Susami is a small fishing town in Wakayama Prefecture, Japan, with a population of around 3,700 people. By 1999, it was the kind of place tourists drove through without stopping. Toshihiko Matsumoto, the town’s 70-year-old postmaster, thought he could fix that. His solution was to sink a working mailbox into Susami Bay, 10 meters below the surface. “I thought it would be interesting if divers could send letters from under the sea,” Matsumoto, who worked for the post office for about 40 years, said in a video by Great Big Story. “I thought it would be good for the post office and good for tourism.” How to sink a letter The logistics were considerable. Standard postcards dissolve underwater, so Matsumoto arranged for waterproof plastic postcards to be sold at the local dive shop, along with oil-based markers that wouldn’t smear. The bright red cast iron mailbox was anchored to the ocean floor and connected to Susami’s official post office, making it a fully functioning branch of the Japanese postal system. Because the boxes rust underwater, they are replaced every six months—two boxes alternate, with the rusty one repainted and waiting while the other is in service. The process for sending a letter is straightforward, if unconventional. Visitors buy a waterproof postcard for around $1.50 at Club Noah Susami, the local dive shop. Then, they write their message with the provided markers, and dive down to deposit it in the box. For beginners, guided beach diving lessons are available. Every day, the shop’s manager dives down to collect whatever has accumulated and delivers it to the local post office where the letters go out to recipients anywhere in the world. A scuba diver rises to the surface. Photo credit: allianoi via Canva. Some unexpected fame The underwater post box earned a Guinness World Record for the deepest underwater post box in 2002. The mailbox receives around 1,000 to 1,500 pieces of mail each day. By the time Great Big Story posted their video (which has since passed a million views) more than 38,000 letters had been successfully delivered from the ocean floor. The box even appeared in a Daihatsu automobile commercial in 2015. Matsumoto’s instinct turned out to be correct. Susami, which had nothing particular to recommend it to outsiders, now draws divers from around the world to mail a letter from the bottom of the bay. It is, by any measure, one of the more creative acts of small-town economic revival on record, conceived by a 70-year-old postmaster who just thought it would be interesting. “I thought it would be good for the post office,” he said, “and good for tourism.” Looks like he was right on both counts. The post A struggling beach town needed tourists, so its postmaster sank a mailbox 30 feet underwater appeared first on Upworthy.

A successful, professional woman recently took to LinkedIn looking for advice on a scenario almost everyone can relate to: the dread and awkwardness of walking into a room full of strangers who all seem to know each other. One of the most daunting social scenarios Hallie Condon, a VP at Chili Piper, set the scene that’s at once perfect nightmare fuel for introverts or even confident, outgoing extroverts: “Let’s say you walk into a room. You might know one or two people but they are busy in active conversations. Most other people at this event are in small groups chatting,” she writes. “I’m a grown woman with a successful career and walking into a room full of strangers already clustered up mid conversation still turns me into that kid standing alone in the middle school hallway.” She adds that she’s not socially anxious and, in most situations, is quite confident. “I can talk to anyone on Zoom, in chat, one-on-one. It’s really just this. The room that is already in motion, where everyone already seems to know where they belong except me.” Everyone’s been there, whether you naturally thrive making small talk with new faces or whether it fills you with terror. It could be all the parents milling about before the PTA meeting, the cocktail hour at a business conference, or the neighborhood gathering that started with you. It’s already difficult to confidently introduce yourself to new people, and it feels awkward joining a group that’s already mid-stream in discussing something you’re missing context for. Combining them both is truly an expert level task that even the most accomplished of us can find daunting. Many of us wind up standing there pretending to look at something important on our phone. What to do instead of freezing Not one to be discouraged, Condon confessed she was determined to master this specific and mildly terrifying social situation. “This is something I’ve recently decided to work on,” she noted. She figured she’d start by soliciting free advice from her followers and other professionals on the platform. “Everyone teaches you how to hold a conversation. Nobody teaches you how to enter one,” she writes. “What do you actually do?” Dozens of commenters answered the call. The power of the snack table, if there is one, came up multiple times. “Honestly, start at the food table. It’s much easier to strike up a conversation with someone when you’re both reaching for pretzels. And either way you’ll get some snacks,” one wrote. Others advised using humor and vulnerability to win people over. “Going up to a small group and then being vulnerable. ‘I just came in, didn’t know anyone in the crowd. Instead of pretending to check important things on my phone, wanted to come up and say hi’ works like wonders,” someone suggested. If you’re going to take the plunge and join a group, smile. “This is actually the advice therapists give to shy kids (I was one): smile. Because a lot of times, when we are anxious, we look closed off or unapproachable. That sends the opposite of ‘come meet me’ vibes. A smile is all it takes to transmit openness,” one commenter added. Observe people’s body language. If you’re a good people reader, you can tell which groups are engaged in deep discussion and which ones are bouncing light small talk back and forth. “The key is finding a group that seems more animated, smiling, stuff like that. You’re usually joining a chat of people who also just met and were nervous about finding someone to talk to,” someone wrote. Experts chime in with their best tips Social anxiety, or even anxiety arising from super challenging social situations, is something therapists, business leaders, and communications experts deal with a lot. Here’s what they have to say: Rescue someone else who’s standing alone “My favourite trick is to find the other person hovering near the edge of the room,” Mirna Huhoja-Doczy of Bits of Brand told Upworthy. “They are usually just as grateful to be rescued, and suddenly neither of you has to pretend your phone has become deeply fascinating.” Roy Sheppard, former BBC news anchor and networking expert, advises, “Change your mission: Don’t walk in asking ‘Who can help me?’ Instead ask ‘Who looks like they could do with someone to talk to?’ The moment your attention shifts from yourself to helping someone else feel comfortable, your own anxiety begins to disappear.” Listen and react before joining in naturally Other experts advise people to not be afraid to stand somewhat awkwardly on the fringes of a group. Take the chance to listen, gain context about what the group is discussing, and then jump in once you truly have something to add. “Avoid forcing a cold opener. Stand at the edge of an open group—a loose circle with a gap rather than a tight huddle. React to what’s being said before you add to it. That’s how you get invited in,” says Rod Mitchell, psychologist with Emotions Therapy Calgary. He adds that the dread of anticipation is almost always worse than the discomfort once you start talking. Get there early If at all possible, try to arrive before the event is in full-swing. Fashionably late be damned. “It is much easier to help create a group than to break into one later,” says Ivan Wanis Ruiz, communications expert and instructor at the University of Toronto. Even better, Ruiz says, if you can volunteer at the event or party: Working the registration desk, manning the snack table, passing out name tags. It’s an easy invitation to meet anyone and everyone. Some social interactions come naturally to people. They just take a little outgoing energy and curiosity to engage. Others are far more challenging and require intentional effort: new strategies, techniques, even canned lines to get you started. There’s no shame in asking for help navigating complex group dynamics, even for VPs or CEOs who should have all the confidence in the world. It’s a sticking point well worth overcoming. As Condon astutely pointed out: “I think trying to avoid that discomfort can make me miss out on real connections.” The post You walk into a room of strangers. Everyone’s talking in groups. Instead of freezing, do this. appeared first on Upworthy.

The concentration camps of World War II witnessed some of the darkest atrocities in human history. Amid the brutality, however, rare stories of resilience and devotion emerged. Among the most extraordinary is the journey of Joseph and Rebecca Bau, two young prisoners whose quiet romance survived against impossible odds. The pair met as inmates at the Kraków–Płaszów concentration camp, where Joseph was tasked with drafting construction blueprints for the camp’s commandant, Amon Goeth. Developing blueprint paper in those days required direct sunlight, and on an extraordinarily gloomy day, Joseph was struggling to complete his work. Rebecca, a trained nurse, noticed his frustration and stepped in to converse with him. The brief interaction sparked a bond that grew into a deep, secret relationship inside the camp. Risking immediate execution, the couple decided to marry. Hundreds of fellow prisoners gathered inside a women’s barracks to witness the clandestine ceremony, with Joseph sneaking into the venue disguised in women’s clothing. Though camp guards searched the barracks shortly after the ceremony ended, Joseph managed to evade detection. An act of love Because of Rebecca’s tireless work assisting fellow prisoners in the camp infirmary, a contact grateful for her kindness managed to secure her name a coveted place on Oskar Schindler’s famed list, a document that would ultimately save over 1,200 Jewish prisoners from extermination. Believing her husband’s chances of survival were far slimmer than her own, Rebecca made a profound choice. Without telling Joseph, she secretly erased her name from the document and wrote his in its place. Shortly after, Joseph was safely transferred to Schindler’s factory, entirely unaware of how he had made the list. Rebecca was sent to Auschwitz, where she continued to survive and assist others before being transferred to the Lichtewarden concentration camp in Czechoslovakia. A 2024 study published in Jewish Culture and History notes that emotional bonds and acts of devotion served as a vital form of psychological resistance during the Holocaust, offering prisoners a sense of purpose and humanity that helped them endure unthinkable trauma. Against all odds, both Joseph and Rebecca survived the war and reunited in Kraków to rebuild their lives together. Yet, for 50 years, Rebecca never mentioned her ultimate sacrifice. It was only half a century later that she finally revealed the truth to her husband. Rebecca’s Why “Why did you switch your name with mine, and why didn’t you tell me?” Joseph asked her. “I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to feel like you owed me anything, and I did it out of love,” she replied. In her private diaries, titled In the Name of God, Rebecca had recorded the moment decades earlier, writing, “When my diaries are found, people will know who saved my Uzu…” Her quiet act of selflessness remains a powerful testament to the strength of the human spirit in the face of absolute darkness. The post A wife erased her own name from Schindler’s List to save her husband. She kept it secret for 50 years. appeared first on Upworthy.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM There’s nothing quite like wandering around your garden with scissors in hand, ready to cut fresh herbs to season your meals. The aromatic scents and flavors are unparalleled. However, as any gardener knows, the growing season is limited, and those lush plants will eventually wilt with the arrival of winter weather. But don’t panic, drying your herbs is an excellent method to keep that garden-fresh flavor well into the winter. Gardeners particularly enjoy air drying since it is simple, inexpensive, and extremely effective at maintaining the essential oils that give herbs their distinct fragrances and smells. While freezing is a possibility, particularly for herbs with a high moisture content, drying is the preferred method for several varieties, allowing you to preserve your herbs in a compact, easy-to-use form that’s ideal for cooking, teas, and even DIY cures. Choosing the right herbs for drying: what works best? When it comes to drying, not all herbs are the same. Some herbs, such as bay, dill, oregano, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, and summer savory, are especially well-suited to air drying due to their low moisture content. These herbs dry quickly and maintain their flavor well.  On the other hand, herbs with a higher moisture content, such as basil, mint, tarragon, and chives, might be difficult to dry. These herbs are susceptible to mold and may lose flavor if not dried quickly enough. For these, you might use a food dehydrator to speed up the process, or you could freeze them, which is typically faster and more effective at preserving flavor. When and how to harvest herbs for optimal drying The timing of your herb harvest is critical for retaining the maximum flavor. The idea is to capture your herbs at their peak, just before they bloom when their essential oils are most concentrated. This is usually early to mid-morning when the dew has dissipated but before the sun becomes too bright. Here are a few tips for picking herbs: 1. Harvest before flowering: For the best flavor, harvest your herbs just before they start to flower. When herbs begin to flower, their energy transfers from leaf to flower development, often resulting in a loss of flavor. 2. Midmorning harvest: Harvest your herbs in the late morning, after the morning dew has dried but before the afternoon sun wilts them. This timing keeps the herbs at their freshest and most delicious. 3. Selective cutting: When harvesting, don’t cut back more than one-third of the plant at a time unless you intend to completely replace it. This strategy ensures that the plant remains healthy and productive throughout the season. Step-by-step guide for drying fresh herbs Drying your herbs is a simple process, but you must follow each step carefully to ensure that your herbs preserve as much taste as possible. Here’s a full tutorial to walk you through the process: 1. Gather your cuttings: Begin by gathering the cuttings from the herbs you intend to dry. This could include hardy herbs like rosemary, thyme, oregano, or others with low moisture content. 2. Shake it off: Gently shake your herb branches to remove any insects or debris. Because you won’t be properly cleaning the herbs before drying, this step keeps them clean and ready to use. 3. Check for dryness: If your herbs are a little unclean, give them a quick washing and pat them dry with paper towels. Then, place them in a well-ventilated room to air out entirely. Wet herbs are more likely to mold throughout the drying process, so make sure they are completely dry before you start. 4. Remove lower leaves: Remove the bottom inch or so of leaves from the stems. These leaves can be dried individually or utilized fresh. Remove any yellowed, damaged, or diseased leaves, since they will not dry well and can degrade the overall quality of your dried herbs. 5. Bundle the stems: Gather four to six stems and knot them into little bundles with string or a rubber band. Keep in mind that as the herbs dry, the bundles will shrink, so check them occasionally to ensure they are still tight. For herbs with a high moisture content, construct smaller bundles to allow for greater air circulation and reduce the risk of mold. 6. Use paper bags: If you’re worried about dust or want to speed up the drying process, put your herb bundles in paper bags with holes cut out for air. Hang the bags upside down in a warm, dry place. The paper bags protect the plants from dust and harsh sunshine while still allowing air to circulate freely. 7. Hang upside down: The conventional way of drying herbs is to hang them upside down in a warm, well-ventilated room. As the leaves dry, gravity helps to spread the oils throughout them, improving the flavor. 8. Check frequently: Depending on the herb and drying circumstances, the drying time might range from a few days to a couple of weeks. Check your herbs on a regular basis. They are ready when the leaves break easily between your fingertips. Proper storage of dried herbs for maximum freshness Once your herbs have been properly dried, proper storage is required to maintain their flavor and efficacy. Here’s how to properly store your dried herbs: 1. Check for mold: Before keeping your herbs, thoroughly inspect them for any symptoms of mold. If you come across any moldy herbs, dispose of them right away to prevent the mold from spreading. 2. Store in airtight containers: Use airtight containers to store your dried herbs. Small canning jars and zipped plastic bags work well. To maximize flavor retention, preserve the leaves intact and crush them shortly before use. 3. Label and date: Always label your containers with the herb’s name and date of storage. Herbs lose potency over time, so knowing when you dried them allows you to keep track of their freshness. 4. Store in a cool, dry place: Keep your herbs out of direct sunlight. Amber-colored jars are very efficient at shielding light, which might reduce the flavor of your herbs over time. 5. Enjoy for up to a year: When properly preserved, dried herbs can keep their flavor for up to a year. However, for the finest flavor, utilize them within six months. Drying and storing your garden herbs is a wonderful way to enjoy the flavors of your summer harvest all year. With a little care and attention to detail, you may enjoy the fresh, vibrant flavor of your homegrown herbs in every meal, long after the growing season is over.     Did this solution stand out? Share it with a friend or support our mission by becoming an Emissary.The post The ultimate guide to drying and storing fresh garden herbs for year-round homegrown flavor first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

Moments, whether found in old photos, a kind stranger, or a voicemail, can hit us in ways we might never have expected. So when Lina Perez’s mother’s best friend left her a voice message, it wasn’t what was said that moved her. It was the reason behind the phone call at all. Beverly Ooley, a 92-year-old woman, left a message that Perez will “never delete.” She stated her wishes clearly: she wanted to leave Perez her beloved china set, full of delicate plates, gold-plated water glasses, and serving dishes. But what made this extra special is Perez and Ooley aren’t relatives by blood. They’re relatives by maternal friendship. View this post on Instagram It began with a tea party On Perez’s Instagram reel, we see images and footage of a woman packing up her gorgeous dishware. The viewer is also treated to a garden tea party with piping hot steam coming from teacups, tiny sandwiches, and pastries. The overlaying audio is that of a voicemail, in which we hear: “Hi Lina, this is Beverly Ooley. I’m a friend of your mom’s. I came to the party that she gave the tea at. And I was wondering…I have a china set that I would like to give you. I don’t have any children, so you would be next in line, because you’re my best friend’s daughter. Anyway, if you’re interested, it’s a 12-piece set and it’s got lots of goodies with it. So give me a call back if you are interested.” Perez shared, “This isn’t about the china. Knowing that she chose me to be the next person to have something that she has treasured for so many years means more than I can put into words. My mom says she still talks about the tea party we invited her to. She doesn’t have children, and the fact that she thought of me for her beloved china is something I’ll cherish forever. Seeing the joy it brought her to pass along something so meaningful was such a gift. I’m already planning to set a beautiful table and have her over in the next couple of weeks as a little surprise! Family isn’t always the people you’re born to. Sometimes it’s the people who choose you along the way. Also, don’t forget your elders, they appreciate being included more than you could ever imagine.” Tea party. Photo credit: Lina Perez A true friendship The original tea party was held in Perez’s home in Palo Cedro, California. Upworthy had the lovely chance to speak with Perez, who shared that Ooley lives nearby in Redding in the “same house that she grew up in.” The party was just about four months ago, and Perez relayed that everyone is doing well. “She (Ooley) had a stroke a few weeks after the tea party, but recovered well and is doing good! My mom visits her at least a few times a week and brings her delicious home-cooked meals, which Beverly really appreciates because my mom is the best cook!” Perez had a recent visit with Ooley as well. She shares, “I went with my mom just a few days ago for a visit, and we went through a lot of Beverly’s pictures, which are so neat to see. She is an open book and loves sharing her stories. I love that about her. I can ask her anything about her life, and she is more than happy to share—heartache, joy, funny stories, etc. She has also given me some beautiful black-and-white photos of her parents and grandparents that are really beautiful.” ‘Brand new outfit’ When Perez received the voicemail on July 7th, she was immediately moved. “I knew how much the tea party meant to her for many reasons. Firstly, my mom said that she kept talking about it, even weeks later. Apparently, all of the ladies did. They just loved it! But Beverly also had a brand-new outfit on that day and had lipstick on, which I have never seen her wear! She also had some beautiful pearls on. She was clearly looking forward to the day!” Tea party. Photo credit: Lina Perez Perez teared up as she shared, “My first thoughts when I received the message was just more of a feeling of overwhelming love and it instantly brought me to tears. It was the purest form of love in that message and the intention behind it. I had no idea what the set looked like and didn’t care because it wasn’t about the china, too. It was the fact that she chose me to carry on her most cherished and treasured possession—which is the highest regard/thought that I can think of. Chosen family Perez shares that Ooley wasn’t able to have children, so she truly feels like they’re related. “She gives away so much of her stuff to her friends, but has held onto her china for so long because she loved it so much. So for her to choose me for it was the absolute most heartwarming thing. Beverly was unable to have children and no longer has any family. She refers to my mom (her best friend) as her little sister. They met in 2013 and have been friends for over a decade.” Perez’s mom and Ooley have an incredibly tight-knit bond, despite a slight age difference. “They really are just the best of friends and are so lucky to have each other. They look out for each other and have the friendship most people hope to find once in their life. They would do anything for each other and take the best care of each other.” For Perez, this is a true inspiration of community love and care. “They are a great example of how we should all be looking out for each other and taking care of each other, mutually. I tell my husband all the time that I think we all tend to assume that everyone has someone. Someone they can turn to, count on, someone that will take care of them when they need it, bring them soup when they’re sick, etc., but it’s not always the case. My mom has taught me that well and she embodies that care and love for people like I’ve never seen. Food tends to be the way we show our love and care, and it’s most certainly a universal language! Putting the china to good use And as for that china set? “Since I just got it recently, I have used it just the one time for her tea party! Since she opened her hutches and cabinets to me and told me to please take whatever I loved, I also received many other beautiful treasures from Beverly, including many crystal and glass pieces. So I made sure to set the table with all of the beautiful treasures that she hasn’t used in decades. I made the invitations, calling it ‘Beverly and Margaret’s tea party.’ She was really touched and loved it, and she lit up when she saw the table, instantly recognizing all of her things.” The post 92-year-old woman leaves a voicemail for her best friend’s daughter. It’s one she’ll never delete. appeared first on Upworthy.