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Joy

An artist quietly sketched an elderly woman selling cakes, and her reaction was so pure

A beautiful testament to the power of being seen.

Samalia Swan/Instagram (used with permission)

A street artist captured a woman's delight at having her picture drawn.

On a planet with nearly 8 billion humans living on it, the uniqueness of every single person feels like a bit of a miracle. And yet here we are, each with a distinct personality and life story made up of our own experiences, perspectives, relationships and purpose.

We encounter countless other people during our lifetimes, some of whom we build bonds with and some of whom are just split-second flashes in our line of vision. And then there are occasional precious moments of connection with a perfect stranger, the mysterious magic that happens when two people share a brief interaction that makes a mark in our memories forever.

This is one of those moments.

Artist Samalia Swan was strolling the Saturday night market on Thailand's Koh Phangan island when she saw a sweet, elderly woman selling banana cakes. She sat down across the way and surreptitiously sketched a picture of her.

After approaching the stand and buying one of her banana cakes, Swan gave the woman the picture she drew. Her reaction is sheer surprise and delight—a true testament to the power of being seen.

Watch:

There's something about watching a face that has lived a long life light up, isn't there? The video has been viewed over 18 million times on Instagram, with nearly 2 million likes and over 15,000 comments. People loved seeing the joy in her face and the way she kissed both the money and the drawing with such tenderness.

"How do I buy all the banana cakes?" asked one person.

"Warning should have been 'onions cutting in progress,'" wrote another.

"I don’t think some people understand how powerful it is to make others feel seen," shared another. "You definitely made her day and she’s going to remember that for a long time."

Someone else wrote, "I love kind humans doing kind human things. It makes my eyes tear up and my heart feel like bursting."

"This is so precious," offered another. "Her smile and loving old eyes. She was so surprised. Elders need a purpose and these banana cakes are her purpose.❤️"

People asked if there was a way to raise funds for the woman so she didn't have to work, but others pointed out that she might actually enjoy selling her cakes at the market once a week. Others said it looks like she could have issues with her eyes that could be solved with a simple surgery. Swan shared that she's going to visit again with the woman and find out more about what needs, if any, she has.

"My mission is to spread LOVE & KINDNESS to this beautiful world we live in," Swan wrote on Instagram, and she does that by using her art to show people their own beauty.

"It all began four years ago when I picked up a pen and sketched a stranger in a café," she shared. "The act of giving away that drawing brought me immense joy – a joy of unconditional giving. Since then, drawing strangers has become my cherished hobby, and I do so with the sole intention of giving.✨"

Even if nothing more comes of her interaction with woman selling banana cakes, this beautiful example of human connection is one that Swan, the woman and the millions who witnessed it will remember and cherish.

You can follow Samalia Swan on Instagram.

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Joy

10 things that made us smile this week

Upworthy's weekly roundup of joy

Upworthy/Instagram, @queenmotivat/TikTok

This week's list includes love stories, cute kids, adorable animals and more.

It's that time again, friends! Every week, we collect 10 smile-worthy finds from around the internet, wrap them up in a nice bow and share them with our readers.

This week's list includes some adorable kiddos, some inspiring long-term love stories, some hilarious animals, a wildly talented harmonica-playing beatboxer and more. We hope this list brings you as much joy as it brought us putting it together.

Enjoy—and don't forget to share the love!

1. Kids are adorably wowed by a woman's sidewalk chalk art.

"There is no such chalk!" Ah, the pure wonder of children.

2. This little girl standing up for herself and her hairstyle is everything

That's right, little one. You do you and don't pay Owen's opinion any mind.

3. The way this doting husband styles his wife of 25 years is total #couplegoals

Can we clone this man? Gracious. See the fuschia dress on "Flower" and read the full story here.

4. Harmonica beatboxing is something we never knew we needed to see

It just gets better and better. Like, how?

5. Woman pretends to faint and her camel's reaction is the sweetest

Great, now I need a camel.

6. A-ha's stripped down version of 'Take On Me" is a lovely trip down memory lane

When a song makes you smile and tear up at the same time, you just lean into it. Read the full story here.

7. Gorilla siblings being classic siblings is completely hilarious

Everyone with a sibling recognizes this interaction. All that's missing is, "Mo-oommm! He's bothering meeee!"

8. Couple married for nearly 62 years saying goodbye for the weekend is total sweetness

"It's terrible, Troy." Awww.

9. We weren't ready for how this brother and sister talked about their love for one another

Sometimes siblings pick at one another, and sometimes they share a bond like no other.

10. Kid's alien abduction costume inspires an Oscar-worthy performance

Seriously impressive acting skills, kiddo! Read the full story here.

If you enjoyed this post and want to receive more like it in your inbox, sign up for Upworthy's free email newsletter, The Upworthiest, here.

Until next week—keep on smiling!

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Joy

10 things that made us smile this week

From a smooch-loving doggo to a match made on Duolingo to an adorable daddy-daughter duet, this week's list of things that made us smile is bringing the joy.

Buitengebieden/Twitter, Duolingo/Instagram, @lif3ofloco/Instagram (via Upworthy)

Upworthy's weekly roundup of joy

I recently sat down with Rainn Wilson to talk about his book, "Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution," for the Upworthy Book Club, and one of the things we talked about was cynicism. We live in a world where it's so easy to be cynical, to toss up our hands and say, "People suck, so why bother?"

However, when we become cynical, we allow the negative forces in the world win. So what do we do instead?

Wilson posits that the opposite of cynicism isn't optimism, but joy. Optimism too easily becomes "toxic positivity," which is insensitive to the real difficulties people face. But as Wilson writes, joy "doesn't disregard the hard stuff. Joy knows that negativity is a part of life as well. Joy says that life is hard but there is a place you can go, a tool you can use. Joy is a force. A choice. Something that can be harnessed. A decision to be made."

There are lots of ways to foster joy in our lives, from being of service to others to spending time with loved ones to appreciating nature to finding wholesome reasons to smile and laugh.

Joy is powerful, and however small a measure of it this week's roundup provides, I hope it helps you battle away cynicism and offers some hope and peace to your soul.

1. Doggo makes it crystal clear that she wants allll the kisses.

Her communication couldn't be clearer even if she could talk.

2. You never know what a random act of kindness means to the person on the receiving end

"If it's on your heart to do something nice for someone, just do it." Words to live by.

3. Older skater holds younger skater's hand to help with a trick and his reaction when he lands it is priceless.

Skateboarding has really created such an awesome, supportive community. Read the full story here.

4. Two strangers met on Duolingo when he kept congratulating her on her progress. Now they're married.

What an adorable real-life meet cute!

5. Couple raises over $37,000 for a kid who came by their house looking for someone to befriend

It takes a lot of courage to ask for help and to put yourself out there, especially when you've been bullied. This kiddo may not have found any kids his age at the Ray home, but he did find some kind neighbors who wanted to help him out and raised over $37,000 for him and his family in a GoFundMe. Read the full story here.

6. Dad and baby singing their ABCs together doesn't really get any cuter

That little finger. So precious.

7. Cat insists on human doing its makeup…kind of

Let's get this cat together with the chihuahua in the first video and see what happens.

8. Accidental speech-to-text is the absolute best, but especially when you're talking to a dog

"Got to poop, little poopster?"

9. A raucous piano solo turned into a rockin' dance party at the mall

Staged? Eh, perhaps. Fun and joyful to witness? Most definitely.

10. If you're baking in the July heat, take some cool inspiration from this happy polar bear

Are you feeling the joy? Would you like more of it? Get these smiley-worthy posts delivered to your inbox each week by signing up for our free email newsletter, The Upworthiest, here.

uplifting

Joy

10 things that made us smile this week

Some smileworthy finds to make your day a bit brighter.

Buitengebieden/Twitter, @daddyfiles/TikTok, @grazeemoladele/TikTok (via Upworthy Instagram)

Upworthy's weekly roundup of joy

Wait, is April seriously here already? How the heck did that happen? It feels like just yesterday that 2023 began, yet here we are already a quarter of the way through it.

They say time flies when you're having fun, so maybe it's a good thing that the year seems to be going so fast!

This week's list is full of fun finds, such as a 9-year-old aspiring tailor, the sweetest sibling wake-up ever, an incredible 3D artist, an adorable, thumb-sucking baby monkey and more.

Take a stroll through these delights and share them with others in your life who could use a boost of joy.

1. The way these students surprised their teacher with a 152-page book of his own random quotes is hilariously heartwarming

"You know what makes writing slower? Talking." Can confirm. What a delightful gift that none of them will ever forget.

2. 9-year-old surprised his dad with a dress shirt he made himself and everything about it is fabulous

Read the full story here.

3. Behold the sweetest sibling wake-up video ever

"You're beautiful, Grace." Anyone else's heart just turn into a puddle?

4. A group of vacationing friends reveals which one of them is the 'airport dad'

We all have the 'airport dad' friend, thank goodness. Read the full story here.

5. The emotional intelligence of this little one is off the charts

6. Airbnb host woke up his guest in the middle of the night so she wouldn't miss the northern lights

Best host ever. Read the full story here.

7. Woman explains Ramadan to first graders with a simply sweet lesson

Three cheers for building greater cultural understanding.

8. Ricky the kitten spent 2 weeks at Gramma and Grampa's and the photobook is everything

Read more about Ricky and his human family here.

9. Dad and former art professor with aphasia has covered a former barn in incredible 3D artwork

Since he was diagnosed with aphasia, David Hollowell's speech has been limited, but his artistic skills certainly aren't. Absolutely incredible. Read the full story here.

10. Person shares dragon fruit with a baby monkey and generosity has never been so cute

The thumb-sucking at the beginning, though. Gracious, the preciousness.

Hope these brought some smiles to your face! If you'd like to have these posts delivered to your inbox each week, sign up for our free newsletter, The Upworthiest, here.

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Joy

10 things that made us smile this week

Upworthy's weekly roundup of joy.

@christian.pepper/TikTok, @isabellalalonde/TikTok, (via Upworthy/Instagram)

From giggling kiddos to the generosity of strangers, this week's roundup is full of joy.

What do you get when you combine a hilarious Boyz II Men remake, Paul Rudd singing about a beanie, a heartwarming obituary and a sling-shotting squirrel with perfect aim?

You get Upworthy's list of 10 things that made us smile this week. Naturally.

These roundups are always an eclectic mix of delightful finds, and this week's list is no exception. Joy can be found in so many places in so many ways, and it's fun to see what trips people's smile triggers.

If you're looking for something to lift your spirits, something in this list is sure to do the trick. Enjoy!

1. Daughter shows her deaf mom Rihanna's interpreter at the Super Bowl and it's so wholesome.

The way she starts to jam! Priceless. Read the full story here.

2. A baby started crying on a flight and three older women came to the rescue.

It really does take a village, even when your village is a temporary one 30,000 feet in the air. Here's to the kindness and helpfulness of strangers.

3. Boys II Men remade 'I'll Make Love To You' for long-time couples and it's hilariously spot on.

"I'll make love to you like you want me to. Unless you're too tired, because I'm tired too." Oh my gosh. Nailed it. Read the full story here.

4. Daughter's viral TikTok made her indie author dad a bestseller overnight.

The internet has its problems, but it also has a whole lot of beautiful moments. Check out dad's reaction to finding out the book he spent 14 years writing was selling out on Amazon and read the full story here.

5. Emmy-winner Bob Weide's obituary for his wife of 25 years is a heartwarming viral love story.

It may seem odd to put an obituary in a "things that made us smile" list, but this one deserves it. It's a wonderful tribute to his wife Linda, wrapped up with a perfect last line: "For those who never knew her, I'm sorry for your loss." Read the sweet love story here.

6. Dad captures his son's pure joy riding his bike and his giggle is infectious.

There's nothing better than the sound of a child experiencing genuine delight. So precious.

7. Squirrel slingshots a chipmunk off its pad with perfect aim.

(Pardon me while I watch this half a dozen more times.)

8. Paul Rudd and Jimmy Fallon's 'Teenie Weenie Beanie' song just gets funnier and funnier.

Give it 45 seconds to get to the best parts. I promise, "teenie weenie beanie on a tub of Vaseline-y" is worth it. Read the full story here.

9. Sound up to see why this dog's perfectly timed side-eye got 10 million views.

Yep, Noodle is most definitely judging you. Read more about Noodle's constant side-eyes here.

10. Let's take some lessons in stealth and precision from this brilliant ragdoll cat.

Talk about walking in someone's footsteps! Impressive. And the way it took one step into the snow and said, "Nope." Totally felt that.

Hope you found some reasons to smile here! If you'd like to have these posts delivered straight to your inbox each week, subscribe to our free email newsletter, The Upworthiest, here.

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Joy

10 things that made us smile this week

An update on the 'corn kid,' a powerful airport haka, some moving mama-baby reunions and more in this week's roundup of joy.

Image by Robert Vincent from Pixabay

Upworthy's weekly roundup of joy.

Thanksgiving week in the U.S. is a time for practicing gratitude, and we want to take just a moment to give thanks to you.

You, dear readers, are a big part of Upworthy's mission to celebrate the best of humanity and to show how people can be a force for good. Every time you share our stories, drop a positive comment on a post or tell a friend about something you saw here, you help create the world we all want to live in. A world where kindness and compassion are the norm, where humanity flourishes in all its beautiful diversity and where genuine joy and laughter abound.

Without you, we'd just be throwing all this good stuff into the ether, so we are so very grateful you are here.

However you're celebrating and whoever you're gathering with this week, we hope you're being stuffed full of joy. And if you need an extra serving or two, here's our weekly collection of happy finds to fill you up.

1. The absolute best—and cutest—example of thoughtfulness and caring.

I assume they are brother and sister, although a lot of siblings would have fought to the pain over that dumpling. Such selflessness and love on display here.

2. People are feeling emotional over this teen haka send-off at the airport.

The Māori haka is always powerful, but seeing these young people carrying their culture forward is really something. As one commenter wrote, "I love how they transform from modern teens to timeless warriors, in spirit with their ancestors. So incredibly moving and significant." Read the full story here.

3. Tariq the 'corn kid' is still the most delightful interviewee ever.

Is it even possible for Tariq to answer a question without being unintentionally fabulous? Tariq has been making the most of his unexpected virality and has even partnered with Green Giant. Get it, kiddo. Read the full story here.

4. Mahale the mama chimp reuniting with her newborn baby moved people to tears.

Baby Kucheza had to get oxygen for a couple of days after his C-section birth, so Mahale wasn't able to be with him. That moment he put his hand up and she scooped him right up—gracious. Every mama felt that.

5. Speaking of mamas and babies, watch these tiger cubs nuzzle up to their mom.

Cutest cuddle puddle ever.

6. This mama greeting her baby who just had her own baby … oof.

It's the way she went straight to her own daughter first to see how she was doing before meeting the grandbaby. Mamas gonna mama. Such a sweet moment.

7. Pink nailed 'Hopelessly Devoted to You' in Olivia Newton-John tribute.

Pink can pretty much sing anything, but I don't think I've ever truly appreciated Olivia Newton-John's effortless range on this song. Dang. Beautiful job from Pink here. Read the full story here.

8. Speaking of hopelessly devoted, the way this doggo gazes at its human is everything.

If "Find someone who looks at you like…" were a dog video.

9. The giggle on this little guy as he's being mildly water tortured is too cute.

How can he be that good-natured first thing in the morning? And while having water rubbed all over his face? That laugh is too precious.

10. The way this toddler runs to daddy every time he comes home is pure love.

That dad must so look forward to opening that door every single day. Dang these onions!

Thank you for being here, everyone. If you'd like to receive these roundups in your inbox each week, sign up for our Upworthiest email newsletter here.

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Joy

10 things that made us smile this week

From tickling elephants to a delightful proposal to the pure love of kids watching their parents dance, here are 10 tidbits of joy to share.

Photo by Aleksandr Balandin

Upworthy's weekly roundup of joy.

Do you ever look around and marvel at the things humans can do?

Like, yes, there are a lot of terrible and tragic things out there, and we could easily spend all of our days focusing on them. But today I was looking at my living room rug and thinking about the fact that some fellow human being designed its floral pattern and coordinated the colors in a way that brings me joy. And some other human or humans, way back when, figured out how to turn sheep's wool into fibers in order for this rug to be possible in the first place. Some other humans created machines to manufacture, wrap up and ship it. Some humans invented the vehicle that transported it to my house, and a friendly human from UPS smiled at me as he delivered it to my front doorstep.

And that's just a rug. If we look around, we see signs of human ingenuity and creativity everywhere. It's incredible what our species has figured and how we've consistently coordinated with one another to make seemingly impossible things a reality. (I mean, this computer I'm typing on? Incomprehensibly incredible.)

I like to remember such things when headlines or social media toxicity starts to seep into my psyche. We have our flaws to work out, for sure, but people are truly amazing beings with mindblowing abilities, not just for invention but for compassion, connection and delight. Yay us.

So join me in celebrating humanity with these 10 joyful reminders of our awesomeness—with a couple of adorable animal videos thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!

1. Baby elephant won't stop tickling a local Kenyan reporter as he tries to tell a serious story about wildlife conservation.

Gotta hand it to him for lasting as long as he did before breaking. And honestly, this delightful moment probably did more than any somber warning could do to get people to care about how human actions were affecting wildlife. Read the full story here.

2. Parents ask their kids to record them dancing, but capture the kids' reactions instead.

The pure love and joy in that face! What a cutie. This is one TikTok trend worth watching, and we've got a whole collection of these adorable videos here.

3. Two cockatoos play peekaboo, giggle and … smooch?

How delightful is that? Cockatoos are freakishly smart, so it's not so surprising that they would find fun in the same kinds of games we play with human babies.

4. The way the 4-year-old imagination can make up whole entire lives.

Scroll through these stories. Absolutely hilarious. The imagination of the average preschooler and their willingness to follow wherever it takes them are unmatched.

5. This pizza maker's skill with his dough is the stuff of legend.

Give him about 30 seconds to warm up, and then holy cannoli. That's a guy who takes pride in his work. So impressive.

6. Bruce Springsteen shared an incredible story about being invited to a fan's house and surprising his mom.

Can you even imagine? You're just out at the movies and you run into a mega rock star? And then you invite him to sit with you and he says yes? And then you invite him to your house, and he says yes?!? There are so many fun details to this story. Read the full story here.

7. The unbridled joy of a left-handed person finally getting a pair of left-handed scissors.

Who knew cutting things could be so fun? Scroll through. It's the simple things we take for granted sometimes.

8. The actor who played Biff in 'Back to the Future' wrote a hilarious song about all the questions people ask him.

Tom Wilson has been doing standup comedy and music for the past several decades and this song is one of the staples in his show. He also has a card he created that he can hand out to people answering all of the usual questions he gets asked. Check out the full story here.

9.Coach proposes on the sideline and the football team's reaction is everything.

Clearly, this is a coach with a strong connection to the kids on his team. What a fantastic celebration.

10. Let's strive to live life with the perseverance of this playful kitten.

Hope that brought a few smiles to your face! Come back next week for another collection of smileworthy finds. And if you want to get this post in your inbox each week, sign up for Upworthy's free newsletter, The Upworthiest, here.

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