Being an articulate speaker comes down to communicating thoroughly. According to Merriam Webster, the definition of "articulate" is "expressing oneself readily, clearly, and effectively."Being precise with words when speaking with others (especially public speaking) can empower you to share your thoughts in an intelligent and likeable way to others. And learning how to be articulate is easier than you think.Over on Reddit, self-proclaimed articulate people were asked to share their tips and tricks for how they became great at articulation, and they delivered. From reading to journaling to expanding their vocabulary, these are all the ways people learned to be articulate speakers. - YouTube www.youtube.com "recall my mom saying she refused to speak baby talk with us as little kids - I’m told I spoke in complete sentences quite early (and I’ve not stopped talking since LOL). But my parents also had a good vocabulary and even now my husband has commented on it. I grew up reading constantly. We had a library in the house with many classics. As a kid I liked classic Sci-Fi like Isaac Asimov but when I hit my teens I fell for Steinbeck. I read everything in front of me, constantly, and had friends who were readers too. I didn’t like reading, I loved it. As I’ve gotten older I listen to books more. So…reading, writing, speaking all exercise that part of the brain. I do Wordle and love word games now too." - PebblesmomWisconsin7"Read. Shut up. Don’t talk to fill silence or hear your own voice. Talk when you have something worthwhile to say." - unrotting"Reading a lot is what keeps my vocabulary sharp. Mindfulness is how I am able to be articulate. Yep, meditation (which I used to do often) has taught me to put space between my thoughts and my expression. The other thing that helps? As much as I'm a talker...I listen a lot more. Listening for understanding, as opposed to responding has been helpful when it comes to articulating my thoughts." - Cerulean_Zen"You read a lot of books, watch a lot of movies, watch videos of conversations that are productive and pleasant, and talk in public often." - IllustriousCut328"I journal, and read actual books. I’m from the 80’s, so I know life without distraction, too. I have to work to recreate it now, but I try to carve out an hour to do either or both of those (reading or writing) every single day. Also worth noting; if you come across a word you don’t know, learn its meaning and use it immediately. This helped me grow my functional vocabulary significantly as an adult." - crazymom7170 An articulate woman public speaking.Photo credit: Canva "I process my emotions externally, so I’m always talking or journaling what I am thinking. I think that combined with being an avid fan of stories in any form (movies, books, etc) lends itself to becoming more articulate. Hearing other people express themselves as well as the practice of talking it out makes it easier!" - Microwave_Of_Evil07"To be honest, I'd say it's genetic disposition at my end, which also manifests in my environment since I was a kid. It's a baseline. As for regulation, I like to be prepared in general, and my mind feels energized solving problems---I run quick mental simulations of conversations and social "textures." I then have some sort of mental map that if they say A, it could mean ABC, which may or may not require me to say XYZ, depending on the nuance. I'd add that pattern training helps. It's not enough to just be confident. There must be genuine pillars so there's no nagging sense of imposter syndrome that could lead to analysis paralysis." - cryanide_"One of the things I do that might not have been mentioned yet is that I use speech-to-text technology for almost all of my written communications with my cell phone. Including this comment! It used to be challenging for me to directly articulate what I had to say without filler words or long pauses, but over time, it's become easier. I've learned to choose my word more carefully and say exactly what I mean to say." - rhiai"I also listen to a lot of audiobooks. I think listening to nonfiction out loud helps. I've noticed my vocabulary has expanded considerably over the past couple of years. I even find myself using words I don't technically know the definition to correctly in context. ?" - rhiai A woman communicates concisely to a group of people.Photo credit: Canva"I loved it, so I practiced. When I was young, I would keep a running commentary while playing video games, rephrase my reading in my own words, etc. Words are wonderful because you are never without them. Part of it was also a lot of internet arguments. There's better ways to do this, but if you examine rhetoric and learn to look through the persuasive language to what something is really saying... You find yourself able to cut to the heart of what you are thinking and articulate it snappily." - LatexSwan"Read out loud. Read speeches by eloquent people. Read books written by people smarter than you. Speak slightly slower than you think you should. Think as if you are actually “singing” the words instead of speaking but do not actually sing. Your voice is actually a woodwind instrument. Use your voice with pride but be humble about it and your true voice will feel more natural." - Bmack27"This might surprise you, but sleep. If you're well rested and energized, your brain works better. That coupled with reading is a super power." - chiefbushman"Introspection. This is a personality trait that some have more than others. I've learned that I might have an unhealthy level, but it serves me in this regard. I'm always conscious of what I'm saying; I can recall most conversations verbatim and essentially give myself feedback. I also listen to recorded audio of myself and do the same." - hunterbuilder"My cheap-and-easy advice is listen to podcasts by journalists, experts, and academics on their field. There are 20-min podcasts on research that took years to conduct. Pay attention to how they use framing (we noticed XYZ and wanted to test ABC), actions (I traveled to XYZ to talk to people), results (surprisingly, we found XYZ ) , implications (if this continues, by next year we could see XYZ), and stories (so-and-so is really affected, given XYZ). Check how much detail they use, how they use emotion, what facts they give, how they guide you to what's most important (this is a big deal because XYZ). Great speakers will also give heroes and villains (so-and-so was really suffering, but they couldn't get through to Acme Corp to fix it) . Also note what makes you interested, engaged, outraged, skeptical, bored or confused." - Affectionate_Map5518"'About six years ago I made a New Year's resolution never to say 'um', 'ah', or 'er' and no single thing that I have done to the way that I speak has served to make me sound smarter than I actually am than that' -Taylor Mali." - pengie123

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In an amazing environmental move, stingless bees in Peru’s Amazon rainforest have become the first insects in the world to be granted legal rights. This is nothing short of a brilliant step toward protecting some of the most critical pollinators on Earth. The ordinances, passed in the Peruvian municipalities of Satipo and Nauta, now legally recognize these bees as rights-bearing beings. The laws guarantee their right to exist, thrive, and inhabit a clean, stable ecosystem, marking a powerful turning point in the relationship between law and nature. “This ordinance marks a turning point in our relationship with nature,” said Constanza Prieto, Latin American director at the Earth Law Center. “It makes stingless bees visible, recognizes them as rights-bearing subjects, and affirms their essential role in preserving ecosystems.” Why stingless bees matter more than you think Found in tropical regions around the globe, stingless bees, despite what their name might suggest, are far from passive players in the ecosystem. These gentle creatures have been cultivated by Indigenous peoples since pre-Columbian times and are thought to be some of the oldest bee species on the planet. Roughly half of the world’s 500 known stingless bee species live in the Amazon, where they pollinate over 80 percent of local plant species, including essential crops like cacao, coffee, and avocados. Their cultural significance runs deep, too. For Indigenous Asháninka and Kukama-Kukamiria communities, the bees hold spiritual and ancestral value. “The stingless bee has existed since time immemorial and reflects our coexistence with the rainforest,” said Apu Cesar Ramos, president of EcoAshaninka of the Asháninka Communal Reserve. But these bees face growing threats: habitat loss from deforestation, pesticide contamination, climate change, and aggressive competition from invasive Africanized honeybees, often called “killer bees.” From honey sample to legal revolution The fight to protect these bees started with a sample of honey. During the early pandemic, Rosa Vásquez Espinoza, a chemical biologist and founder of Amazon Research Internacional, was asked to analyze honey used by Indigenous communities as a remedy for COVID-19 symptoms. What she discovered was astonishing: hundreds of medicinal compounds with anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, and even anti-cancer properties. “The variety was also really wild,” said Espinoza. “These molecules have been known to have some sort of biological medicinal property.” Her discovery sent her deep into the rainforest, where she began documenting the bees alongside Indigenous communities. But one alarming pattern kept surfacing: the bees were disappearing. Community members reported that where bees were once found within a short walk, they now had to trek for hours. Espinoza’s lab tests also found pesticide traces in the bees’ honey, even in areas great distances from large-scale farming. Meanwhile, the lack of international recognition for stingless bees became a barrier to both conservation and funding. “It almost created a vicious cycle,” she said. “I cannot give you the funding because you’re not on the list, but you cannot even get on the list because you don’t have the data.” In 2023, Espinoza and her team launched a large-scale mapping project that revealed a clear link between bee decline and deforestation. This evidence helped Peru pass a 2024 law designating stingless bees as native species, a status that legally requires their protection. Outcompeted and under threat But the bees are battling more than shrinking forests. One of their fiercest threats is a species created by humans: the Africanized honeybee. These aggressive bees were first bred in the 1950s in Brazil to create a more productive tropical honeybee, but they quickly spread and are now outcompeting native species. On an expedition to the Junín region of Peru, Espinoza met Elizabeth, an Asháninka elder whose gentle stingless bees had been pushed out by Africanized bees. “She had horror in her eyes,” Espinoza recalled. “She kept looking at me straight and asking: ‘How do I get rid of them? I hate them. I want them gone.’” That moment underscored the urgency of the issue and gave added momentum to the legal campaign. What rights for bees actually look like The new ordinances in Satipo and Nauta give stingless bees rights that go beyond symbolic gestures. They are now legally entitled to: • Exist and maintain thriving populations • Inhabit pollution-free environments • Access ecologically stable climate conditions • Be represented in legal proceedings if threatened or harmed These laws also compel local authorities to create specific conservation plans: restoring bee habitats, regulating pesticide use, supporting scientific research, and adopting the precautionary principle, which is the idea that any action potentially harming bees must be avoided unless proven safe. “These rights establish a mandate requiring habitat reforestation and restoration, strict regulation of pesticides, and adaptation to climate change,” said Prieto. The hope is that this precedent spreads globally. A petition calling on Peru’s federal government to make bee rights a national law has already drawn over 386,000 signatures. Advocates from the Netherlands, Bolivia, and the United States have expressed interest in replicating the legal model in their own regions. Redefining conservation, one bee at a time For Espinoza and the communities she works with, this legal recognition is not just a win for bees; it is a win for ancestral knowledge, biodiversity, and the future of conservation. “The stingless bee provides us with food and medicine, and it must be made known so that more people will protect it,” said Ramos. “This law represents a major step forward for us, because it gives value to the lived experience of our Indigenous peoples and the rainforest.” In a world where bees are often discussed solely in terms of their productivity, this shift reframes them as beings with intrinsic value, deserving not just of protection, but of rights. And if a tiny, stingless insect in a faraway rainforest can be granted legal standing, maybe it’s not such a stretch to imagine a world where ecosystems everywhere are treated with the same reverence and care.     Did this solution stand out? Share it with a friend or support our mission by becoming an Emissary.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Barre has long been a go-to workout for those who want to tone up without the pounding impact of high-intensity training. Inspired by ballet, Pilates, and yoga, this elegant yet intense method delivers a total-body burn, often with just your body weight or a pair of light hand weights. But if you’ve ever left a class wondering whether your quivering muscles just got stronger or if your heart-thumping effort counted as cardio, you’re not alone. Is barre strength training? Is it cardio? The truth is: it might be a little of both. Here’s what experts have to say about the matter, and how to make barre work for your fitness goals. Barre and strength: where it fits in To understand whether barre “counts” as strength training, it helps to define what strength training actually is. True strength-building workouts typically involve lifting heavy weights (about 80 percent of your one-rep max) for just a few reps at a time. The goal is to increase the maximum force your muscles can produce, not just how long they can keep going, which is not exactly how most barre classes are structured. “Barre is an absolutely fantastic way to build muscular endurance,” says Lisa Schale-Drake, instructor trainer at barre3. “It’s heart-healthy and fantastic for core strength, balance, mobility, and stability.” In most classes, you’ll do high-rep sequences using your body weight or light props like two- or three-pound dumbbells, mini bands, or sliders. You’ll often work within small ranges of motion called pulses that keep your muscles under tension for longer periods. Rather than building maximum strength, this kind of training is excellent for improving muscular endurance, which Schale-Drake explains as your ability to “move with integrity longer.” This endurance supports everything from posture to injury prevention. Andrea Fornarola, certified personal trainer and founder of Elements Barre Fit, agrees. “Rather than doing five or ten reps, you might do 24 or more reps per muscle group,” she says. You’ll also hold isometric exercises like planks or wall sits, which challenge your muscles without movement. If your goal is to deadlift heavy or build major muscle mass, barre might not be your primary strength-building tool. But it’s an ideal way to improve endurance, form, and control, all of which are essential foundations for functional fitness. Can barre double as cardio? If your heart is pounding during class, you’re not imagining it; barre can definitely deliver a cardio challenge. Cardiovascular exercise, or aerobic exercise, refers to any rhythmic activity that increases your heart rate and breathing while using large muscle groups. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults should aim for 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week. “Barre-style classes can one hundred percent provide amazing heart-healthful benefits,” says Schale-Drake, especially when the class involves sustained, flowing movements. “You’re continuously moving, which keeps the heart rate elevated,” she adds. Most classes are designed to flow from one movement to the next. Think squats at the barre to planks on the mat and back up again in quick succession. This rapid transition helps create a cardio-like effect without requiring high-impact movements. “You’re moving quickly through small ranges of motion, so your heart rate stays up,” Fornarola explains. And depending on the class style, some barre formats like cardio barre or dance-based barre lean even more heavily into the aerobic zone. Choosing the right barre class for your goals Barre isn’t a one-size-fits-all workout. Some classes focus more on strength or power, while others emphasize cardio, endurance, or dance-based flow. If strength is your main goal, look for class descriptions that include phrases like “weight-based,” “resistance,” or “strength focus.” For example, barre3 offers dedicated strength classes, and Pure Barre’s Define class targets strength and power specifically. To boost cardio, check for class names or descriptions with words like “sweat,” “high-intensity,” or “cardio barre.” Dance-based options often sneak in serious aerobic benefits while keeping things playful. “We take it back to old-school music,” Fornarola says. “We get very Jane Fonda meets Madonna.” Whichever class you choose, don’t expect the same kind of gains you’d get from heavy squats or sprints. What you can expect are results that build a strong, balanced, and mobile body. Bonus benefits of barre Beyond cardio and muscular endurance, barre offers a host of other functional benefits. Core strength: You’ll train not just your abs, but deep core muscles, including the pelvic floor and spinal stabilizers. Balance and mobility: The emphasis on control and alignment helps improve your range of motion and ability to move smoothly through everyday tasks. Low impact: Barre is gentle on the joints, making it accessible for people recovering from injury or looking for sustainable movement. Fornarola emphasizes that this makes barre a smart cross-training tool. Powerlifters, runners, and even professional dancers have used barre to round out their programs with mobility and injury prevention. One of Schale-Drake’s clients uses barre to complement her marathon training, while another, a powerlifter, sees it as a way to improve her form and stamina. “She’s actually able to lift heavier because of it,” she says. How to make barre part of your routine If you’re new to barre, start with one or two sessions a week and see how your body responds. “You don’t need a big recovery window after barre,” says Schale-Drake. “It’s something that can be done on a daily basis.” And because many classes offer modifications, you can scale the intensity up or down depending on your energy levels. Check in with yourself after a few weeks. Is barre helping you feel stronger? More energized? Supporting your other fitness goals? If yes, you can consider adding more classes to your routine or simply keep enjoying it for what it is: a fun, functional workout with benefits that go far beyond the burn.     Did this solution stand out? Share it with a friend or support our mission by becoming an Emissary.

Vice President JD Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance made a big announcement on January 20. The couple is expecting their fourth child, a baby boy. “We’re very excited to share the news that Usha is pregnant with our fourth child, a boy,” the couple shared in an Instagram post. “Usha and the baby are doing well, and we are all looking forward to welcoming him in late July.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Second Lady Usha Vance (@slotus) The New Baby Will Be JD Vance and Usha Vance’s Third Son JD and Usha Vance are proud parents of sons Ewan, 8, and Vivek, 5. They also have a daughter 3-year-old Mirabel. This new baby will certainly keep JD Vance and his family busy. “During this exciting and hectic time, we are particularly grateful for the military doctors who take excellent care of our family and for the staff members who do so much to ensure that we can serve the country while enjoying a wonderful life with our children,” the couple added on Instagram. As soon as the news hit social media, many congratulated JD Vance and Usha Vance on their new baby. “A dad with 4 kids in a position of power is a wonderful thing,” someone wrote, “A focus on family!” “Congrats!!! But bro, chill. You’re gonna be super busy as 48,” another person joked. “Raising children in a solid family is the greatest adventure. Congratulations,” a message reads. Others commented about JD Vance and his wife welcoming a baby while in office. “Oooo – a baby born during a vice presidency! Congratulations!!” A follower cheered. “Congratulations,” another person pointed out. “This has the be a first in a long time of babies born to a sitting VP!” According to CNN, this is the first time in history that a sitting vice president has welcomed a baby while in office. This story’s featured image is by Antoine Gyori – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images

One of the great joys and stresses of parenting is that you never know what will come out of your child’s mouth. When you have young, inquisitive kids, they can say really inappropriate things to people without realizing they were being rude or possibly offensive. TikTok influencer Aurora McCausland (@auroramccausland), known for her DIY cleaning tips, recently told a funny story on the platform about how her son believes she makes a living. The problem was that she heard about it from her child's teacher.Mom is embarrassed by her child“The other day, I went and picked my five year old up from school and when I get to his classroom his teacher pulls me inside and says, ‘Hey, today he wanted to tell us about what Mommy does for work and said that Mommy makes videos in her bedroom but only when I'm [he’s] not at home,” McCausland recalled. @auroramccausland so this wasn’t on my bingo card ? #momlife #momtok #sahm #sahmlife #funnyvideo #fypシ Given her body language while telling the story, McCausland was clearly mortified after hearing what her child said to his teacher. It makes it look like she may be posting videos to adult sites while her child is at school, which most people wouldn’t want their son’s teacher to know about. The good news is that another teacher was there to clarify the young boy's comments by adding, “I think she makes TikTok videos.” The uncomfortable situation was a great invitation to chat with her son about what she does for a living. “So I have to have a conversation with my son about how he tells people what I do for work,” she finished her video. A kindergarten teacher.via Canva/PhotosThe funny video went viral, earning over 1.7 million views on TikTok, and inspired many people to share the times when their children had funny ways of explaining their careers. The commenters were a great reminder to parents everywhere that if your child says something embarrassing, it's ok, just about everyone has been through it. Moms share their most embarrassing momentsA lot of parents spoke up in the comments to show McCausland that she's not the only one to feel embarrassed in front of her child's teacher. "My son told everyone that we were homeless (because we don’t own our home, we rent)," KBR wrote."I work in ortho.. my daughter told her teacher I steal people's knees bc she heard me talking to my husband about a knee replacement," Aingeal wrote."My son told a teacher we were living in our car over the summer. Camping. We went camping," Kera wrote."In kinder, my son thought Red Bull was alcohol and told his teacher I liked to have beer on the way to school," Ashley wrote. A mom is embarrassed by her child.via Canva/PhotosMy niece told her teacher her mom and dad work at the wh*re house. They work at the courthouse," Ellis wrote."My husband works as a table games dealer at a casino. Kindergartener, 'Daddy's a Dealer!' We now start every school year clearly stating he works at the casino," CMAC"My son said we lived in a crack house…There’s a tiny chip in the wall from the doorknob," KNWerner wrote."My dad is a hospice chaplain and officiates a lot of funerals. My son and nephew were asked by their preschool teacher if their papa was retired or had a job. They told her his job was to kill people," Tiffyd wrote."My son said "my dad left me and I'm all alone" to a random person at the zoo. My husband was just at work," Shelby."I am now in my 70s. In my gradeschool, during the McCarthy era, I told my teacher my dad was a communist. He was an economist," Crackerbelly wrote."In Kindergarten, my daughter told her teacher that mommy drinks and drives all the time. Coffee. From Starbucks," Jessica wrote."Well I once told my kindergarden teacher a man climbs over our fence to visit my mom when her husband is not home... It was a handy man who came to fix gates when they were stuck," Annie wrote.Ultimately, McCausland’s story is a fun reminder of how children see things through their own unique lens and, with total innocence, can say some of the funniest things. It’s also a great warning to parents everywhere: if you aren’t clear with your kids about what you do for a living, you may be setting yourself up for a very embarrassing misunderstanding. So, even if you think they know what you do ask them as see what they say, you could save yourself from a lot of embarrassment. This article originally appeared last year and has been updated.