In partnership with
In this issue of The Upworthiest, Heather Wake tours the world's versions of "once upon a time." Also today: a man who picked up the guitar at 80, a TikToker who swears beans fix 90% of your problems, and 14 English words that sound made up but aren't.
 | ||
Other cultures have their own way of saying ‘once upon a time,’ and some are really freaking cool | ||
There are many different ways to tell a tale. | ||
By Heather Wake | ||
Just about every English speaker knows that when they hear the words “Once upon a time,” they are about to be transported into the world of make-believe. Considering that storytelling is a universal aspect of humanity, it’s no wonder that every culture has its own version of this phrase. | ||
What’s really fascinating is that the way a tale begins reveals its own mini-story of the culture that created it. | ||
|
Can your home mixer handle dough?
Meet Ooni Halo Core Spiral Mixer, the home mixer finally built for breadmaking:
Uses the spiral mixing technology from professional kitchens
Packs high torque power through dual DC motors
Stays sturdy and stable, even at top speed
Creates stronger dough, softer loaves and a higher rise
Whips, beats and kneads in one countertop machine
 | ||
Don plays the guitar, left, and looks at sheet music, right. | ||
An 80-year-old man picked up the guitar ‘out of the blue.’ 5 years later, he’s singing to his family. | ||
It’s never too late to follow a dream. | ||
By Cecily Knobler | ||
So many of us have that one thing we’re gonna get to one day. Maybe it’s learning a new language, putting together a band, or taking a cooking class. Often, time slips by and we never quite do it, though the dream remains. For one man, his dream of learning to play the guitar finally came true at 80 years old. | ||
A woman named Emma posted a video of her father, Donald aka Don, playing guitar and singing in the reflection of a window. Clad in a checkered shirt and jeans, we hear him softly strumming while singing a tune. It’s a simple reminder that age knows no bounds. | ||
|
Carole Wade took the mic at her senior living community and turned a karaoke night into a moment no one would forget. ❤️
 | ||
Woman explains why beans are ‘the answer to 90% of your problems.’ Oddly, she may be right. | ||
In all seriousness, beans help solve so many problems. | ||
By Annie Reneau | ||
A woman declaring “beans” as the solution to nearly every problem has created a viral flurry, partly for her delivery and partly for her message. Funnily enough, she’s actually right that eating beans can genuinely help with major life problems. | ||
Britt, aka “BIG BRITT” on TikTok, started with a bold statement: “The answer to 90% of your problems is beans.” Then she gave a few examples: | ||
“Oh my God, groceries are just so expensive! I need something more affordable–BEANS.“ | ||
|
An Upworthiest Poll
Where do you stand on beans?
Last Week’s Results
We asked you: Which Freddish rule would you make mandatory for adults talking to adults? 40% of you just wish people would choose the nice way to say things by default, and I think that’s a great result.
Rephrase it in a positive manner (40.7%)
Cut anything that sounds like an order (19.5%)
Drop any word that promises certainty (8.8%)
Add a reason someone would actually want to listen (31.0%)
 | ||
The weirdest sounding English words that sound totally made up, but are actually real. | ||
14 weird English words that sound made up, but aren’t | ||
From collywobbles to susurrus, these bizarre words are real. | ||
By Emily Shiffer | ||
Whether you are a native English speaker or trying to learn how to speak English for the first time, there is no denying that the English language is filled with tons of absurd-sounding words. With so many weird sounds and vowels, it is a unique language to master. | ||
And the reason why English is filled with bizarre-sounding words is rooted in its history. English has continued to transform and evolve ever since its origins in the 5th and 6th centuries, according to the University of Texas Permian Basin. English has been influenced by a number of dialects and cultures ever since, including from German (via Anglo-Saxons), Latin, Old Norse, French, and more. | ||
This amalgam led to English as we know it today, with many strange-sounding words remaining. These are 14 weird English words that sound totally made up, but are actually real: | ||
|
