You may be surprised to learn the following facts about the leading cause of death worldwide:
Nearly a year has passed since Russian forces arrived in Ukraine, sparking one of the largest military conflicts since the end of World War II. Civilian suffering is by far the greatest casualty of this war; the United Nations estimates that 17.6 million people in Ukraine will require humanitarian assistance in the coming months.
Over half are women and girls.
Photo courtesy of CARE.org
Honestly, it makes sense: it is women who are tasked with fleeing from their war-torn homes with children and elderly family members in their care. In times of crisis, it is women who are called to hold together the tattered shreds of civilization, to create a home from a dank basement or a trench, to maintain some sense of normalcy in the middle of trauma. Women and girls are especially susceptible to starvation when food is scarce—they often eat less, and last.
Women are the ones who keep families moving forward despite the devastation of war, which is why CARE, a global leader within a worldwide movement dedicated to ending poverty, is so focused on giving them a voice.
Ukrainians face a multi-generational challenge to rebuild their lives in the wake of conflict. While working tirelessly to meet the immediate humanitarian needs of the conflict, the global community cannot lose sight of the long-term impacts on jobs, education, human rights, and social norms.
"This conflict is not just testing the mettle and resilience of the Ukrainian people, both of which they have shown in spades over and again,” said Michelle Nunn, CARE President & CEO. “This is a conflict that will test the resilience of the global community as a whole – the countries hosting displaced Ukrainians, to those facing famine, global donors and policy makers, and humanitarian, development, and civil society organizations."
Your CARE Package gift can help provide the most urgent needs.Photo courtesy of CARE.org
As the conflict enters its second year with no signs of abating it is imperative that the global community redouble its efforts and renew its will to support conflict-affected communities, both now, and in the future. So far, CARE has reached over 960,000 people across Ukraine, Poland, Romania, Georgia, and Germany, mostly through local partners with protection and psychosocial support, cash assistance, food, water, sanitation & hygiene assistance, health services, support for accommodation, protection against gender-based violence and education.
Keeping women and girls as the focus, CARE is working to support locally-led women’s organizations in Ukraine through grants, logistical support and expertise to rural grassroots led women’s organizations to help them deliver humanitarian assistance such as accommodation, advocacy around women’s rights and equality, relief items and relocation services.
They have also begun to work actively to restore homes and provide psychological assistance to civilians who are impacted by the trauma of war. Together with partners, CARE is opening safe spaces for women and girls, which provide the most necessary counseling, training, and qualification for women. However, the number one priority is food, and they need all the help we can muster to funnel in resources to keep these people alive.
Equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help whole families and entire communities escape poverty. Your $75 donation can give a displaced family fuel for heating and cooking, or support determined and brave women with emergency cash to purchase things like flashlights, food, and blankets or secure shelter.
For the price of a meal out, you can give Ukrainians dignity, hope, and a future.
All Uber and Lyft drivers should have a ride options menu.
Cameron the creative Lyft driver offers a variety of ride options to his passengers.
Have you ever ridden in an Uber or a Lyft and had the driver talk a lot when you felt like being quiet? Or not say a word when you tried to make conversation? Or play music you found annoying?
When you hop into a driver's car, it's a crapshoot what kind of ride you're going to have. But at least one Lyft driver is removing the mystery a bit by letting passengers choose.
Facebook user Eric Alper shared a post that showed a photo of a piece of paper stuck on the back of a car's headrest that read:
"Welcome to Cameron's car!!!"
"To ensure the best ride possible for you, I have prepared a menu of the various types of rides I offer. Just choose one (or don't, that's an option too) then sit back, relax and enjoy the ride. :)"
Then it listed the 10 ride options Cameron offers:
1. The Awkward Ride - You ignore this menu completely, then we will sit in silence for the remainder of the ride.
2. The Funny Ride - I tell you jokes or entertaining stories from my life.
3. The Silent Ride -
4. The Creepy Ride - I don't say anything but I keep staring at you in the rearview mirror.
5. The Karaoke Ride - We rock out to hits from the 80s, early 2000s or literally whatever you want.
6. The Bubbles Ride - We blow bubbles the whole time.
7. The Small Talk Ride - We talk about how crazy the weather's been lately and I ask if you caught the game last night.
8. The Therapy Ride - You vent to me about your problems and I listen.
9. The Drunk Ride - You throw up in my car.
10. The Cliche Ride - You ask me how long I've been driving for Lyft."
OK, the Bubbles Ride sounds fun, but also maybe a little dangerous. And the Drunk Ride is the main reason I've never wanted to be a Lyft or Uber driver. I may have unintentionally taken a both a Therapy Ride and a Creepy Ride before.
But seriously, the concept is fabulous. People often want something different in a ride depending on their mood, so the idea of having options to choose from is brilliant. The list also directly addresses the awkwardness that is often present when you're getting a ride from someone, so it makes a natural icebreaker and conversation starter—particularly helpful for folks who struggle with social anxiety.
People in the comments loved it.
"I'm sure this wasn't the intention but this is a great example of disability accommodations that everyone can enjoy," wrote one person. "Being able to choose how much energy I expend is so helpful."
"There should be a feature on both Uber and Lyft indicating what type of ride a rider wants or expects," wrote another. "I usually don't talk, but sometimes the driver keeps persisting and I feel awkward at times."
"It clears the air, takes the awkwardness out of it, and establishes expectations for the ride, on both sides," wrote another. "Great idea."
There are some more options I'd love to see added, though:
The Pep Talk Ride - You need encouragement? I'll give you everything I've got to pump you up.
The Tour Guide Ride - I share interesting details about places we pass and offer advice on cool things to do around the area.
The Life Story Ride - We estimate how long your ride will be, set a timer, and each of us shares our life story for half the ride. (No questions, unless the ride goes longer.)
The Deep Questions Ride - We skip the small talk and get right to the big stuff—meaning of life, existence of God, our place in the universe, etc.
The High School Debate Ride - We pick a controversy, flip a coin to decide who will take which side, and debate regardless of our own personal views.
The Pretend Persona Ride - We each make up totally fake names and personas and converse as them so we can chat without actually getting personal at all.
So many possibilities. What kind of ride would you want to take?
This article originally appeared on 04.21.22
Gym Tan is a bona fide TikTok star with her fashion choices. She hopes it inspires others her age to shine.
"Style has no age."
It feels like a safe bet to say that the phrase “fashion influencer on TikTok” instantly conveys an image of a young 20-something posting their latest shopping haul.
But just take it from 62-year-old fashionista Gym Tan—flair belongs to everyone, and it doesn’t have an expiration date.
As she shared in an article for Insider, Tan worked for around three decades in the fashion industry and had a genuine love for it. However, after moving from her home in Hong Kong to what she calls “casual California," Tan put her career—and her passion—to the side.
Thanks to some encouragement from her 23-year-old daughter, Mya, Tan began posting videos of her “classic, understated” outfits to TikTok. At first, it was nothing more than a fun creative outlet. Little did either of them know that Tan would become an instant viral sensation.
“Within three weeks, I had around 10,000 followers, and last year, I started to pursue content creation full-time, having now built up a following of 140,000 people,” Tan told Insider.
@californiaistoocasual Loving this relaxed yet elevated outfit for dinner with friends in Bali. #ootd #ootn #dinneroutfit #bali #vacationmode #style #styleinspo #momsoftiktok♬ Do It - Chloe x Halle
And I mean, what’s not to love? From her effortless glam, to her adorable snap at the end of each video, this woman is a natural icon.
Things really took off after Tan posted a stitch while wearing the same form fitting black dress that a younger influencer wore. That video, which racked up 1.6 million views, also garnered a ton of praise.
Video below…and it’s 125% fabulous, if you ask me.
@californiaistoocasual#stitch with @oliviaamcdowell can’t wait for us to twin when I visit nyc 🫶 #abercrombie @Abercrombie and Fitch #abecrombiefind#abecrombiehaul♬ Aesthetic - Tollan Kim
Inspired to spread the message that “style has no age,” Tan began posting videos with Mya showing off their matching outfits—from bikinis to sexy dresses to sweats and everything in between.
The best part? The response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Nobody is telling me that I shouldn't be dressing like that at my age, [it] has felt empowering in so many ways,” she shared, noting that she too had started to “feel insecure” as she approached 50—thanks in part to how societal beauty standards could make women feel “invisible” as they get older.
@californiaistoocasual daily reminder! style has no age #ageisjustanumber#styleatanyage#twinning#ootd#styleover50♬ If We Ever Broke Up - Mae Stephens
Social media of course plays its own hand in this collective shortcoming, what with the constant ebb and flow of contrasting beauty trends. (Are we in the thin eyebrow season or the thick eyebrow season? I seriously can’t keep up.) Not to mention the plethora of filters that make a person look so completely sculpted, ageless and otherwise enhanced that they are left feeling devastated to find any signs of life on their real face.
However, Tan credits much of her newfound confidence to the welcome she’s gotten on social media—and on a platform geared towards a younger generation, no less.
“TikTok is thought to be home to Gen Z users primarily, and I was a bit nervous at first about how younger users would treat me on the app. My daughter told me that TikTok loves older people, and I've definitely found that to be the case,” Tan recalled.@californiaistoocasual Just wear what you love! #ootd#twinning#ageisjustanumber#stylesnap#stylehasnoage#styleinspo#attitude#momsoftiktok#momsover60♬ 24K Magic - Bruno Mars
Though people of all ages stop by Tan’s TikTok to enjoy her styles, her new sense of purpose is inspiring others to abandon the fear of aging.
“I hope to show them that they can continue to gain confidence in themselves and the way they look as they get older, just as I have,” she told Insider.
If you want to follow along on Tan’s fashion journey, you can find her TikTok here.People are calling Sara Beth a relatable breath of fresh air and the show's new "hidden gem."
Sara Beth auditioning for "American Idol"
High-level talent competition shows have been around for a long time. And from them, we’ve come to expect spectacular performances from trained artists completely dedicated to their craft. While that’s remarkable to watch, sometimes it’s just as inspiring to witness average folks doing something they love.
Take it from Sara Beth, a mother of three recently dubbed the “Accidental American Idol.”
First of all, Sara Beth is filled to the brim with quirky charm and does nothing to try to hide her nervousness. Judge Katy Perry accurately described her as a “comic strip character brought to life.” In a sea of ultra confident divas, it’s refreshing, to say the least.
Second, as a 25-year-old who married and started a family young, Sara Beth admitted that she had been focused on being there for her kids and only recently began pursuing music. Or as she called it, having “a minute for me.”
So when asked if singing was her dream, Sara Beth was hesitant.
“I’m still processing…I can’t even answer. This is so much,” she confessed.
That answer didn’t impress judges Lionel Richie and Katy Perry, but it certainly resonated with people—parents in particular.
“As a mother of two young boys I can easily relate to this not being her dream yet,” one mom wrote. “She has spent years pouring into others and taking it day by day and she just recently pulled her head out of water and remembered that she is a person with talents and hobbies and interests outside of being a mom...she doesn't even have the mental capacity for [“American Idol”] to be a dream yet but she took a huge bet on herself.”
Despite Sara Beth not fitting the usual parameters for an American Idol, there was no denying her incredible voice once she started singing.
Watch:
Sara Beth might have moved forward with only two out of three yes votes, but let’s just say her audience approval rate was pretty damn unanimous.
“Sara Beth is wonderfully herself and a breath of fresh air, judges are faced with a woman who is open with no filters of fear. I think she's amazing.”
“I think she IS the hidden gem in this competition. She could definitely win.”
“I won't be surprised if she wins this whole thing.”
Just take it from the “Accidental American Idol": It’s okay to be unsure…and go for the thing anyway.
It's not for everybody.
Seth Rogen on stage during the opening night of Collision 2019 at Enercare Center in Toronto, Canada.
Childless women in the public eye are often plagued by the question: “So, why don’t you have any children?” It’s a deeply personal question that cuts right to the bone, and there can be many answers. But, if the woman doesn’t want children and says so publicly, she is bound to face some judgment.
"[I don't] like [the pressure] that people put on me, on women—that you've failed yourself as a female because you haven't procreated. I don't think it's fair," Jennifer Aniston told Allure. "You may not have a child come out of your vagina, but that doesn't mean you aren't mothering—dogs, friends, friends' children."
On the Monday, March 6 episode of “The Diary Of A CEO” podcast, host Steven Bartlett asked actor Seth Rogen about why he’s childless, and it was a rare moment where a man in the public eye was challenged on the topic. Rogen gave a thoughtful explanation for his and Lauren Miller’s decision to be child-free.
Rogen and Miller were married in 2011.
“There's a whole huge thing I'm not doing, which is raising children,” Rogen told Bartlett. The host attempted to play devil’s advocate and asked Rogen if he considered whether having children might have made him and his wife “happier.”
“I don't think it would,” Rogen responded.
Then, as if anticipating the question, the “Pineapple Express” star upended one of the arguments that people who have children often make: that people who don’t have children have no idea what it’s like.
“I've been around obviously a lot of children; I'm not ignorant to what it’s like…Everyone I know has kids. I'm 40, you know? I know,” Rogen said. “Some of my friends have had kids for decades. Some people want kids, some people don't want kids.”
He added that many people seem to have kids without considering the issue.
“I mean, a lot of people have kids before they even think about it, from what I've seen, honestly,” he said. “You just are told, you go through life, you get married, you have kids—it’s what happens.”
Rogen and his wife have only grown stronger in their decision and they believe that it has helped their relationship.
“Now, more than anything, the conversation is like, ‘Honestly, thank God we don’t have children,’” he continued. “We get to do whatever we want.”
“We are in the prime of our lives. We are smarter than we've ever been, we understand ourselves more than we ever have, we have the capacity to achieve a level of work and a level of communication and care for one another, and a lifestyle we can live with one another that we've never been able to live before. And we can just do that, and we don't have to raise a child—which the world does not need right now,” Rogen concluded.
Everyone has the right to choose whether or not to have children, and no one has the right to judge them. Rogen and Miller have thought their decision through and should be applauded for living how they see fit. It’s cool to see Rogen with such a thoughtful opinion on the matter. It’d be even cooler if celebrities never had to discuss the topic in the first place.
He was tired of only hearing about how his life would soon be over and how he'd never sleep again.
Baby giggles are one of the best things about parenthood.
The dizzying preparation stage of soon-to-be-parenthood can be a little daunting. Everyone and their grandma—literally—bombards you with congratulations, advice and doomsday-like predictions about how your life is about to change.
People try to prepare you for parenthood by sharing horror stories or warning you about how hard it's going to be with the best of intentions. Parenting can be tough, and going into it with overly rose-colored glasses can lead to some painful reality checks. But too many jokes about never sleeping again or anecdotes about toddler tantrums can also dampen what should be a joyful time of anticipation and excitement and make parenting sound like a total drag, which it's not.
That's why soon-to-be-dad Harris Fanaroff took to Twitter to ask parents what they really love about raising kids.
"I’m tired of hearing the…'You’ll never sleep again' 'Your travel life is over' 'Say goodbye to your weekends,'" Fanaroff wrote. "My first baby is joining us in the next 3 weeks and I’m excited, nervous, anxious, and grateful. I’d love to hear your favorite parts of having a newborn/baby/kids."
Fanaroff tells Upworthy he thought he might get a couple of responses to his request. He never expected he would get a deluge of parents delivering the goods in the most heartwarming way.
\u201cI\u2019m tired of hearing the\u2026\n\n\u201cYou\u2019ll never sleep again\u201d\n\u201cYour travel life is over\u201d\n\u201cSay goodbye to your weekends\u201d\n\nMy first baby is joining us in the next 3 weeks and I\u2019m excited, nervous, anxious, and grateful. \n\nI\u2019d love to hear your favorite parts of having a newborn/baby/kids\u201d— Harris Fanaroff (@Harris Fanaroff) 1678110244
"Babies are magic," shared Mary Katharine Ham. "Just had my 4th, and it will never cease to amaze me how much you can love hanging out w a person you just laid eyes on and who also cannot talk. Nothing better than a baby snoozing on your chest. You have many moments of wonder & sleepy smiles ahead of you!"
Babies are magic. Just had my 4th, and it will never cease to amaze me how much you can love hanging out w a person you just laid eyes on and who also cannot talk. 😂 Nothing better than a baby snoozing on your chest. You have many moments of wonder & sleepy smiles ahead of you!
— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) March 7, 2023
"Waking them up in the morning," wrote Teddy Mitrosilis. "Our 6 month old has the biggest smile every morning when we get her up, as if she’s genuinely astonished she gets another day. Enjoy every time you get to do that!"
Waking them up in the morning.
— Teddy Mitrosilis (@TMitrosilis) March 6, 2023
Our 6 month old has the biggest smile every morning when we get her up, as if she’s genuinely astonished she gets another day.
Enjoy every time you get to do that!
"Our baby girl hit 11 months today," wrote Vincenzo Landino. "It's amazing. Seeing her face in awe every time she experiences something new. Seeing how she picks up on little quirks from me and my wife already. It's all so awesome. Just enjoy the ride. Do what works for you."
Our baby girl hit 11 months today. It's amazing. Seeing her face in awe every time she experiences something new. Seeing how she picks up on little quirks from me and my wife already. It's all so awesome. Just enjoy the ride. Do what works for you.
— Vincenzo Landino (@vincenzolandino) March 7, 2023
"Babies unlock a whole new and different part of life filled with those things, sure, but also of love, joy, happiness, meaning, and purpose," wrote Jason Schulweis. "You get a brand new perspective on life, and your heart grows. It’s the best thing in the world."
Babies unlock a whole new and different part of life filled with those things, sure, but also of love, joy, happiness, meaning, and purpose. You get a brand new perspective on life, and your heart grows. It’s the best thing in the world.
— Jason Schulweis (@jschulweis) March 6, 2023
"You will be more proud than you have ever been, and your heart will be heavy with burden (because of the crazy world) but full of hope because your child will know your love. don't let anyone tell you otherwise," shared Kahlil Ashanti. "I have three boys and they are my joy."
@HarrisFanaroff you will be more proud than you have ever been, and your heart will be heavy with burden (because of the crazy world) but full of hope because your child will know your love. don't let anyone tell you otherwise. I have three boys and they are my joy.
— Kahlil Ashanti (@kahlilashanti) March 7, 2023
Robbie Britt sang the praises of "the hand hold."
"It’ll start with them grabbing a finger, and then one day you’ll be walking and you feel them reach up and grab your hand," he wrote. "That’s when the heart melts!"
Harris — Nothing better than when the hand hold. It’ll start with them grabbing a finger, and then one day you’ll be walking and you feel them reach up and grab your hand. That’s when the heart melts!
— Robbie Britt (@CoachRB6) March 6, 2023
Run your own race, enjoy the challenges, they are blessings! pic.twitter.com/whs8tJuJbP
Jason Cohen agreed with the other answers and added, "Bottom line is the good stuff outweighs the negatives 100:1. Holding that little life, watching them figure out the entire world, the giggles and little hands on your face, seeing you in them, for good or Ill they’ll have to figure out themselves."
Some good answers here.
— Jason Cohen (@asmartbear) March 7, 2023
Bottom line is the good stuff outweighs the negatives 100:1.
Holding that little life, watching them figure out the entire world, the giggles and little hands on your face, seeing you in them, for good or Ill they’ll have to figure out themselves.
So many parents chimed in with the things that make parenthood magical, wonder-filled and joyful.
"I've read probably about 200 of them to my wife," Fanaroff says. "I've also had 100+ people message me directly to tell me how much they and their partner have enjoyed reading them and it's been so refreshing for them to see."
After receiving over 3,000 positive comments about having kids, Fanaroff says he's most looking forward to watching his wife become a mom, hearing their baby's first laugh and seeing their baby's first smile. "And one that I never thought of until all these comments but apparently that new baby smell!" he adds.
Can confirm. Babies smell like heaven.
Fanaroff says the response to his tweet has been "amazing," and it's true. Not only is it an uplifting, positive boost for folks who are looking forward to welcoming a child to their family, but it's also a good reminder for all parents of the beauty and joy that make the hard parts 100% worthwhile.
Morning people couldn't agree more.
There is no place in the multiverse where Jamie Lee Curtis is a night owl.
Sure, we early birds get the worm. But you know what we miss out on? Dancing at clubs. Laughing at comedy shows. Having a social life beyond anything brunch related, more or less.
I think I speak for all of us early risers when I say that we’d kill to go to certain events that our night owl friends partake in, if only it were when the sun was still shining and our energy levels were still high. We’re fun, we promise. But once the PJs are on…there’s just no going back, ya know?
Fear not, morning people. We have a new champion. And her name is Jamie Lee Curtis.
Curtis recently made headlines as an early-to-bed advocate after declining an invite to an Oscar’s nominee dinner at 7:30 p.m. The “Halloween” star earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role in “Everything, Everywhere, All At Once.” This might have been her first Oscar nomination ever, but that doesn’t change the fact that “mommy goes to bed early.”
Speaking with Today (in jammies, no less) Curtis said, “I love the morning. I love the idea that I control the universe in the morning,” noting that her usual wake-up time is 4 a.m. Conversely, she noted, “Nothing good happens to me after 9 o’clock.”
While on the red carpet for the Film Independent Spirit Awards, Curtis took her sentiment a step further.
“I am going to just say this now as a taunt and as a suggestion,” she began, before challenging bands like U2 and Coldplay to offer matinees.
“What about a 12 noon concert, Coldplay? What about it?!” she quipped.
Getting more riled up, she even called out The Boss.
“Bruce Springsteen, do a f**king matinee. You’re old! Why wouldn’t you let me come see you, Bruce Springsteen, in your glory days—pun intended—and do it at noon or 1 o'clock?”
Even settling for the wee hours of 2 p.m., New York theatre’s matinee time, Curtis agreed that “I will come and hear your five-hour concert, Bruce, at 2 o'clock, and I'm gonna be home and in bed by 7:30.”
Early risers of all walks of life couldn't agree more.
“Yess!! I’m all about that vieja life, we need earlier concerts! Haha 🔥🙌😂,” one person commented
Another added “I'm not a boomer, but I am at a point in my life that I would not mind this at all...👏👏👏😂”
Morning people, you are seen. This is a trend that needs to be manifested. Here's to living life to the fullest…at least until bedtime!
