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Why Millennials have single-handedly saved the greeting card business from going under

"It’s always nice when you can tell someone knows you and picked out a card that is your vibe. Makes you feel seen and valued."

Image via Canva/Leeloo The First

Greeting card.

There's something special about receiving a physical, handwritten greeting card. Whether sent by snail mail or attached to a sweet gift, greeting cards are still alive and well in the digital age of communication.

According to the Greeting Card Association (GCA), 6.5 billion greeting cards are purchased annually in the United States. And one generation is to thank for saving the industry: Millennials.

"The millennial generation is now the largest buyers of greeting cards from a dollar standpoint," said George White, Founder of Up with Paper, a pop-up greeting card company, and Past President of GCA, per the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

"[Millenials] saved our industry."

card, greeting card, cards, opening card, reading a card Valentines Day Love GIF by Julie Smith Schneider Giphy

Carlos Llanso, Director of Strategic Initiatives in The Greeting Card Association, added that Millennials and Gen Z are both strong greeting card consumers. "They have friends they will text or post happy birthday to, but then they have those who are 'card-worthy,'" he added.

The deeper significance of greeting cards

Sending messages and communicating online is constant, immediate, and often fleeting," Dr. Pamela Walters, MD, consultant psychiatrist at Eulas Clinics, tells Upworthy. "Messages can be sent and deleted within seconds. Cards can feel slower and more deliberate which is why many people keep cards for years."

And they can help us connect on a deeper level. "As human beings we attach meaning not just to words but also to the medium through which those words are delivered. A physical card represents time, effort, and thoughtfulness to a lot of people," adds Dr. Walter. "It signals that the sender has slowed down to acknowledge you personally. For millennials (who, let's not forget, came of age during the shift to digital communication), the tangible nature of a card can feel more special. Psychologically, these little things that show care can definitely strengthen bonds."

snail mail, sending mail, mail, card, greeting card Mail Send Me GIF by alimacdoodle Giphy

Of course, greeting cards also bring an air of nostalgia. "There is also a bit of a nostalgic element. They experienced writing thank you notes as children but also grew up texting and on social media," says Dr. Walter. "That duality means they appreciate the novelty/intimacy of something older fashioned."

Millennials are pumped that they "finally saved something." One explained, "It’s exciting to get something personal in the mail. Plus it’s always nice when you can tell someone knows you and picked out a card that is your vibe. Makes you feel seen and valued. I’ll slap them on the fridge for a bit."

mail, opening mail, card, cards, greeting cards Send Me Spongebob Squarepants GIF by Nickelodeon Giphy

Another commented, "I keep almost every card I get/have ever gotten. Someone took the time to think about the perfect card to give me, and then also wrote a personalized note inside." Another shared, "I love getting cards, especially when someone writes a message. I keep mine. If they're holiday cards, I display them annually."

Other Millennials shared where they like to buy their greeting cards. "I buy them from the dollar store because they’re not worth $7-$10," one wrote. This one added, "Trader Joe’s sells greeting cards for $1." Another wrote, "Aldi sometimes sells bulk blank cards for $5. I have a ton. Also, check for bulk cards if a child family/friend is having a school fundraiser. Sometimes the ones with wrapping paper have bulk blank cards." Another spilled, "Marshall’s has some really cute fancy ones for under five dollars too." And another added, "I grab them from Homegoods when they put them on clearance at the end of a season."

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Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption

Family

Joe grew up without stability. Now, he’s giving 10 adopted sons the home he never had.

“I want my boys to know that no matter what, they have a place to belong.”

True

Like many children who are placed in foster care across the United States, Joe’s childhood was marked by chaos and a struggle to survive.

Joe still remembers neglect and abuse being part of his daily reality. Often left to care for his younger siblings alone, Joe grew up far too quickly.

He and his brothers were placed in the New York foster care system at an early age. And when he aged out of foster care at 21, he had no family to turn to for support.

“Statistically, I should be in jail, or I could be dead,” Joe said. “But that’s not my destiny.”

Today, Joe is determined to change the trajectory for young people lingering in foster care … as an adoptive parent and as an advocate, raising awareness along with organizations like the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

A complex problem with an evidence-based solution

More than 100,000 children in the U.S. foster care system are waiting for a safe, permanent home. But the sad reality is that thousands will “age out” of the system between 18 and 21, stepping into adulthood without support, guidance or a safety net.

The consequences of this can be devastating. Youth who leave foster care without the support of a forever family are much more likely to experience negative outcomes, including homelessness, unemployment, substance abuse and early, unplanned parenthood.

Through its signature program, Wendy’s Wonderful Kids®, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption is working to be a part of the solution across the U.S. and Canada. Through this program, the Foundation supports the hiring of adoption professionals — known as recruiters — who serve children most at risk of aging out of foster care, including older children, children with special needs and siblings.

Wendy’s Wonderful Kids recruiters use an evidence-based, child-focused model, identifying trusted adults in the child’s network who may be open to adoption — and research shows that it works. A five-year, national evaluation showed that children referred to the program are up to three times more likely to be adopted.

Changing the journey for a new generation

Xavier was 18 and at risk of aging out of foster care without family support when he met Joe.

“My biggest fear was that I was going to age out and not know how to be sufficient on my own,” Xavier said. But Joe adopted Xavier just weeks before he was set to age out of the system. In the years that followed, Joe adopted from foster care again. And again.

Today, Joe is a father to 10 sons, seven of whom were adopted with help from the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

“Meeting my boys has put them on a different path,” Joe said. “Wendy’s Wonderful Kids was a real support and guide to being able to do what I try to do: making sure they have the tools to survive.”

“For me, it’s been beautiful to see that [my brothers are] spreading out to go live their own lives,” Xavier said. “It’s something [Joe] has prepared us for. He gave us the mentality that we could do whatever we want.”

Writing a new ending

After aging out of foster care, Joe managed to defy the odds, graduating from college and becoming a school counselor. Still, despite his own success story, he knows that many children who spend time in foster care aren’t as fortunate.

Joe hopes providing a “home base” for his sons means a brighter future for them.

“Here, we have people you can call your family — your brothers, your father,” Joe said. “Everybody, no matter where they are, knows that they can come home.”

Learn more about the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption and how you can help find forever families for more children lingering in foster care right now.

Modern Families

51-year-old empty nester who struggled to declutter her house shares 8 tips that finally worked

"Shoes are put away immediately upon walking in the house."

empty nester, empty nesters, declutter, decluttering, decluttering tips

Photo credit: Canva

Mom and empty nester shares her tips for decluttering her home.

Deep cleaning and decluttering a home is a daunting task—especially for empty nesters. After spending a lifetime creating memories and living together under one roof, doing a big declutter can take an emotional toll.

It's a milestone that many empty nesters know the sting of. And in an cleaning community on Reddit, a 51-year-old mom and recent empty nester shared her experience cleaning and decluttering her home after entering this new phase of life.

"In my entire life, my house has always been messy. I mean, I didn’t have a disaster-level situation going on, but if someone dropped by unannounced, it would’ve been super embarrassing," she shared. "When my kids were younger, we had a housekeeper because I just couldn’t keep up. Now that we’re empty nesters, I realized I never really learned how to keep house."

- YouTube www.youtube.com

She explained that the book Unf*ck Your Habitat: You're Better Than Your Mess played an integral part in helping her declutter—and offered eight helpful tips to fellow empty nesters looking to organize their new lives.

1. Put stuff away, not down.

Her first tip is the key to decluttering.

"Whatever you have goes right back where it’s supposed to go when I’m done with it," she notes.

2. Do laundry every day.

And she doesn't just wash and dry her laundry when doing it.

"Just one load, start to finish. Wash, dry, fold, and put away," she shares. "Also, no chair or floor laundry. It gets put in the hamper or hung back up. No clothes are ever out."

3. I make the bed every day.

The benefits keep on giving by doing this, she notes.

"It just makes my bedroom look cleaner and I smile every time I come in my room," she writes. "Plus we aren’t fighting over the covers when we get in because the bed is straightened out."

- YouTube www.youtube.com

4. Do a quick daily clean-up of commonly used spaces.

She cleans the places that she and her husband use frequently.

"I keep a stack of cleaning rags in my master bath because it’s the only bathroom that’s used every single day. Every night, I spray the counter, wipe everything down, put everything back (that my husband leaves out), and wipe the mirror," she explains. "I also wipe down the toilet. I find that I don’t need a huge, big cleaning of this space because I’m keeping it up daily. Same goes for the kitchen."

5. Dishes are always put away, cabinet or dishwasher.

No dishes in the sink or stuck in the dishwasher.

"Dishes are finished in the dishwasher? It’s emptied and dirty ones are placed inside while waiting for the dishwasher to get full," she notes.

@brunchwithbabs
Life Changing Dishwasher Hack #tutorials #kitchenhacks #parentsoftiktok #dishwasherhack

6. Don't neglect your shoes.

When she takes them off, they get put away.

"Shoes are put away immediately upon walking in the house," she shares.

7. Knock out small tasks.

There is no time to waste.

"If it takes less than 5 minutes clean it while you’re waiting for something else to get done," she writes.

8. Take no days off.

Rather than assign certain days for cleaning, she is constantly doing it throughout the week.

"Lastly, I do not have scheduled cleaning days. I just do something all the time," she explains. "My life is kind of unpredictable, we love traveling or going out for the day so my so called cleaning schedule would be shot to hell every time. It’s better this way, because now I never feel behind."

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Family

Researchers discover a trait in kids that can predict how long their parents live

There's a genetic overlap that spans generations.

intelligence, smart kid, kid in competition, kinds in line, nervous child, competition

via Canva/Photos

A nervous child at a spelling bee.

It’s common knowledge that in longevity studies, people who are smarter than average as children live longer than those with average or below-average intelligence. This is pretty easy to test: compare the intelligence tests they took at a young age in school with how long they lived.

However, researchers weren’t sure whether it was because smarter people also have good genes for longevity, meaning their mental and physical functions were superior. Or, if being smarter means you make better health choices, earn more money, and live in a safer neighborhood, which could also contribute to your longevity.

The trait in children that can predict their parents' longevity

To figure out whether a smart kid’s longevity was due to lifestyle or luck of birth, researchers at the University of Edinburgh studied how long the gifted children's parents lived, since longevity has been found to be genetic. The scientists found that the parents of intellectually gifted children live longer than those with children who were of average or below-average intelligence.

So, if junior does a great job on his standardized testing in the second grade, there is a chance that you may live longer than others born around the same time as you.

parents, children, homework, parents and kids, sturing, smart kids, good grades Parents helping their kids with homework.via Canva/Photos

Why is it that if a child has above-average intelligence, their parents will live longer? Researchers believe this is due to a genetic phenomenon known as pleiotropy, which occurs when a single genetic trait affects multiple systems within the body. This is part of the “system integrity” hypothesis, which holds that some people have genetic profiles that benefit the entire organism.

It’s also believed that having a healthier body can also lead to higher intelligence. If someone has a well-functioning nervous system, that could bode well for their body, with an enhanced ability to fight disease, and for their mind, by providing better neural connections.

How can I increase my longevity?

Having superior genes is really the luck of the draw in life, and kudos if you’ve been blessed with a system that is fine-tuned for health and intelligence. But what about the other folks who may need to pick up a few skills to live longer? According to psychologists, the number one personality trait you can develop on your own is conscientiousness.

“Conscientiousness is a fundamental personality trait—one of the Big Five—that reflects the tendency to be responsible, organized, hard-working, goal-directed, and to adhere to norms and rules,” Psychology Today says. “Like the other core personality factors, it has multiple facets; conscientiousness comprises self-control, industriousness, responsibility, and reliability."

intelligence, smart kid, kid in competition, kinds in line, nervous child, competition A nervous child at the spelling bee.via Canva/Photos

Why do conscientious people live longer?

“Conscientious people don’t do stupid things, so they have lower rates of accidents and better health behaviors,” David Watson, a former professor of personality psychology at the University of Notre Dame, tells CNBC’s Make It. “The basic idea is if you want to increase your conscientiousness, act more conscientious, and the attitude follows the behavior. Try to be on time for things. Follow through on things.”

If you have a child and they are killing it on standardized tests, then you’re lucky because you may get to live a longer life than the folks you went to school with. But if you haven’t won the genetic lottery, you can still add a few years on to your life by becoming more conscientious. Create a predictable environment, show up on time, and set some small goals and accomplish them. Then not only are you living longer, but probably enjoying greater success as well.

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15 old-school casserole recipes that feel like home for boomers and Gen Xers

Tried-and-true one-pan dinners from back in the day.

casserole, casseroles, casserole recipe, casserole recipes, gen x, boomers

Image via Reddit/MyDogGoldi

Vintage casserole recipes from Gen X and boomer childhoods.

Childhood dishes can take you straight back to your seat at the family dinner table. Comfort meals that were served there are uber nostalgic. And there is one dish represents the epitome of Gen X and baby boomer childhoods: casseroles.

These one-dish wonders were loaded with flavor and baked to perfection. Pulled straight from the oven to the dinner table, casseroles filled the house with the smell of unique home-cooked recipes.

And while most of us are eating casseroles today at Thanksgiving, Gen Xers and boomers grew up eating casseroles on the reg.

Here are 15 old-school casserole recipes that Redditors grew up eating, which are just as yummy today:

- YouTube www.youtube.com

Chicken casseroles

Fancy Fast Chicken casserole

"Fancy Fast Chicken is delicious and so simple. Line up chicken breasts in a casserole dish. Dump uncooked stuffing over top the chicken breasts. Pour Cream of Mushroom (Onion or chicken works too) and incorporate it into the stuffing. Top with cheese of your choice, and fried onions if you're inclined. Bake at 350 for 45min or until chicken is thoroughly cooked." - Applepoisoneer

Chicken Curry Divan casserole

"My favorite is Chicken Curry Divan. A friend made it for me in college 40 years ago and it is a favorite to this day. Never disappoints. Many people have asked me for the recipe over the years. My best friends kids now that they are grown have each approached me for it.

1 1/2 lbs chicken breast tenders cooked and cut into bite sized pieces
3 cups broccoli in bite sized pieces
2 cans Cream of Chicken soup
1 cup mayonnaise (must be Mayo)
2 tsp curry
Juice of 1 lemon
Shredded sharp cheddar (use the amount you like o like a nice even cover of the top)
3/4 cup crushed Ritz crackers
3 tbsp melted butter
In 9x13” baking pan layer chicken then broccoli.

Mix the soup, Mayo, lemon juice and curry together well, pour over chicken broccoli mixture evenly and smooth out. Sprinkle cheese over top evenly. Crush crackers fine, mix in melted butter well and sprinkle evenly over top. Cook at 375° for 25-30 minutes until bubbly and top brown. Serve with rice." - karinchup

Chicken and Rice casserole

"This baked rice & cheese casserole has become a staple in our house! It’s great as a side dish, or I’ll add rotisserie chicken and serve it as a main dish." - anchovypepperonitoni

Chicken & Dumplings casserole

"The secret of this is not to stir anything. That's what makes your dumplings. When you dish it out, you have your dumplings on top.
2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded; 2 cups chicken broth; 1/2 stick of butter; 2 cups Bisquick mix; 2 cups whole milk; 1 can cream of chicken soup; 1/2 medium onion, minced; 1 cup frozen peas; 3 tsp chicken Better Than Bouillon; 1/2 tsp dried sage; 1 tsp black pepper; 1/2 tsp salt.

(1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees
(2) Layer 1 - In 9x13 casserole dish, melt 1/2 stick of butter. Spread shredded chicken over butter. Sprinkle black pepper and dried sage over this layer. Do not stir.
(3) Layer 2 - Sprinkle minced onions and peas over chicken
(4) Layer 3 - In small bowl, mix milk and Bisquick. Slowly pour all over chicken. Do not stir.
(5) Layer 4 - In medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups of chicken broth, chicken bouillon, and soup. Once blended, slowly pour over the Bisquick layer. Do not stir.
(6) Bake casserole for 30-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown." - Superb_Yak7074

Chicken broccoli casserole

"I made chicken broccoli casserole last week and that's a favorite here. This is pretty close to how I do it." - gimmethelulz

- YouTube www.youtube.com

Potato casseroles

Funeral Potatoes

"The unfortunately named, funeral potatoes!" - IRLperson

Tater Tot casserole

"Tater tot casserole. My mom made this at least once a week when I was growing up, but she added a quart of green beans to make it a meal. If you brown your ground beef in a good size cast iron skillet, you only dirty up one pan to make it!" - hcynthia1234, upperwareParTAY

Breakfast casserole

"I’m making a breakfast casserole this morning for brunch later—a bag of frozen hash brown potatoes thawed, a pound of sausage sauteed with peppers and onions, a brick of cheese grated, eight eggs beaten with a bit of milk and cream and some salt and pepper. Layer in a casserole, ending with cheese. Bake around an hour at 375." - CWrend

Hamburger pie casserole

"One of my childhood favorites. Did not add vegetables or cheese though. This was an end of the month struggle meal that everyone loved." - DarnHeather

Shepherd's pie casserole

"Shepherd's pie : brown 1.5 lbs ground beef with half a chopped onion, salt and pepper, drain it and then spread into a 13x9 and stir a can of cream of mushroom soup into it. Spread a drained family size can of corn on top, use a container of prepared mashed potatoes for the top layer. Bake for a half hour at 350." - ExplanationLucky1143

- YouTube www.youtube.com

Noodle casseroles

Tuna casserole

"Love my mom's tuna noodle casserole: 1 bag broad egg noodles, 1 can cream of mushroom soup, 2 cans tuna, 1 cup frozen corn or 1 can kernel corn, 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs, 1 tbsp celery salt
Cook noodles per package directions, drain, then place in a 13x9 casserole dish. Mix in cream of mushroom soup, tuna, corn, 1 cup of the cheddar cheese, and celery salt. Top the casserole with the remaining cheese and bread crumbs. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until done enough for you." - Pinkleton

Mock Stroganoff casserole

"Mock stroganoff - brown 1lb ground chuck. Mix in 8 oz sour cream and 1 can cream of mushroom. Add to 1 lb of cooked egg noodles. Season with black pepper. Extras - fresh mushrooms and/or onion cooked with the beef. Any precooked veggies of your choice, peas or broccoli work well. Splash of Worcestershire, soy sauce, or fish sauce. Garlic or onion powder. Parsley, thyme, or cilantro." - Nathan_Saul

Cabbage noodle casserole

"I have a quick cabbage and noodles that uses bagged cole slaw. Cook a bag of noodles. Put aside. Cut up a lb of bacon and a med onion. Cook in pan until bacon is slightly fried and onions are clear. Add cabbage(without carrots) let sit 10 min or so. Add to noodles. It's so easy." - conjas11

@allrecipes
Thanksgiving prep class is now in session! 🍂🧑‍🏫 If there's one thing you need to nail on the big day (other than the turkey, of course), it's Green Bean Casserole. This recipe tastes just like the one your grandmother used to make, if not even better! 😋 Continue reading or click the link in the @allrecipes bio to get the full recipe. Ingredients: 2 (15-ounce) cans cut green beans, drained 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup ¾ cup milk 1 (2.8-ounce) can French fried onions salt and ground black pepper to taste Directions: Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Mix green beans, condensed cream of mushroom soup, milk, and 1/2 of the fried onions in a 1.5-quart casserole dish. Bake in the preheated oven until heated through and bubbly, about 25 minutes. Sprinkle remaining onions on top and return to the oven for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let rest for a few minutes before serving. 🧑‍🍳: Nicole #thanksgiving #greenbeancasserole #greenbeans #thanksgivingsides

Vegetable casseroles

Green bean casserole

"This is the best green bean casserole recipe, it does use the canned onions but you make your own cream of mushroom and it's soooo good. I've made it on random weekends, it's not just a Thanksgiving food. I don't know much about older foods, I just really wanted to share that recipe."

Corn casserole

"Our family Corn custard doesn't have crackers but we double the recipe and there's never any left over. 2 eggs, 1 cup of sweetened condensed milk, 1/2 flour, 2 T soft butter, 1 tsp sugar, 1 can of creamed corn, 1 can of whole corn. Mix all together and bake in a 8x8 about 45 min at 350. Gotta have that!" - Psychological_Bat890

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Family

Professor shares the 'literal switch' in our bodies that can be flipped to make us feel safe

Think of it as a “biological lullaby."

touch, mother's touch, science, biology, love language, psychology, love, mental health, wellbeing

Photo credit: Canva

Three split images: cuddling couple, adult and baby hands, smiling pair lying down.

With the exception of a small few, we’ve all felt the instant Zen that comes from a carefully given caress. That feeling of absolute calm and safety. Turns out, this is as much a fascinating feat of biology as it is an endearing perk of being alive.

As explained by Cambridge Professor and Science Communicator Hannah Fry in a now-viral Instagram video, humans are hardwired with a variety of different touch triggers, aka neurons, that respond to different stimuli. Some react to hot, some react to cold, some react to pain, and so on.

C-tactile (CT) afferents are neurons that only react to a very particular kind of touch. Go too fast, too slow, or too cold (below around 32°C/90°F), and they won’t respond at all. But when someone else (key ingredient here) gently brushes your skin at the optimal speed (about three centimeters per second) your brain releases endorphins and oxytocin, chemicals associated with trust and connection. In other words, it sets off your body’s built-in calming mechanism.

“You have a literal switch in your skin that is pre-programmed to make you feel safe. But you have to get somebody else to flip it,” as Fry put it. Do we need more evidence that humans are hardwired for connection with each other? Of course, humans aren’t the only ones with this mechanism. It’s the same reason why our fur babies lean in when we pet them just right.

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What’s more, Fry noted that this ultra-specific type of touch is something that mothers tend to know instinctively. In her video, she cited a 2022 study that found when mothers applied it to their preterm infants, which they did without any prompting, it caused the babies’ heart rates to drop and stress levels to decrease. Earlier studies showed similar results: better oxygen levels, calmer babies, and even shorter hospital stays.

While CT afferents aren’t a new discovery, Fry’s explanation struck a chord because it translates complex biology into something wonderfully human: a “biological lullaby.”

“Biological lullaby’ is such a beautiful and descriptive word combo,” wrote one viewer.

Many noted how this heartwarming phenomenon is something universally known amongst more than just mothers.

“As a father of two girls and a granddaughter I know this instinct,” another argued. “The pleasure of this act is equally beneficial to us as parents. It takes me back 🙏true love ❤️”

Similarly, another shared, “Can confirm dads can do this too. Two dads here, our twin girls were premature at 35 weeks. We pretty much spent every single minute that we weren’t asleep with them in the NICU, skin on skin etc.. but I do remember both of us just randomly going in a rhythm of this perfectly medium tempo gentle stroking.”

Even a hospice nurse wrote, “I do this with all my patients. As soon as I smooth their hair back that way they just melt. Many haven’t felt that since they were very young. It has tremendous impact on people at the end of life. It’s truly transformative. Ending their lives the way they began, with nurturing touch.”

How to use CT-touch in daily life

Even though we do have an instinct for this special touch, you can get it down to a science simply by incorporating calm, slow strokes on a loved one’s arm, back, or chest (making sure your hands aren’t too cold!). This can be great to have in the back of your mind when a baby starts to get fussy, or even when our fully grown partner is having a moment. There of course is the caveat that touching might not elicit the same feel good chemicals for some folks. Those who are neurodivergent or have PTSD, for example, might prefer to avoid it. A lot of different factors can alter our perception of touch as we grow up.

In an age when much of our comfort comes from screens, Fry’s viral insight feels refreshingly simple: our nervous systems are built for closeness. Touch is one of the oldest forms of communication we have, and it still works. Incredibly well, at that. What a profound reminder that perhaps our most primal urge of all is to be reassured that we are never truly alone.

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10 conversation starters that will instantly draw people to you

Avoid awkward small talk.

how to start a conversation, conversation starter, conversation starters, conversation questions, small talk

Photo credit: Canva

The best conversation starters to ask during small talk.

Knowing how to start a conversation in a new social or professional setting can be difficult. Small talk can quickly become dull and uncomfortable.

Whether you're returning to work in the office or trying to make new friends in a new city, it can help to have a few conversation starters prepared. The key to engaging people is to start with open-ended questions.

"The best format for conversation starters is to use an open-ended question that allows the other person to speak openly and freely in a casual and comfortable way," Amy Arias, M.A., senior lecturer of communications studies at the University of Nevada, Reno, tells Upworthy.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

Looking for unique conversation starters that will draw people in? Here are 10 questions to get the conversation going:

"What’s giving you energy right now?"

"This question prompts people to move from surface-level small talk to a genuine connection," leadership strategist and executive coach Stacy McCracken, founder & CEO of Impact and Lead, tells Upworthy. "It invites the other person to share. It’s present, personal, and lets you see what’s fueling them—whether that’s a project, a person, or a long-overdue break. It works because it’s about emotion, not status."

"What's the story behind your name?"

"This one usually gets people immediately to connect and share," public speaking expert LaQuita Cleare, founder & CEO at Clear Communication Academy, tells Upworthy. "It allows you to learn a little bit more about the person, the family, and the culture. It's a quick and meaningful way for people to let their guards down and simply tell you a story."

"What’s something your younger self would be proud you’re doing now?"

"I personally love this question, and even ask it to my clients all the time," Cheryl Groskopf, LMFT, LPCC, an anxiety, trauma, and attachment therapist in Los Angeles, tells Upworthy. "This kind of question lights up the inner child and the present-day self, which makes it emotionally rich. It also tends to lead into the stuff people don’t usually talk about first: healing, change, confidence, effort."

"What’s something fun (show, hobby, or place you discovered) that you’ve been enjoying lately?"

"This open-ended question gives people multiple ways to connect (entertainment, activities, experiences), making it easy and low-pressure to engage," Arias notes. "It also naturally leads to follow-up questions and shared stories."

"If you could plan your perfect weekend, what would it look like?"

"It invites the person to share personal preferences and values (adventure vs. relaxation, social vs. solo time) while keeping the tone warm and imaginative," Arias explains. "It encourages playful conversation and creates space for finding compatibility and shared interests. It's worth noting that an effective conversation starter in a romantic context is often not, in nature, romantic."

@kiersay
Replying to @Jordan Di487 QUESTIONS FOR BETTER CONVERSATION (part 4) #conversationstarters #questionoftheday #questionsforcouples #ditchthesmalltalk

"What's your favorite place to spend your downtime?"

"This tells you a lot about a person and is a nice intro question that does not pry too much," Cleare shares. "This is also a great one to find common ground, which is what you want to keep the conversation going."

"What’s something that’s caught your curiosity lately?"

"I love this one because curiosity is the spark of every great conversation," adds McCracken. "It opens space for people to share what’s lighting them up—a topic, a hobby, or even a random fact. Curiosity connects people faster than credentials ever will."

"What’s something you wish more people asked you about?"

"Everyone has a part of their life they love but no one ever brings up, like a weird skill, a quiet win, a topic they never get to share," Groskopf shares. "This question lets people steer the conversation toward something that ACTUALLY excites them. It’s casual, but opens a door you normally wouldn’t walk through."

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"What do you love about your job?"

"This one is always fun because if they love their job, their eyes light up and they start telling your stories and if they hate their job, that also brings a fun moment and an eye roll," says Cleare.

"What’s surprised you lately?"

"This one always brings out thoughtful, funny, or even vulnerable stories," McCracken says. "It nudges people to reflect—and reflection is where real connection happens. It’s the perfect balance of light and meaningful."

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