More
Two Years Ago Gabby Giffords Was Shot In The Head. Now She's Got Something Important To Say.
See a heart-wrenching speech from a woman who almost died at the hands of gun violence. This is troubling to watch.
02.15.13
Sponsored
ACUVUE launches a new campaign to inspire Gen Z to put down their phones and follow their vision
What will you create on your social media break? Share it at #MyVisionMySight.
05.04.23
True
If you’ve always lived in a world with social media, it can be tough to truly understand how it affects your life. One of the best ways to grasp its impact is to take a break to see what life is like without being tethered to your phone and distracted by a constant stream of notifications.
Knowing when to disconnect is becoming increasingly important as younger people are becoming aware of the adverse effects screen time can have on their eyes. According to Eyesafe Nielsen, adults are now spending 13-plus hours a day on their digital devices, a 35% increase from 2019.1. Many of us now spend more time staring at screens on a given day than we do sleeping which can impact our eye health.
Normally, you blink around 15 times per minute, however, focusing your eyes on computer screens or other digital displays have been shown to reduce your blink rate by up to 60%.2 Reduced blinking can destabilize your eyes’ tear film, causing dry, tired eyes and blurred vision.3
ACUVUEhas been encouraging people to take time off social media and use their newfound time to see their vision, whether that's becoming a makeup influencer, focusing on athletics or embracing their unique talents.
Upworthy caught up with influencer, YouTube star and contact lens wearer Amber Alexander to talk about how she balances her social media use. Recently, she took a social media break while visiting her sister.
“I was able to slow down time and take in each moment,” she told Upworthy. “Being on social media 24/7 always puts me in a very overwhelmed and anxious state of mind, so it was so refreshing to put my phone down and see life from a clearer perspective. Every moment felt more meaningful.”
“As soon as I put my phone away, I was able to really connect with my family and cherish our time together. I saw how my peace of mind improved when I took a break from social media,” she continued.
Alexander understands how social media can have a huge effect on her self-esteem and productivity.
“Scrolling through social media often leads people to compare their own lives, achievements, and physical appearance to people they see online,” she told Upworthy. “It is unrealistic and discouraging to see so many attractive, successful people online 24/7. Also, being on social media takes up so much time from our day that could be used socializing with real people, going outside, and working towards meaningful goals.”
ACUVUE is challenging young people to take social media breaks to pursue their purposes, visions, missions, and dreams through its Where Vision Meets Sight campaign. But the campaign from ACUVUE is about a lot more than just personal development. They’d like you to inspire others by sharing what you’ve done during your social media break by using #MyVisionMySight.
Get inspired and learn more on ACUVUE’s Where Vision Meets Sight page.
1COVID-19: Screen Time spikes to over 13 hours per day according to Eyesafe Nielsen estimates, published 3/28/20, https://eyesafe.com/covid-19-screen-time-spike-to-....
2Tsubota K, Nakamori K. Dry eyes and video display terminals. N Engl J Med. 1993;328(8):584. doi: 10.1056/NEJM199302253280817.
3Patel S, Henderson R, Bradley L, et al. Effect of visual display unit use on blink rate and tear stability. Optom Vis Sci 1991;68(11):888-892. doi: 10.1097/00006324-199111000-00010.
Keep ReadingShow less
Joy
18-year-old took her college savings and bought the restaurant where she was a dishwasher
Samantha Frye, the newest owner of Rosalie's restaurant, is proving there's more than one way to invest in your future.
05.22.23
Canva
There are many way to invest in your future
Eighteen year old Samantha Frye has traded college life for entrepreneurship, and she has no regrets.
Frye began working at Rosalie's Restaurant in Strasburg, Ohio at 16 as a dishwasher, working up the ranks as a kitchen prep, server, then line cook. All while working a second job, sometimes third job.
After graduating high school, Frye started college at Ohio State with plans of studying business or environmental engineering. But when she came back to work a shift at Rosalie’s for winter break, an opportunity arose—the owners had planned to sell the restaurant."I was thinking that maybe [buying] was something I wanted to do," she told News 5 Cleveland. "I had savings because I was saving for college, so I had quite a bit of money saved away. And I was like, I could possibly do this."
Frye acted on that gut feeling, and used her college funds to buy Rosalie’s. Now she spends every day at her new business, either in the kitchen, on the floor or in the office meeting with sales reps.
This Ohio diner is under new ownership: an 18-year-old who started out as a dishwasher and is carrying on a legacy of the past. https://t.co/7VShD0O6n0
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) May 13, 2023
Though Fyre's mother, Brandi Beitzel, confessed to USA Today that she wasn’t initially “on board” with her daughter abandoning college plans, over time she became very “proud” of her for forging her own path, and applauded her “drive and ambition.”
That sentiment is echoed both by Rosalie’s regulars and staff, who are amazing at the young woman’s drive and confidence.
“I just really think she's a great example of a young lady that is following her dreams and doing what she loves,” said Leanna Gardner, an employee.
It’s no secret that there are significantly less students attending college—down by about a million since the start of the pandemic. And while there are no doubt potential long term collective consequences to that, with exorbitantly high student loan rates, it’s easy to see why young adults would avoid massive debt for careers that don’t require a college degree.
Luckily, there are more efforts to make college an affordable option being made nationwide, like offering a free two years worth of college to graduating students.
And as Frye is proving by example—not going to college is certainly not a death sentence for one’s future. There are many ways to plant seeds for success. Honestly, college or no college, no matter which path is taken, there will likely be more uncertainty than there are guarantees. Perhaps the best bet then is trust those pings of intuition.
"You don't need college to make a decent living, and I think that's what a lot of people think nowadays," Frye attests. "Follow your instinct, honestly. If it feels right, just do it."
Keep ReadingShow less
Pop Culture
'What would you tell your 13-year-old self?' People's answers were surprisingly interesting.
"You are loved."
05.25.23
Things you would tell your 13-year-old self
There are so many times we look back on our lives and think about things we would change or do slightly differently. But many people say they wouldn't change anything because it would change who or where they are in their life now. The mystery around changing something that happened in the past is so woven into our psyches that there are entire sci-fi genres around time travel and what would happen if you altered the past.
While science fiction movies like "The Butterfly Effect" warn us against tampering with events of the past no matter how small, it doesn't stop people from wondering. A user on Reddit decided to pose a question asking what three words you'd tell your 13-year-old self, and some of the answers were surprisingly heartbreaking. (At 13, you'd think most people would want to tell themselves something silly, like the user who wrote, "Pull my finger.")
Leaving a message to yourself in three words is a tricky feat, and while some warned themselves about trying certain drugs or dating a certain person, others were deeper.
"I'm happy now," one user wrote, elaborating that when they were 13, they had been suffering from depression and many other mental illnesses which led to self-hate. "If my 13-year-old self knew that it is possible for me to be happy and to enjoy my life, I could have avoided that dark period of my life. For everyone who is now fighting their mental problems: Don't give up, it can get better!"
Another wrote, "Live life unapologetically," explaining, "I used to contemplate about ending my life a lot around that age. All I ever wanted then were friends and love. So far, I've gotten one of those two things." Things are looking up for this commenter, and later in her comment she said she's proud of herself for moving forward in life.
Mental health was a continuous theme in the comments along with people who experienced the loss of a parent, but not everything was heart-wrenching.
Several people would tell their 13-year-old self, who likely wouldn't listen, to buy Bitcoin or stocks in Apple. (Imagine going to your young teenage self and expecting them to listen to the adult version of themselves without them questioning how you got there in the first place. It would be impossible to get to the stock advice. You'd also have to explain what stocks and Bitcoin were in order for them to take you seriously. I'm exhausted just thinking about the scenario.)
But outside of confirmations of an improved future and insider trading tips, a surprising number of people shared that they would tell their younger self to take dental hygiene seriously.
"Brush your teeth. Biggest regret is not taking better care of my teeth when I was a kid," one person wrote.
Sound advice that most teenagers could use, honestly. If only when taking those dreaded health classes they informed teens how dental health affects the health of your entire body. A lesson in how expensive dental procedures are would also be beneficial, if we're being completely honest.
I'd tell my younger self, "Just keep writing." What would you tell your 13-year-old self if given the chance?
Keep ReadingShow less
Joy
13-year-old uses a slingshot to rescue his little sister from being abducted
He had two projectiles and both hit the suspect, forcing him to drop the little girl.
05.24.23
Owen Burns, 13, rescued his sister from a would-be abductor using a slingshot.
A parent never wants to imagine what would happen if their child were confronted with someone meaning them harm. We do everything in our power to mitigate the risks of things like that happening, but scary situations still occur that can leave a family irreparably broken.
A Michigan family had an extremely close call when their 8-year-old daughter was nearly abducted while playing in their backyard. The little girl was outside picking mushrooms when a 17-year-old boy picked her up with his hand over her mouth. Owen Burns, 13, was inside playing video games when he heard his sister scream. A lot of kids in his situation may not have known what to do, but Owen quickly jumped into action.
The teen saw what was happening out the window and picked up his slingshot and a marble before taking aim at the boy who had his sister.
Amazingly, Owen was able to strike the boy in the head with a marble on his first try. This prompted the would-be abductor to release the girl, who was then able to run away while her brother reloaded his slingshot with a rock, hitting the older teen in the midsection this time. What's most shocking of all is Owen hasn't had any practice with aiming his slingshot, yet both of the projectiles he used hit the suspect.
"I kinda thought he was lying, but when the police finally confirmed it and said that he did hit him twice and he did make both shots, I was quite impressed," his mother, Margaret Burns told NBC News.
Watch the entire interview below to hear Owen's advice to parents:
Keep ReadingShow less
Get stories worth sharing delivered to your inbox
By signing up you agree to Upworthy's privacy policy.
Pop Culture
Legendary Tina Turner has died at 83. Here are some of the Rock n' Roll Queen's most badass moments
She was simply the best.
05.24.23
She is simply the best.
The explosive, soulful, magnetic Tina Turner has died at 83. Though the cause of her death was not disclosed, a statement on her Instagram announced that the prolific singer and legendary live performer has passed away at her home in Küsnacht, Switzerland, near Zurich.
News of the devastating loss has prompted an outpouring of tributes on social media, including celebrities sharing how much Turner’s work has influenced them.
Angela Bassett, who portrayed the music icon in the 1993 biopic “What's Love Got to Do with It,” said in a statement that she was "honored to have known Tina Turner."
"Through her courage in telling her story, her commitment to stay the course in her life, no matter the sacrifice, and her determination to carve out a space in rock and roll for herself and for others who look like her," Bassett wrote on Instagram, "Tina Turner showed others who lived in fear what a beautiful future filled with love, compassion, and freedom should look like."
Other music industry greats like Diane Warren, Mick Jagger, Rick Astley and Alicia Keys paid their respects.
A Survivor and a Badass. Every note she sang shook the room and shook your soul. There will never be another like her. Shake the roof off of Heaven Tina Turner🎤🔥💔
— Diane Warren (@Diane_Warren) May 24, 2023
A Survivor and a Badass. Every note she sang shook the room and shook your soul. There will never be another like her. Shake the roof off of Heaven Tina Turner🎤🔥💔
— Diane Warren (@Diane_Warren) May 24, 2023
I’m so saddened by the passing of my wonderful friend Tina Turner.
— Mick Jagger (@MickJagger) May 24, 2023
She was truly an enormously talented performer and singer. She was inspiring, warm, funny and generous. She helped me so much when I was young and I will never forget her. pic.twitter.com/TkG5VrdxXO
The beloved superstar leaves behind a multi-faceted career lasting half a century, and her ability to add her own unique flavor to any medium—be it music, movies, or fashion—has inspired countless hearts.
Here are seven unforgettable, truly badass moments from Turner’s life, showing just how powerful of a legacy she has crafted:
1. Stepping in to sing (make that slay) "A Fool in Love" when the original singer didn't show up
Ike Turner wrote 1960’s "A Fool in Love" for Art Lassiter. When Lassiter didn’t show up to the studio session, a back-up vocals singer named Anna Mae Bullock was ready to step in. This would be her first time recording as “Tina Turner,” and the song would become her first hit single. Yep, Tina Turner has been a badass since Day One.
2. Becoming a household name with "Proud Mary"
Turner’s version of the Creedence Clearwater Revival song came out only two years later but was instantly iconic. It dominated the chart in 1971 and won Turner her first Grammy. Not to mention it gave us one of the most enduring dance spectacles ever.
3. Winning critical acclaim for her role in “Tommy,” proving she can sing and act
Turner’s acting debut playing the fierce, psychedelic siren-like Acid Queen in the 1975 film version of the rock opera "Tommy" was so well-received that she would end up creating an album based on her scene-stealing character.
4. Having legs so famous she had to get them insured
You simply cannot picture Tina Turner without imagining her sashaying the stage in a mini skirt while showing off a pair of shapely gams. Turner has joked that her legs very well might be “more famous” than her singing voice and had famously gotten them insured for $3.2 million.
However, Turner’s fashion choice actually spawned out of practicality, as it was simply easier to dance with fewer clothing restrictions. Eventually, that took on a life of its own and became her signature style. She noted to The Sun, "When I was younger I never felt confident about any part of my body, but with all the attention my legs received, I realized they must be OK!"
5. Turning down a role in 'The Color Purple' to have way more fun as Aunty Entity in the super campy 'Max Max Beyond Thunderdome'
In her HBO documentary, Turner shared that she denied “The Color Purple” because it was too close to her personal life, and “it was too soon to be reminded of” it. So instead, she played opposite Mel Gibson in 1985's postapocalyptic "Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome." Similar to “Tommy,” the performance was highly acclaimed, earning her an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress and two more hit songs: "One of the Living" and "We Don't Need Another Hero (Thunderdome).”
6. Being able to rock out with a variety of mega celebrities—and yes, outshine them
Turner didn't put on a show. Turner was the show. Period.
7. Leaving an abusive relationship at the cost of her career, then making an epic, lasting comeback
Turner finally left her controlling, abusive relationship with husband and collaborator Ike Turner in 1976, after Ike allegedly beat her over her refusal of chocolate candy. With heated legal battles leaving her with nothing but her stage name, Turner’s career slowed to a standstill.
That is until she collaborated with Heaven 17 members Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware for their British Electric Foundation project. Her 1983 cover of Al Green's "Let's Stay Together," produced and backed by Heaven 17, charted high with European, UK, and U.S. audiences. That success would be followed by "Private Dancer," Turner’s most commercially successful album, which was certified platinum five times.
And of course, hits like "Two People," "Typical Male," and Grammy-winner "Back Where You Started,” as well as an induction into the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, would follow after that. Turner was basically the definition of unstoppable.
Farewell, Tina Turner. There will be many greats throughout history, but you are simply the best.
Keep ReadingShow less
Joy
People are sharing all the random things they 'haven't thought about since grade school'
05.24.23
via Twitter
Everyone's childhood is different. But there are common objects, sights, sounds, smells, and memories from elementary school that most Gen Xers and Millenials share.
Personally, when i think back to being in elementary school in the '80s, I remember the taste of the chocolate ship cookie we got on Fridays (with the pizza). The humiliation of getting nailed in the back during nation ball. And the grumbling, grinding sound that happened when you slipped a disk into the drive on an Apple IIe computer.
Nowadays, in a world where most kids would have no idea how to even turn on an Apple IIe or have never felt the sting of a rubber nation ball hitting them square between the shoulders, I get a bittersweet feeling when I think back to my elementary school days.
Mel Madara stirred the nostalgia pot on Twitter this week when she posted a series of photos of things she remembers from elementary school that anyone from 50 to 25 probably recollect, too.
She started up with a series of objects and experiences you may have forgotten that were a daily part of elementary school life.
bringing back weird memories from elementary school: A THREAD pic.twitter.com/t3hJlWyl9V
— melina ¨̮ (@melmadara) March 3, 2020
resting your head on the cold window just hit different pic.twitter.com/OFhMIeokc5
— melina ¨̮ (@melmadara) March 3, 2020
when this would hit your ankles .. ow pic.twitter.com/TRc3vvGNcK
— melina ¨̮ (@melmadara) March 3, 2020
the original smart board pic.twitter.com/Bg166jAmmA
— melina ¨̮ (@melmadara) March 3, 2020
the flavor of the wooden spoon haunts me to this day pic.twitter.com/8ZRdMy9LE4
— melina ¨̮ (@melmadara) March 3, 2020
these!!! i can still smell them pic.twitter.com/exxYZclPX8
— melina ¨̮ (@melmadara) March 3, 2020
i didn't trust people who did this pic.twitter.com/HGmhDh6AiS
— melina ¨̮ (@melmadara) March 3, 2020
if you had these you were COOL pic.twitter.com/DctrpTXu8s
— melina ¨̮ (@melmadara) March 3, 2020
the static that came from these ... pic.twitter.com/92xsIZcKge
— melina ¨̮ (@melmadara) March 3, 2020
and let's not forget pic.twitter.com/x2nHozoFRP
— melina ¨̮ (@melmadara) March 3, 2020
scholastic. book. fair. pic.twitter.com/LPDgw8iuC1
— melina ¨̮ (@melmadara) March 4, 2020
She inspired countless followers to share the things they remember from elementary school in the '80s and '90s.
Heads-up 7-up!
Can you remember the anxiety as someone walked slowly though the room and you hoped and prayed they touched your thumb?
pic.twitter.com/ZWOzFkSpBW
— Danny Staley (@Elmo69er) March 3, 2020
That clock you can wind up from behind.
pic.twitter.com/qAsBv5BfR3
— Wings 2020! (@let346312) March 3, 2020
Do you remember dying on Oregon trail repeatedly?
Free time on the computer... pic.twitter.com/SdViGfFDnX
— El Negrito (@tedminust) March 3, 2020
Four square!
This game HIT at recess pic.twitter.com/BpqSIEi0p4
— Ariana Navarro (@_navariii_) March 3, 2020
Was that a state-mandated fitness exam or a test for scoliosis?
pic.twitter.com/7JyCe8HbN5
— JP™️ (@generalpatt) March 3, 2020
M.A.S.H.! Did you wind up in a mansion, apartment, shack or a house? What kind of job did you get? Who did you marry? What kind of car do you drive?
pic.twitter.com/fZuUY8bbCE
— bloob🍭 (@bloob3rry_) March 4, 2020
Before Michelle Obama it was acceptable to feed a kid a taquito filled with pizza.
Everyone's favorite day was pizza stick day pic.twitter.com/xFqHQWBUvO
— Jonathan lopez (@JLo_2424) March 4, 2020
Tether ball was fun until one of those rock hard balls hit you in the face.
We settled things out on the court pic.twitter.com/lfALRulfRn
— Ariana Navarro (@_navariii_) March 3, 2020
The stool that helped you grab that Judy Blume book just out of reach. It aw also a rgeat place to sit and read if the tables were filled up or you just wanted some privacy.
Library Stools pic.twitter.com/bAyMGwCNWm
— Wings 2020! (@let346312) March 3, 2020
Is the VCR bolted down? Check! TV strapped in? Check. It's time for a rainy day movie.
This with the lights off in the classroom on a rainy day was 👌🏼 pic.twitter.com/aBpqbDpTwJ
— ashleyyaa (@ashleyyaa) March 3, 2020
... or if you're older, you got "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" or some other Disney nature film on 16mm film in the school cafeteria.
You were lucky. For the older folks on here, you'll remember these. When they worked they were awesome; but if something jammed up, and the film in front of the bulb melted, school movie time was over. Well, unless you had a nerdy AV kid in your class.... pic.twitter.com/XI31FKgpz7
— Big Daddy 🅿️1️⃣ (@bryaninbigd) March 4, 2020
My skin is peeling off!
pic.twitter.com/olDf1s9uPt
— Jason Kizer (@jason_kizer) March 3, 2020
This brutal contraption isn't a Medieval torture device but a way to sarpen your pencil.
pic.twitter.com/BvOjLemYst
— Clare O'Grady, MPH (@ceogrady) March 3, 2020
Finally, if more of us listened to this guy, the country would be in a much better place.
I know y'all remember this mf pic.twitter.com/64xMS2nHYC
— Martin Alvarado (@martinhuerta97) March 3, 2020
Keep ReadingShow less
Health
Women are shocking their boyfriends by showing them how tampons actually work
The viral videos are a great way to educate men on a sensitive topic.
05.24.23
via TikTok
Menstrual taboos are as old as time and found across cultures. They've been used to separate women from men physically — menstrual huts are still a thing — and socially, by creating the perception that a natural bodily function is a sign of weakness.
Even in today's world women are deemed unfit for positions of power because some men actually believe they won't be able to handle stressful situations while mensurating.
"Menstruation is an opening for attack: a mark of shame, a sign of weakness, an argument to keep women out of positions of power,' Colin Schultz writes in Popular Science.
The big problem with menstrual taboos is the way that males are educated on the subject leaves them with a patchwork of ideas that don't necessarily add up to the whole picture. First, there's the information they get from growing up with women in the house.
Then, there are the cryptic descriptions of menstruation seen in advertising and the cold, scientific way the topic is taught in sex education.
"Boys' early learning about menstruation is haphazard," a 2011 study published in the Journal of Family Issues reads. "The mysterious nature of what happens to girls contributes to a gap in boys' knowledge about female bodies and to some negative views about girls."
Unfortunately, the gaps in the average man's understanding of a complex female health issue can put women in a difficult position. Whether it's denying them positions of power or a failure to understand their discomfort.
That's why it's so important for men to become better educated about menstruation.
A group of women on TikTok are helping the men in their lives better understand the subject by showing them how tampons work on the inside of their bodies by dousing them in water. They call it the Boyfriend Challenge. Some of the guys' reactions are clearly over-the-top, but it's also obvious that many of them have no idea how tampons function.
A video by the Demery family has gone viral attracting nearly eight million views. It's fun to watch, but it also shows men how tampons function and what women go through during their monthly cycle.
@thedemeryfamily22 His reaction is priceless😂 #cutecouple#pregnant#prego#viral#InLove#couplegoals#trend#tampon♬ original sound - Kolby&Jas❤️
Rachel's man just uttered the phrase "vagina parachute."
@mrshillery829 Of course I had to make my husband do this! I will forever call tampons “vagina parachutes”! LMAO!! #tamponchallenge#husbandpranks#funny#fyp♬ original sound - Rachel Hillery
Paulina's man was completely flummoxed by the inner workings of a tampon. "You've been carrying this like, inside of you?" he asks. "The whole day?"
@paulinat showing him how a tampôn works😭 @fabioguerrrraa ♬ original sound - Pau Torres
This guy thinks it's "like a butterfly."
@amanialzubi showing my boyfriend how a tampon works 🤣😳❤️ ( @originalisrael ) #comedy#couple#couplegoals#foryou#trend#tiktok♬ original sound - amani
Ryley just blew her BFF's mind.
@thekelleyfamily lmaoooo why 😂😭 #tamponchallenge#trend#hilariouscomedy#couple#married#foryoupage#fyp#xyzbca♬ Quirky - Oleg Kirilkov
This guy was amazed by the absorbancy.
Let's hope this challenge gave some men out there a better understanding of what women go through every month and a little more sympathy for the women in their lives.
Hopefully it also makes them feel a little more comfortable around period products and inspires them to pick up the correct box of tampons next time they're at the grocery store.
This article originally appeared on 01.27.21
Keep ReadingShow less
Get stories worth sharing delivered to your inbox
By signing up you agree to Upworthy's privacy policy.
Trending Stories