Sometimes, personal style amplifies the best athletes. For example, Miami Marlins pitcher Johnny Cueto does a little shimmy spin move that has often gotten him good results. And Jim Furyk’s unique golf swing (involving interesting hip placement) is always fun to watch. So when a young bowler named Justin came onto the scene with his own style and moves, many were intrigued and impressed. Justin Bloomer, who has been going by the name “J-Money,” is an up-and-coming athlete who is starting to make waves in the bowling world. But his form is unlike anything many have never seen. It’s certainly unique, and it’s led to him getting strikes, winning games, and going viral. View this post on Instagram Bowling moves His moves can only be described as this: Standing away from the foul line, he takes a moment to focus. When it’s go-time, he runs toward it quickly, one arm flailing. As he gets up to the line, it looks as though his ankle rolls in and he’s perhaps about to trip entirely. And then he simply flings the ball down the lane. It’s absolutely fascinating to behold. What’s even more fascinating is how many pins he destroys with this signature move. In clip after clip, we see that the series of pre-throw motions aren’t unplanned. They seem almost meticulously chaotic, signifying that he knows exactly where to hold the ball and the speed and angle with which to throw it. In an Instagram post shared earlier this year, we see Bloomer demonstrating his process. A chyron is placed over the video which reads: “A little practice session before the weekend’s tournament.” Bloomer wears a shirt with an American flag as Aretha Franklin’s “Chain of Fools” plays in the background. We see his moves and then bang! Easy strike! “Never let them know your next move.” Over 1.2 million liked the post with nearly 12,000 comments. One person compares Bloomer’s process to a math problem, writing, “One of those situations where you use the wrong formula in math but still get it right.” Others support the clip with positive, but humorous quips. “I mean if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, I guess,” says one. Another writes, “Never let them know your next move.” View this post on Instagram This Instagrammer remembers the good old days when playing as a child was a little more free: “Man, I used to be in a league when I was a kid. I miss it so much. Have fun and God bless ya!” And yet another commenter gives a tiny glimpse into what the future might hold: “Honestly, it’s kinda cool that he’s got his own bowling style and it’s working for him. If he perfects this, he could actually draw crowds to watch him and his style in action.” Not an accident To be clear, it’s not an accident that he throws this way; Bloomer does the same move in all of his clips. In another popular Instagram post with well over half a million likes, he has two pins left and is able to do, as the chyron explains, a “nice little baby split conversion.” It’s the same series of movements: running up to the foul line, hand flailing, half trip…and bam! View this post on Instagram Again, many of the commenters cheer him on. “He’s gonna make it to the tippity top one day. Just keep up the hard work,” one says. With each clip, J-Money continues to rise in popularity and he seems to be having a great time doing it. He has even picked up some sponsors, including IM Bowling, along the way. This is mentioned in a pregame interview with Fresno Clovis Youth Bowlers, wherein they ask what his secret is. Bloomer simply replies, “Just throw it like I do.” The post Young bowler’s technique defies belief, but it doesn’t stop him from getting perfect strikes appeared first on Upworthy.

Across the United States, kids are supporting their neighbors in need with free lawn care through the nonprofit organization Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service. Founded by Rodney Smith Jr., boys and girls ages eight through 17 can sign up in their local communities to provide free lawn mowing and lawn care to the elderly, disabled, single parents, and veterans. Eleven-year-old Braden of Arkansas City, Kansas, is one of many kids helping his community. Braden is participating in the organization’s 50 Yard Challenge—to mow a total of 50 yards. The organization provides each kid with sunglasses, ear protection, and a t-shirt. And for every 10 lawns cut, the kids get a new color shirt signifying their new achievement towards 50 lawns. Braden of Arkansas City, Kansas who is taking part in our 50 yard challenge is back in action with a new lawn .lawn 6 pic.twitter.com/QNF2riMWLK— Rodney Smith Jr (@iamrodneysmith) June 8, 2026 It’s a system that keeps kids motivated. “After completing 10 lawns, they receive an orange shirt, while mowing 20 lawns earns them a green shirt,” the organization’s site shares. “Upon reaching the 30, 40, and 50 lawn milestones, they receive a blue, red, and black shirt, respectively.” Braden’s mowing goal Despite the hot temperatures and humidity, Braden has been steadily moving closer toward his goal of mowing 50 lawns—and that coveted black t-shirt. “He’s fairly new to the program but he’s been at it ever since joining,” Smith Jr. tells Upworthy. “He has already reached his 10th lawn. It’s only been two weeks or so.” Braden continues to show his dedication to his goal. “He has a great work ethic from what I can tell,” adds Smith Jr. “I believe his parents mentioned he’s aiming to be done by the end of summer and if he’s continues at this rate he will for sure.” View this post on Instagram Kids in 50 states mow lawns Lawn care provided by Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service participants has reached all 50 states to help their neighbors in need. And each month, over 30,000 lawns are mowed free of charge. “The challenge and organization continues to grow,” Smith Jr. tells Upworthy. “Over 6,000+ kids that have signed up since 2016.” Approximately 6,464 kids nationwide have signed up for the 50 Yard Challenge, with the most participants living in Oklahoma, Texas, and Michigan. During colder months, Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service shifts to shoveling snow and raking leaves. View this post on Instagram People show Braden love In the comments, many people shared their encouraging words for Braden to complete the 50 Yard Challenge, as well as for the other kids signed up in their communities: “Braden, you are rocking this! Good for you, young man! You’re amazing! Take care of yourself in this heat & humidity, too! Great work! ” “Great job Braden! Those red cheeks indicate a hot day. Hope you had plenty of water to drink.” “Good luck! You will be a blessing to so many this summer.” “I love these kids! They bring me hope!” “Thank you Braden for accepting this challenge.” “Way to go Braden! America is proud of you!!!“ “God bless these beautiful children who are making a difference and God bless you, Rodney.” The post Kansas preteen is on a mission to cut 50 lawns for free this summer to help those in need appeared first on Upworthy.

These days, many parents are obsessed with creating “core memories” for their children. The kind that stick in their minds and hearts forever and becomes a pillar of how they view their childhood. Sometimes parents go out of their way to create these moments with elaborate birthday parties, trips to Disneyland, or expensive gifts…but these things don’t always make a core memory.  The thing worth considering is that these experiences are planned by parents whose idea of what’s memorable may be drastically different from their kids’. In truth, many people’s “core memories” of childhood involve days when they were able to roam free, or something exciting or serendipitous happened out of the blue. How parents can create core memories Carol Kim, a mother of three and licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, known as Parenting-Resilience on Instagram, says that the moments your child will truly remember are when parents are present and show support. “Notice how creating good memories doesn’t require expensive toys or lavish family trips. Your presence is the most valuable present you can give to your child,” Kim wrote on Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Carol Kim (@parenting.resilience) Parenting with Systems, a family influencer on Threads, created a wonderful Summer Memory Map that makes it easy for parents to create core memories without shelling out a lot of cash or going on elaborate vacations. It all works on the idea that summer should be full of anticipation, participation, and repetition. The great news is that it only takes 10 minutes to plan a summer they’ll remember forever; all parents have to do is choose four “anchors.” Kids cooking with mom. Credit: Canva The Summer Memory Map is built around 4 anchors: 1. One tiny weekly ritual “Think: Friday pancakes, Sunday evening walk, library morning, backyard popsicles, post-dinner bike ride, porch ice cream. The goal is not impressive. The goal is attainable. Kids like having something to look forward to,” ParentingWithSystems notes. 2. One monthly fandango “It is not core memory Olympics. It is one slightly bigger thing on the calendar that gives the month some shape,” ParentingWithSystems writes. “Think: creek day, backyard camping, cousin sleepover, minor league baseball game, picnic dinner at the park.” 3. One kid-led choice “A lot of summer plans are made around kids without being made with kids. We pick the camp, the weekend plan, the dinner, the activity, the route, the timing, and the rules. Then we wonder why they act like tiny, disgruntled board members with no voting rights. They do not need to run the house. They do need a little ownership,” ParentingWithSystems shares.  Kids in a tent. Canva: Credit 4. One no-phone memory moment “This is not about pretending phones are evil,” ParentingWithSystems emphasizes. “But some moments need to be lived before they are documented. Pick one repeatable moment where the phone is not the main character.” The great thing about the Summer Memory Map is that it only takes a few minutes to plan and can do a great job of creating a summer that’s full of memories and, one of the best things, anticipation. But the best part is that it emphasizes what matters most: spending time together as a family.  The post Parenting expert shares how a 10-minute setup can create a summer of core memories appeared first on Upworthy.

Having your menstrual cycle disrupt your life is not unusual for women, but most of the time, we avoid mentioning it in mixed company. It’s pretty much an unspoken rule that we keep our period woes to ourselves at work, but sometimes the reality hits too hard to ignore. A woman named Indi was recently hit with that reality, and the response she got at work was a surprise. She shared in a TikTok that she had started her period and got a really bad migraine. She was hesitant to tell her younger male boss, but this was his response: @indinotindia Had me like #womenoftiktok #justgirlythings #pmdd #migraine #fyp ♬ True Jackson VP theme – Youalreadyknowbb “He showed me a drawer he has for the team that included Midol, pads and tampons,” she shared. “He said to me, ‘Nothing you say will ever gross me out. Women are people, too. go home and take a hot shower.'” “Jesus, I know we probably get on each other’s nerves but please protect this man at all costs,” she added. The boss gets his flowers People, of course, sang his praises in the comments: “I would’ve cried in that man’s face and probably make him feel uncomfortable at that point because what do you mean you’re not only sweet and understanding, you’re considerate too?! Lawd ” “The fact that it was Midol and not Tylenol makes my heart warm!” “The younger professionals are literally changing workplace culture and I LOVE this for them.” “As an HR professional for 25 years this is IT. Leader nailed it. Simply put, the feeling of belonging drives engagement. Engagement drives happiness and productivity. Sincerely be an inclusive and servant leader and you will kill it and positively impact the lives of people on your team, which should always be a priority anyway.” After her video went viral, Indi sent it to David, the boss in question, to let him know that people were gushing over him. He doesn’t use social media much, but he wrote a comment: “Hey I’m famous! Also, you never get on my nerves. I love having you on the team! :D” David also posted his first public TikTok video thanking people for their kind words and saying it was kind of weird to be responding to a viral post about what he thinks is “the bare minimum.” Oh, David, you sweet, sweet man. @davidedgerunners2 #stitch with @I N D I ♬ True Jackson VP theme – Youalreadyknowbb Then his mom got her flowers, too But the whole situation got even better when David’s mom chimed in with, “I did my best, he is a good kid. Thanks for shouting him out! Feel better!!” Naturally, women grabbed the opportunity to praise her, too, for raising David to be the kind of leader he is. “Sounds like you raised a great man, who’s now a wonderful boss! Good job mama!” “Thank you for your contribution to the world. We need more people like your son. ” “Can you give us tips on how to raise one like this? I’m ready to take notes.” “Raising a boy, PLEASE tell me what you did bc your fella is one a million!” Naturally, people had two burning questions: 1) Is the company hiring? And 2) Is David single? The answers are yes, they are hiring. The company is located in Michigan, but does not offer remote work. Contact Indi through TikTok if you’re looking for work in Michigan. And 2) No, David is not single. He’s been with his partner since middle school and “loves her somethin’ fierce,” because of course he does. Kudos to David for his thoughtful leadership, his mom for her stellar parenting, and Indi for being open about a reality that affects a good chunk of the population so we could witness this wholesome exchange in all its glory. You can follow Indi on TikTok here and you can follow David here. The post Woman praised her male boss for his response to her period woes. Then the guy’s mom chimed in. appeared first on Upworthy.

When a small town wants to put itself on the map, building a “giant bug” isn’t the first idea most consider. Unless, of course, the town is in Japan. The nation that brought us Godzilla and Attack on Titan has crafted a new giant creature for you to fear or fall in love with, depending on your point of view. It’s a five-foot-tall bronze cockroach that looks like it could easily bench 500 lbs., and if you’re not careful, it just might infest your heart.   Welcome to Kamikitayama. It’s a quiet, scenic mountain village nestled in Japan’s forested Yoshino District in Nara Prefecture. Off the beaten path, it’s not the kind of place the average tourist might put on their to-do list. That has started to change, however, with a steady stream of global travelers and curious young people flocking to the village to check out its most bizarre resident: a giant, muscular cockroach statue named “Gokiburiten.” But who is this muscled insect? And why has he started to go viral?  Kamikitayama Village in Nara Prefecture, Japan. Photo Credit: Canva Please, don’t pester him The story began over 25 years ago. Sono, an Osaka-based pest control firm, wanted to do something “off the wall,” according to founder Ryozaburo Minamisono, per Japanes newspaper, The Mainichi. The idea was to build a memorial in honor of the spirits of the pests they had killed. A symbolic offering, perhaps, to balance the scales. Minamisono had also grown up in Kamikitayama and wanted to create something that would draw attention to the village and the Rinsenji Temple, where his childhood friend had formerly been the head priest. This led to the statue’s installation in November 2000.   Minamisono goes on to share that the company hired sculptor Hiroo Amano to bring the concept to life. Instead of focusing on people’s understandable revulsion to the pest, the artist had grander ideas. Per The Mainichi, Amano drew inspiration from the powerful “mie” poses of traditional Kabuki theater and the intense energy that squatting sumo wrestlers bring to their ring-entering ceremonies. But if you look closer, you’ll start to feel small. Really small. Amano embedded a miniature human city inside the cockroach’s abdomen, noting that he wanted to playfully suggest humans can be parasites too: “When creating this memorial statue, I decided to reverse the roles and depict humans as parasitic on the cockroach,” he said. View this post on Instagram “Gokiburiten” sports six limbs, including four insanely powerful humanoid arms that thrust outward in a dramatic pose. If you didn’t know better, you might think it was a new legendary Pokémon. Instead, he’s a sacred cockroach deity designed to make you rethink mankind’s relationship to nature. No one was checking in, but now they can’t stop checking him out For over two decades, the statue has sat quietly just outside the temple grounds—something of a local legend. But thanks to people sharing on social media, “Gokiburiten” has taken on a literal life of his own. Travelers from China, Europe, and across Japan are making the two-hour trip from Nara City to pay their respects and snap a photo with the world’s “buffest” bug. The city of Nara is famous for its well-preserved temples and local deer that bow down to visitors in exchange for treats. (Or, if that doesn’t work, nudge them forcefully with their noses until they comply.) A Nara City deer. Photo Credit: Canva Kamikitayama Village is more of a trek, but one becoming more popular due to the growing fame of “Gokiburiten.” For the locals, the influx of travelers has brought a growing sense of connection. Miho Kojima, wife of the temple’s former head priest and Minamisono’s childhood friend, told The Mainichi that the statue has become a bridge for conversation between the quiet town and the outside world. “This statue is a source of strength for me,” she shared. If you’re planning a trip to Japan, you might want to add Rinsenji Temple to your “to-do” list. The crawl over to see “Gokiburiten” should be well worth it. Just leave the bug spray at home.  The post How did one small Japanese town get tourists to bug out over a giant cockroach statue? appeared first on Upworthy.