks on frozen lakes and ponds in Scotland in the 16th century. Farmers would join in curling games during the winter months, and as the sport evolved through the 1800s, it became more organized. Rules were formalized, and people began traveling to watch and participate in competitions held outdoors in large Scottish cities. The Scots eventually took the sport with them to other countries, and by the 1900s, curling had transformed from a Scottish outdoor pastime into an international, mostly indoor sport.
How does curling work as a sport?
Curling is played by two teams of four, with each team aiming to get its eight stones closest to the center of a target called a “house.” Teams alternate “throwing” their stones, which really means gliding them along the ice. Sweepers brush the ice to help guide the stones, while the team captain, or “skip,” gives directions, often by yelling, to place the stones where they want them to go.
After all 16 stones are thrown, the team with a stone closest to the center of the house scores one point for each of its stones that landed inside the house. The other team does not score at all in that round, called an “end.” There are eight or 10 ends per game, depending on the event, and the team with the most points after all the ends have been played is the winner.
Here’s a visual explainer that goes through the basics:
Fun facts about curling
Tara Peterson of the USA Curling National Team shared some interesting facts about curling with Columbia Sportswear:
Modern curling stones are made of granite that comes from only two places: a quarry in Wales and an uninhabited island off the coast of Scotland called Ailsa Craig.
Curling is called curling because of the way the stone curves depending on how it’s spun, but exactly how that happens is still a bit of a scientific mystery. Curling stones actually move in the opposite direction of what the turn would normally dictate according to physics.
Despite the yelling, curling is considered a polite “gentleman’s” sport, with traditional etiquette rules observed before and after the game.
Though it may not be immediately obvious, you have to be in pretty good shape to curl. Throwing a 42-pound stone, even on ice, isn’t as easy as it looks, and the person throwing it must remain crouched close to the ground for long periods. Sweeping also requires arm strength and cardiovascular endurance.
Curling requiresu00a0more athleticism than it first appears. Photo credit: Canva
Curlers wear two different shoes, one designed for gripping the ice and the other for sliding. The slider sole is made of Teflon or stainless steel, while the grippy sole is made of rubber.
Curling is called the “roaring game,” which might sound odd, but the sound of the stones gliding over the ice is apparently much louder in person than it sounds on TV.
Every sport is more fun to watch when you actually know what you’re seeing, and curling is no exception. If you’re wondering who to watch, Canada has traditionally dominated the sport, though Sweden trails by only two medals in total Olympic curling medals. And if you’re curious how Scotland fares as the original home of the sport, its curlers compete under Great Britain’s flag.
On a January evening at a restaurant in Mexico, El Jefe patiently waited for his name to be called by the karaoke host. When it was, he gently walked to the stage in a pink baseball hat and black, thick-rimmed glasses. As he approached, the host gave him instructions on how to use the microphone. “You’ve got to hold it up here and just don’t yell in the mic,” he said, illustrating as El Jefe humbly listened.
He then proceeded to sing “Jesus, Etc.” almost better than its original singer, Jeff Tweedy of Wilco. There’s a reason for that: El Jefe, as it turns out, is Jeff Tweedy.
The song is track five on Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, which was released in 2002. According to the liner notes, it was written by Tweedy and Jay Bennett, a former member of the band who passed away in 2009. Pitchfork hailed the tune as “the 61st best song of the decade,” which is high praise, especially considering how much excellent indie-rock music was coming out at the time.
Stereogum’s Chris DeVille wrote about the album’s 20th anniversary, noting that Wilco streamed it at no charge. “A bold and uncommon move at that time, and one that probably made the album sound even more experimental for those with dial-up internet connections,” he wrote. DeVille added, “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is THE Wilco album — the one that cemented their stature as one of the all-time great American rock bands.”
There’s a kind of perfection to Tweedy singing his own song at karaoke, and not just because it conjures so many memories for Wilco fans. Watching Tweedy in a Clark Kent–like, plainclothed role, when most fans know he can become Superman at any given moment, is something extra special.
“You guys are the coolest famous non-famous people ever,” one person wrote. “How surreal. To write a song, make a record with that song (and many more) on it, and become well known in certain circles for that song and all the other songs, have that song turned into a karaoke selection because it has become that level of popularity, then sing that song like you’re an everyday schmuck just doing karaoke one night on vacation, it’s just…”
Another person described the scene and how lovely it all was: “My heart needed this. The children playing, palm trees swaying in the neon lights, that super fun ‘Ladies’ sign, a few enthusiastic ‘woos’ and a happy, humble El Jefe. Good stuff!”
One fan loved that Tweedy seemed to go unnoticed by the karaoke host. “My favorite part is the host showing him how to use the microphone,” they wrote. Another person replied, “And the ‘Jeffiest’ reaction of playing it totally cool, no ego, totally kind, respecting the KJ’s ‘authority.’ The least ‘Do you have any idea who I am?’ energy possible.”
One comment summed up the many layers of coolness on display: “This is beautiful on so many levels. I always thought you ‘made it’ when your song ended up in a karaoke machine. Here it is, yet (maybe) no one knows him or the song — and that’s perfectly fine with him. For that, I’m so happy for him. What a gift of a moment that must have been: to be respected, successful and famous without the bad fame part. That’s the sweet spot. Just to put your hand in your pocket and sing your song for yourself and your family.”
Upworthy had the honor of chatting with Tweedy’s wife, Susan, who provided a little context for the evening. It all happened following this year’s Sky Blue Sky festival, an all-inclusive vacation in Mexico featuring a musical lineup that included Dinosaur Jr., The Jayhawks, and, of course, Wilco.
“So after Jeff’s festival, Sky Blue Sky, we stayed in the general area at a rental house for a few days to unwind,” she said. “That night we were at La Buena Vida, a restaurant that apparently does karaoke every Wednesday evening.”
Susan noted that she and their kids egged him on: “The kids and I told Jeff he should do it! He’s never done it before, but it was all families and little kids running around, and we all thought it would be fun and funny! Our son Sammy checked to see if there were any Wilco songs available to do, and there were! We signed him up, and I think he was the last one to make it on for the night.”
When asked whether Jeff was recognized, the answer was surprising.
“Nobody recognized him, although I did see a post a couple days later of someone who said they were there and that they were pretty sure it was him,” she said. “But nobody said a word, and people were still talking and running around and mostly ignoring the karaoke during his whole song, just like for everybody else! It was really fun for all of us!!”
Editor’s Note: This story discusses suicide. If you are having thoughts about taking your own life, or know of anyone who is in need of help, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a United States-based suicide prevention network of over 200+ crisis centers that provides 24/7 service via a toll-free hotline with the number 9-8-8. It is available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.
Mental illnesses like depression don’t discriminate. It can hit anyone, and not everyone survives their fight with the condition. Ben West, a man from the United Kingdom, has intimate familiarity with what happens when someone loses their battle with depression. He lost his younger brother, Sam, to suicide eight years ago.
In an effort to help with his own grieving process and connect with those who may feel alone, he created a website. The video launching the site Reasons to Staywent viral due to its touching story and noble mission. It’s a website that allows people from across the world to leave letters of encouragement to people who may be contemplating suicide. The hope is that someone needing a reason to stay one more day will find their reason in one of those letters.
Comfort in a hug: a shared moment of empathy and support. Photo credit: Canva
The website is simple: it displays the latest letter on the home page, offers sign ups for letters to go directly to your email in the form of a newsletter, and shares places to seek help. If someone wants to read a different letter, all they need to do is refresh the page.
“This letter was written by someone in the world that cares. It was delivered to you at random when you opened this page,” the Reasons to Stay website explains.
The creation of this website was strictly an act of compassion for fellow humans, but recently, West received an email revealing that his site saved a life. The website’s founder wept while sharing the news on his Instagram page, saying, “I got a message today, and I’m not going to share the message, but what I can share is that it worked. It worked for someone. We can be fairly confident that it really worked for someone.”
He admits that the person still has a difficult journey ahead, but celebrates that they get to continue on at all. “Like I said before, social media, it can be such a bad place, but how amazing that it can be used for something like this. Like, that person, maybe it wouldn’t reach them if it didn’t go viral, so thank you so much, everyone, for sharing and getting involved in this over the last couple of weeks. What a special thing. What an amazing thing. It worked.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control, “One person dies by suicide an average of every 11 minutes. Over 49,000 people lost their lives to suicide in 2022. Every year, millions of Americans think about, plan, or attempt suicide.”
In August 2025, JAMA Network released an article urging people to consider human connection as a form of suicide prevention. The authors of the article share that there’s power in human connection, writing, “At a time when individuals experiencing suicidality often feel unseen, unheard, and burdensome, structured follow-up sends a clear message: you matter. You are not forgotten.”
Reasons to Stay is putting human connection at the forefront in hopes of saving lives. People are moved by his selfless gesture, with some sharing their own stories of survival. One person shares, “From someone who tried to, this is essential. Wish I had that back then. Will definitely use your site if those thoughts ever come back to me. I’m so proud of you, and so is Sam. We’re safer now.”
Woman seated against brick wall, covering ears with hands. Photo credit: Canva
Another writes, “My dad took his own life. I wish he could’ve had a website like this to go to. I am sobbing happy tears to know that someone’s life was saved, and I’m also so incredibly sorry for your loss. I understand the ache— but you made something beautiful for your brother.”
“You may or may not be familiar with David Kessler’s “The sixth stage of grief,” but in that book he suggests that the 6th stage is: finding meaning. You’ve created meaning by saving others. Sam’s spirit and legacy lives on through you and his life and death now means, not just something to you, but something to many others around the world. What an absolutely beautiful and healing way to honour Sam, and what a gift this is to the world. Thank you Sam. Thank you Ben. So special. So powerful,” someone else kindly shares.
A nurse explains why a father-to-be sitting and drinking water during birth doesn't make him a bad dad. – Photo credit: @_jen_hamilton_ on Instagram/Canva
Many couples post videos of their child’s birth at the hospital, but one particular video was overly scrutinized online.
In the social media post, the father-to-be is seated and drinking from a cup offered to him while his partner is actively pushing. The post drew thousands of likes on comments such as “This is a red flag” and “He legit looks like he couldn’t care less.” Amid all of this, a nurse came to the man’s defense.
Nurse Jen Hamilton explained why that moment was actually a green flag.
“This is a nurse handing a man a cup of water while his lady is pushing,” said Hamilton. “Do you think we as nurses hand out refreshments while our patients are pushing as customer service?”
Hamilton further explained that the man was likely showing signs of becoming lightheaded and close to fainting after witnessing the birth and feeling growing concern for his partner. She added that nurses were probably telling him to “sit their booty cheeks down on that hard couch and drink something.” If the man were to faint, she explained, nurses and doctors would have to address both his medical needs and those of the mother-to-be.
“So not a red flag. Actually, probably, very much a green flag because he was probably so worried about his lady that he almost fainted,” Hamilton concluded. “Leave him alone!”
Commenters on Hamilton’s video acknowledged her point, with some sharing their own near-fainting delivery room stories:
“My (firefighter/paramedic) husband who has delivered more than one baby in the field did exactly this after my first round of pushing with our son…He was on the floor with his feet up on a chair while another angel on earth gave him apple juice and a cold washcloth.”
“Poor guy. My husband is a fainter so we prepared for this but miraculously he watched BOTH births and zero fainting! I think the excitement kept him focused.”
“They go through so much emotional and mental stress watching us in pain and being helpless to help. It’s hard on them and I don’t blame them when their brains try to help them out by shutting down.”
“My husband told me while I was pregnant with our first about how he passes out around blood. The OB was like, ‘We will seat him by your head. We don’t want to send him to the ER for a head injury, too.’”
So what is proper delivery room etiquette for a father-to-be?
So what’s the role of a partner in the delivery room when their loved one is giving birth? How can they help, or should they simply stay out of the way? Nurse Juliana Parker spoke with Upworthy to offer some thoughts and guidance.
“Part of our job in labor and delivery is caring for the whole family, not just the mother, and that includes helping partners stay safe and upright,” said Parker. “I routinely tell fathers-to-be, ‘If you feel dizzy or lightheaded, please tell me right away.’”
“The best advice I can give is don’t try to be stoic or push through warning signs,” Parker added. “If you’re not feeling well, say something immediately and get down—on the floor, a couch, a chair, anywhere—so you don’t faint, fall, and hit your head. Partners passing out is more common than people think, and it’s preventable when people speak up early.”
Parker said that partners who want to help during delivery should ask nurses what they need and listen to their guidance. Most of the time, it’s best to focus on supporting your birthing partner’s comfort, encouragement, and other needs. However, you should also check in with a nurse to know when to step in and when to step back, especially if they need to assess the birth or set up equipment. In short, follow the nurses’ instructions, don’t get in their way, and if you start to feel faint or emotionally overwhelmed, let them know.
“Letting the nurse know you’re feeling faint is not ‘being dramatic,’ it’s being responsible,” concluded Parker.
