While millennials and Gen Zers often get lumped together as the “young group,” they are certainly not the same. (Although it is kind of hard to tell with all the Y2K fashion floating around.) But speaking as a millennial, we definitely have different approaches to life, many of which seem to come down to a sense of self-assurance. That goes for shopping, socializing, self-expression…and even going to the hair salon, apparently. Alexis Rex (@rex.artistry), hairstylist and owner of Rex Artistry Salon in Maryland, gave a brilliant (and hilarious) demonstration of some key personality differences between her millennial clients and her Gen Z clients in a now-viral TikTok video. Meet your millennial client, a nervous wreck First, Rex played her Millennial Customer. Millennial Customer gently knocks on the door and immediately expresses her gratitude. “Hey girl! So good to see you! So excited!” But at the same time, Millennial Customer wants in no way to be an inconvenience, so she immediately comes back with, “Where should I put my purse? It’s okay, I’m just going to shove it in my own personal space so it’s not in your way. At all.” Never one to demand attention, Millennial Customer wants a very subtle hair color change. Really, “it shouldn’t even look like I got my hair done.” Not “super bold,” not “in your face.” Then after flooding the hair stylist with compliments, Millennial Customer (ever wanting to be a good student) will ask a bunch of follow-up questions about how to maintain the style. Gen Z enters the building, no apologies Then, Rex played her Gen Z Customer. Gen Z Customer bolts through the door with a “Hey queen!” like a hurricane (who has time to knock?!) and is ready to plop her stuff down anywhere. Unlike her millennial counterpart, Gen Z Customer is perfectly fine to take up space unapologetically and even show up with hair that “hasn’t been brushed in a month.” Gen Z Customer also knows exactly what she wants, and it’s anything but subtle. “I wanna do like in-your-face, bold contrast…I wanna look like a different f**king person. Let’s do it.” The confidence…it’s…palpable. Gen Z Customer has a different approach to complementing her hairstylist: “Oh my god! F**king Queen! You did that! God I love you.” No further questions. Gen Z Customer already knows her brand of hair care products, and it’s “Olaplex. All Olaplex.” @rexartistry Millennial V Gen Z getting their hair done #hairstylist #hairstylisthumor ♬ original sound – Alexis Rex | Hair Artist Why the comments hit even harder Rex’s post quickly racked up 8.6 million views, generating literally tens of thousands of comments about how spot-on her imitations were. Millennials in particular chimed in, many of whom couldn’t help but applaud its accuracy of depicting how millennials seem to constantly be apologizing for simply existing. “I’m a millennial and once I missed the armhole for a sec when putting the cape on. I was convinced I had ruined the appointment,” wrote one person. Another added, “I’m sorry for my hair. I’m sorry my hair takes so long. I’m sorry I had to move my head, omg I’m sorry. You offered me a drink? I will say yes. And then sorry.” @rexartistry #stitch with @tati #greenscreen hopefully this can ease your mind! Biotin and collagen are great for the health and strength of your hair, skin and nails! ♬ original sound – Alexis Rex | Hair Artist Many were also quick to applaud how Gen-Zers seemed to have no issues in this arena. “Gen Z just fully owning the ability to take up space,” one person commented. “As a millennial I love Gen Z so much. They’re so free to be themselves and so open,” wrote another. While there may be differences between generations, we can all learn something from one another. And we all enjoy getting our hair did. By the way, Rex didn’t leave out her Gen X or Boomer clients. She has plenty videos of her imitating them, as well as some nifty style predictions on her TikTok, found here. This article originally appeared four years ago. It has been updated. The post Hairstylist shares difference between Gen Z and Millennial salon goers with hilarious accuracy appeared first on Upworthy.

Multigenerational living has long been seen as unusual in American culture, but that’s changing — and Instagrammer Katie Bunton is hoping her experience will open more people’s minds to it. Bunton, her husband Harry, and their twin boys recently moved in with their mother-in-law, Louella Beale, after experiencing financial hardship, and opened up about the experience with her followers. “We moved in with my MIL (mother-in-law) 2 months ago when my husband lost his job and I just keep thinking…it must have taken a lot of propaganda to make us believe this was failure,” she writes in the video’s caption. When moving home feels like failure In the inspiring video, Bunton showed her viewers some of the incredible benefits they’ve had with the extra support of Nana Lulu. From making and eating meals together to time spent in the garden and doing other everyday tasks together, she shows that life has truly improved, even though society may look at their living situation differently. “So you’re telling me, this isn’t how it was supposed to be all along ? #multigenerationalliving with @nana_lulu_love ,” she captioned the video. View this post on Instagram People online had plenty to say Viewers responded with great delight and support. “I wholeheartedly believe that we’re supposed to be living with family,” one wrote. Another added, “It’s the best. My grandmother and mother live with us. I could never asked for a better support system. I would never ever live without multiple generations in the same house or compound.” Another offered, “This has forever been my dream I’m with you, we’ve been lied to in the west. Intergenerational living is beautiful and to me the gold standard for living in harmony and raising children well .” Nana Lulu herself even commented, ” I’m such a lucky lucky so and so. Thank you thank you thank you for the beautiful blessings of family love. “ In another video, Bunton shared a vlog with her followers sharing more about living with her MIL and the benefits of living multi-generationally. “You’re telling me we could have both parents present and hands on, all we have to do is just lower our cost of living? spend less money? And pool our resources with family? ” she wrote. In the video, she explains that her family moved in with Nana Lulu at the end of January 2025. “It’s taken us quite a while to get into the swing of things. We moved into a new town as well,” she adds. Their routine has undergone a complete change, but in a positive way. She has even noticed positive changes in her relationship. “My husband has felt happier, lighter and more himself than I have ever seen him,” she says. Two months later, the verdict is in The second video also got tons of positive comments from viewers who are loving the new living situation. View this post on Instagram “This is my definition of rich ,” one wrote. Another offered, “As someone that doesn’t have a MIL to fall back on, I just want you to know that I’m so happy you have that. So happy you know the peace that extended family can bring and that you/your husband have the support you need to get to the next stage .” And this commentator praised the situation while sharing about their own: “My husband and I live with my parents. They built us a basement apartment and I am forever grateful to them not only for that but for the bond it has allowed them to have with my kiddos I definitely get caught up thinking we’ve done something wrong but we’ve just done what we can with the cards we are dealt. I am so grateful for my village.” This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated. The post Husband who lost his job reluctantly moves family in with mother-in-law, pure joy ensued appeared first on Upworthy.

Seeing the northern lights is a common bucket list adventure for many people. After all, it ticks a lot of boxes—being a dazzling light show, rich historical experience and scientific phenomenon all rolled into one. Plus there’s the uncertainty of it all, never quite knowing if you’ll witness a vivid streak of otherworldly colors dance across the sky…or simply see an oddly colored cloud. It’s nature’s slot machine, if you will. Traveler and content creator Pency Lucero was willing to take that gamble. After thorough research, she stumbled upon an Airbnb in Rörbäck, Sweden, with an actual picture of the northern lights shining above the cabin in the listing. With that kind of photo evidence, she felt good about her odds. However, as soon as she landed, snow began falling so hard that the entire sky was “barely visible,” she told Upworthy. Martin, the Airbnb host, was nonetheless determined to do everything he could to ensure his guests got to see the spectacle, even offering to wake Lucero up in the middle of the night if he saw anything. Then one night, the knock came. She thought it was a prank. Then she looked up. In a video Lucero posted to TikTok, which now has over 12 million views, we hear Martin ushering her out to take a peek. Then we see Lucero’s face light up just before seeing the sky do the same. @pencylucero I’m on the verge of crying every time I watch this video I still cannot believe it. Rörbäck, Sweden ♬ Evergreen – Richy Mitch & the Coal Miners “I thought it was a prank,” the onscreen text reads in the clip. “And then I see it….” “I was mostly in awe of what this Earth is capable of,” Lucero recalled. “I never expected it to be THAT beautiful for the naked eye.” This is a hopeful sentiment against the widely accepted notion that the northern lights are often better looking in photos than they are in real life. As Lucero asserted in a follow-up video, “Our video doesn’t do it justice at all…I would argue it’s even better for the naked eye.” @pencylucero Replying to @PatriotFamilyHomes I would argue its even better for the naked eye. Our video doesn’t do it justice at all. To be fair our Airbnb host said the one we saw doesn’t happen very often so I guess we were just very very lucky ♬ Golden Hour: Piano Version (Cover) – Andy Morris And everyone in the comments agreed Others were quick to back Lucero with anecdotes of their own experience. “It’s definitely possible to see it like in the pics. I saw it this winter in Norway, there was bright green, purple and so much movement.” “They’re so much better in person, the way they dance and move around is insane and beautiful.” Of course, if you ask Martin, who everyone agreed was the best host ever, seeing guest reactions of pure wonder and joy is even “better than the lights themselves.” But still, he can’t deny that there’s a breathtaking magic to it all. He shared with Upworthy that “Sometimes it feels like it will pull you up in the sky like you are in the middle of it. I wish everyone would have the chance to witness it.” When it comes to tips for actually seeing the northern lights, Martin admits it still mostly comes down to being in the right place at the right time. Luckily, his Airbnb listing can help with that. What causes the northern lights? The Northern Lights, scientifically known as Aurora Borealis, occur when charged particles from the sun collide with the atmosphere near the poles. The charged particles interact with gases such as nitrogen and oxygen to produce incredible, colorful light displays that float magnificently above the night sky. The Northern Lights are most visible in high-latitude regions such as Sweden, Finland, Norway, Iceland, Alaska, and Canada. 2024 through 2026 are peak years for aurora visibility due to the solar maximum, with displays reported at unusually low latitudes Nature has a great way of reminding us that, beyond the distractions and distresses of modern life, there is sublime beauty waiting for the chance to capture our hearts. This article originally appeared three years ago. It has been updated. The post Airbnb host wakes guest in the middle of the night so she doesn’t miss the northern lights appeared first on Upworthy.

A video from a California elementary school capturing a tense exchange between a principal and a woman over a Pride shirt has resurfaced online. In it, we see Laura Andrews, principal of Fred T. Korematsu Elementary School, guiding carpool lane traffic while wearing a shirt that says “All Are Welcome Here.” The routine pick-up became a moment of contention when a woman pulled up and asked whether parents at the school supported such messaging. When Andrews quickly answered, “Yep!” and tried to move her along, the woman then claimed to have received complaints about the shirt. “I had a mother send me a note saying she doesn’t want this at school,” said the woman. When Andrews replied, “Okay, you can send her my way,” the woman then asked, “What’s your name?” View this post on Instagram By this point, Andrews wasn’t having it, saying, “I’m the principal. You know my name. We talked. So, I need you to move, because you’re blocking traffic.” Eventually the woman budged, but only after saying she would be visiting the principal’s office. Viewers rally behind the principal Though the video, first recorded in May 2024, had been reshared by some conservative accounts on social media as an example of dangerous “wokeism” and “grooming” attitudes, an overwhelmingly large number of viewers actually praised the principal. They agreed that, in the real world, a t-shirt saying “all are welcome” is about as far from offensive as you can actually get, especially since the phrase didn’t single out any particular group. Oh my goodness. They’re going to die from looking at a shirt— (@mzgluna) June 5, 2026 The exchange quickly became a flashpoint in an ongoing national conversation about LGBTQ+ visibility in schools, but the reaction online suggested that many people saw the message as one rooted in inclusion rather than politics. And anyone seeing otherwise is missing the point.  Public opinion remains largely supportive A new Gallup poll shows that there has been a steady decline in support for same-sex marriages since it reached an all-time high of 71% in 2022. Most of the dip we see comes from Republicans, who went from 55% in support of same-sex marriage to 37%. An article from The 19th attributes this to conservative groups and Donald Trump putting millions into anti-LGBTQ+ ads, and campaigning the Supreme Court to end marriage equality. Even so, support for same-sex marriage remains significantly higher than it was just a decade ago. Gallup found that a majority of Americans still support marriage equality, reflecting a cultural shift that has unfolded across generations and communities throughout the country. That support extends beyond any one demographic group. Polling over the years has shown backing for LGBTQ+ rights among Americans of different racial backgrounds, religious affiliations, and political identities. While disagreements remain, many people who hold differing views on other social issues continue to support the idea that LGBTQ+ individuals should be treated equally under the law and welcomed in public life. A message that resonates with many That broader context may help explain why Andrews’ shirt struck so many viewers as uncontroversial. The phrase “All Are Welcome Here” has become a common sight in schools, libraries, places of worship, and community organizations. For supporters, it communicates a straightforward goal: creating environments where people feel safe, respected, and included no matter who they are. This brief confrontation revealed that, while debates over LGBTQ+ issues are still very much alive in the United States, the response to the video offered a glimpse of something else: many Americans, despite differences in politics, faith, culture, or background, continue to embrace messages centered on belonging. Judging by the thousands of comments defending Andrews, a simple statement that everyone is welcome still resonates with a great many people. The post California principal has the best response to a mom questioning her Pride shirt in the carpool line appeared first on Upworthy.

A Pennsylvania school buried a time capsule in 1976, preserving memories and artifacts from a different era. Fifty years later, students, staff, and community members finally gathered to open it and discover the treasures inside.