Grand Teton National Park. (Photo: rmarmion/Depositphotos)

Since its inception in 1916, the National Park Service (NPS) has strived to protect natural environments and offer a world-class experience to all its visitors. Now, thanks to a generous donation, it'll continue to uphold these missions. The National Park Foundation announced it has received the largest grant in its history, a $100 million gift from Lilly Endowment Inc.

“For over 50 years, private philanthropy has played a vital role in bridging the gap between park needs and available funding,” said Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation, the fundraising arm of the NPS created by Congress in the 1960s. “This grant will allow us to supercharge our efforts to ensure our national parks are for everyone, for generations to come.”

The money will be used to address the needs of the more than 400 national park sites that make up the NPS, from famed sprawling sites such as Yellowstone National Park in Montana and Yosemite National Park in California to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument in Birmingham, Alabama.

“Our founders were inspired by the beauty and wonders of the natural world and supportive of research and educational programs about archaeology and the cultural history of our nation,” said N. Clay Robbins, chairman and CEO of the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment, which was created by members of the family behind the pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly and Company. “We are pleased therefore to further their interests through this grant.”

The funds will be allocated to four key areas—creating opportunities for young people, thus inspiring the the next generation of park stewards; ensuring the health and longevity of the fragile ecosystems and species, such as the trout; leveraging new technology that makes the parks more accessible and engaging; and delivering a more comprehensive historical narrative that includes underrepresented groups.

“The impact of this gift will be felt in our parks and in surrounding communities for generations to come,” added Chuck Sams, director of NPS. “This is a truly visionary investment, and an example of how the power of philanthropy can amplify this crucial work that we all believe in so much.”

The National Park Foundation announced it has received the largest grant in its history, a $100 million gift from Lilly Endowment Inc.

Yosemite National Park. (Photo: bryndin/Depositphotos)

“This grant will allow us to supercharge our efforts to ensure our national parks are for everyone, for generations to come,” said Will Shafroth, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation.

Yosemite National Park. (Photo: lunamarina/Depositphotos)

The money will be used to address the needs of the more than 400 national park sites that make up the National Park Service.

Acadia National Park. (Photo: f11photo/Depositphotos)

The funds will be allocated to key areas, such as creating opportunities for the youth and protecting fragile ecosystems.

Rocky Mountain National Park. (Photo: rondakimbrow/Depositphotos)

National Park Service: Website
h/t: [AP]

Related Articles:

National Park Service’s Tweets Are So Funny That You’ll Learn About Nature Without Noticing

Yurok Becomes First Tribe to Co-Manage Land With National Park Service

Hydrothermal Explosion at Yellowstone National Park Takes Visitors by Surprise

Former Japanese Internment Camp in Colorado Is America’s Newest National Park

READ: National Park Service Receives a Record-High Gift of $100M, the Largest Grant in Its History

When the Taliban took over Afghanistan, women and girls were stripped of many, if not most of their rights. Female students were barred from attending university, shattering the dreams of thousands. Now, 19 female Afghan students who had to give up medicine will be able to complete their studies in Scotland.

The project was spearheaded by the Linda Norgrove Foundation, which worked with UK and Scottish governments to arrange visas and places at medical schools. After over three years of work and trying to break through red tape, the students arrived in Edinburgh last week.

The Scottish Government was able to amend student funding, allowing the Afghan women to be treated as home students, meaning they are eligible for free tuition and living costs support . However, the road wasn't easy.

“We and the students have worked to clear many hurdles for them to travel to Scotland: TB tests, English tests, university interviews via Skype, negotiating the border travel to Pakistan to apply for UK visas, Pakistani visas, biometrics, accommodation, student funding applications, student accommodation applications, bank accounts…the list goes on,” writes the Linda Norgrove Foundation.

Despite all the work, it was all worth it. “We’re all delighted to have finally succeeded after so much frustration, said John Norgrove, from the foundation. “Finally these 19 incredibly talented young women get their future back with the opportunity of a tremendous education and a career. The alternative for them in Afghanistan wasn’t good.”

This endeavor spotlights the mission of the Linda Norgrove Foundation, named after a 36-year-old aid worker who devoted her life to helping Afghan people before she was kidnapped and her life was taken during a failed rescue attempt. Norgrove’s parents quickly set up a foundation to continue her mission. Over the last 14 years, the foundation has raised more than £3 million to fund projects for women and girls in Afghanistan.

Omulbanin Sultani, one of the 19 women relocated to Scotland, described the time since the Taliban takeover as the most challenging years for her, her friends, and all women in Afghanistan.

“We endured 1,000 days of suffering to reach this point, 1,000 days of being confined to our homes, 1,000 days of having our voices silenced. One thousand days with nothing but tears and sorrow, 1,000 days of our lives wasting away.”

Now, the 21-year-old will continue her studies at the University of St. Andrews. “When we heard about the visa approval, we were so excited I felt like I was flying. We are going from hell to paradise.”

19 female Afghan students who had to give up their medical studies following the Taliban takeover will be able to complete their education in Scotland.

Welcome to Scotland

19 female Afghan medical students barred by the Taliban from completing their studies have arrived in Scotland to train to become doctors,

thanks to @LindaFoundation, UKG's Scotland Office, @scotgov and Scottish universities.@kirstyjmcneill

1/3 pic.twitter.com/vctpZqVces

— UK Government Scotland (@UKGovScotland) August 21, 2024

The project was spearheaded by the Linda Norgrove Foundation, which worked with UK and Scottish governments to arrange visas and places at medical schools.

Female medical students travel to Scotland to evade Afghanistan's Taliban education ban.https://t.co/wYLjEc4nf6 pic.twitter.com/kWjbVT3ovy

— STV News (@STVNews) August 21, 2024

Linda Norgrove Foundation: Website | Facebook
h/t: [BBC]

Related Articles:

Top British and Irish Universities Offer Free Online Courses to Afghan Women

100 Afghan Musicians, Music Students, and Teachers Successfully Escaped the Taliban

Afghan Boys Are Using Social Media to Protest Taliban Banning Girls From Going to School

Afghan Women Are Sharing Photos of Colorful Traditional Dresses in Protest of Taliban Clothing Mandate

READ: Female Afghan Medical Students Resettle in Scotland To Finish Their Studies After Taliban Education Ban

Ever since Rosa Saito broke into the modeling industry, she has become the ultimate proof that age is just a number. The 73-year-old Brazilian model has walked the runway, starred in marketing campaigns, and graced the covers of fashion magazines. But most surprisingly, she has only done this for about five years—she first pursued a modeling career after her 68th birthday.

“No one had commented on my appearance until I reached 67, when people suddenly started to notice me,” Saito told The Guardian. It all began when photographers and casting agents in her hometown of São Paulo began stopping her in the street to compliment her looks and suggest she became a model. “It was very strange, but being spotted made me realize I could still achieve something for myself at this stage of my life,” she continued.

Known for her long, silver hair and elegant poses, Saito has tackled all kinds of fashion projects. Since we last checked in on her, she has starred in a Mother's Day campaign for fashion brand IDA, modeled jewelry for TROIS, appeared in ELLE Brazil, and even became the face for a line of beauty products by O Boticario.

Although she seems like a natural due to the elegance she emanates, it wasn't always easy. “At my first casting they asked me to act like I was just getting home from a nightclub, but I have never done that before,” she recalled. “I didn’t get the job, but I started to see how modeling is about inhabiting a character and performing. It was a challenge that began to excite me.”

The rejections only made her want to try harder. By turning past experiences into knowledge, she knew what photographers and other models would need to make a shoot work.

On top of the grace she brings to the industry, her attitude towards aging has turned her into a role model. For her, it’s important to show the fashion world that women like her exist and should be represented.

“I don’t feel old and I don’t think about getting old, since it’s a gift to be doing this in my 70s,” she says. “I have plenty of dreams for the future and milestones I want to achieve, but the real beauty of maturity is knowing that anything is possible, at any age.”

Ever since Rosa Saito broke into the modeling industry, she has proven that age is just a number.

The 73-year-old Brazilian model has walked the runway, starred in marketing campaigns, and graced the covers of fashion magazines.

Surprisingly, she has only done this for about five years—she first pursued a modeling career after her 68th birthday.

Known for her long, silver hair and elegant poses, Saito has tackled all kinds of fashion projects.

Over the last year, she starred in a Mother's Day campaign for fashion brand IDA, modeled jewelry for TROIS, appeared in ELLE Brazil, and even became the face for a line of of beauty products by O Boticario.

On top of the grace she brings to the industry, her attitude towards aging has turned her into a role model.

For her, it’s important to show the fashion world that women like her exist and should be represented.

“I don’t feel old and I don’t think about getting old, since it’s a gift to be doing this in my 70s,” she says.

“I have plenty of dreams for the future and milestones I want to achieve, but the real beauty of maturity is knowing that anything is possible, at any age.”

Rosa Saito: Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Rosa Saito.

Related Articles:

92-Year-Old Woman Is the World’s Longest Working Model

61-Year-Old Mom Models Her Son’s Fashion Brand and Goes Viral

87-Year-Old “China’s Hottest Grandpa” Stuns the World by Walking the Runway Shirtless

60-Year-Old Woman With Shockingly Youthful Looks Is Crowned “Miss Buenos Aires” in Argentinian Beauty Pageant

READ: 73-Year-Old Model Rosa Saito Stuns the Fashion World, Defying Social Conventions About Age

Photo: Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives of New Zealand via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)

Haka is one of the most well-known elements of Māori culture. With vigorous movements and stamping of feet, this war dance is a daring display of pride and strength. While it is often seen in large gatherings, such as weddings and sports matches, it was recently seen in a more solemn setting, bringing visibility to Māori heritage. Hana-Rawhiti Kareariki Maipi-Clarke, a Member of the New Zealand Parliament, performed a haka during her maiden speech.

At 21, Maipi-Clarke is the youngest Member of Parliament since 1853. She has represented the Te Pāti Māori, a political party that advocates for Māori rights, since winning her place in the 2023 New Zealand general election. Maipi-Clarke has defended the Māori people and heritage long before her victory. At 17, she published a book about maramataka, the Māori lunar calendar, titled Maahina.

A year before joining the parliament, she delivered a heartfelt message on the 50th anniversary of Te Petihana, a call for the recognition and revitalization of the Māori language. Reminiscing about that, Maipi-Clarke said, “A whole year later, we can say we have made it inside the House and we have arrived. We are here. We are sailing. We are navigating, just like our ancestors once did, in the biggest ocean in the world.”

Maipi-Clarke delivered her maiden speech on December 12, 2023. Following the powerful haka, which called for unity and peace, she addressed the Māori youth. “To my younger siblings, my goddaughter, my nieces and nephews from up above, no matter what comes out of this Government, I will make sure our kids hear us. Never fit in. You are perfect. You are the perfect fit. To the tamariki Māori who have been sitting in the back of their classroom their whole life, whakamā, waiting generations longing to learn their native tongue, to the tamariki who haven’t been to their pepeha yet, it is waiting for you with open arms.”

She then spoke to her electorate, adding, “To every person that is watching from home, to every person in this room up above, this isn't my moment; this is yours. Every time you hear my voice, it will echo of my ancestors. Every time you look me in the eyes, you will see the children that survived. Over the next three years, you will see history rewrite itself without a pen.”

You can watch Maipi-Clarke’s emotional haka and speech below.

Hana-Rawhiti Kareariki Maipi-Clarke, a 21-year-old Member of the New Zealand Parliament, performed a haka during her maiden speech.

Hana-Rawhiti Kareariki Maipi-Clarke: Instagram

Related Articles:

Māori News Anchor Makes History as First Primetime Journalist With Moko Kauae Face Tattoo

New Report Details Māori Sailors’ History With Antarctica That Long Predates European Exploration

New Zealand Passes Law That Bans Cigarettes for Future Generations

106-Year-Old Indigenous Filipino Tattoo Artist Becomes Vogue’s Oldest Cover Model

READ: Youngest MP To Be Elected to the New Zealand Parliament Performs Haka During Her Maiden Speech

More than 300 million people in the world are color blind, making it far more common than many people realize. Additionally, 98% of people with the condition have red-green colorblindness, making it by far the most common variation of the condition. As a result, many color blind people are unable to see art in the way that its creator originally intended, which can rob a piece of its original meaning and prevent them from fully being able to enjoy the work. Fortunately, a museum in Portland recently rolled out a new program designed to combat this.

The Portland Art Museum will now loan out red-green colorblindness glasses to patrons who request them, allowing them to see art in a way that would have previously been impossible. With this program, the Portland Art Museum is the first museum in Oregon to ever offer colorblindness glasses to visitors. It now joins hundreds of other museums in the world, including the George O'Keeffe Museum, Van Gogh Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, the National Gallery of Art, the Corning Museum of Glass, Centre Pompidou, and Galerie d'Italia.

The museum was able to purchase five pairs of EnChroma colorblindness glasses thanks to a grant through The French American Museum Exchange, which aims to help blind and low vision museum patrons interact with art. The glasses contain a light filter that heightens the difference between reds and greens, and while it doesn't completely negate colorblindness, it does make it possible for people with red-green colorblindness to see a larger variety of hues. These glasses normally retail for approximately $200 and $400, making the Portland Art Museum's rental program even more unique.

“A lot of my job is curation and art analysis and looking at art constantly, every day,” says Jason Lee, a Kress Interpretive Fellow at the art museum and one of the first people to try out the glasses. “I think a lot of people experience art in completely different ways, and that’s one of the beautiful and powerful things about it. It's exciting because I think that I'll get the opportunity to revisit some of my favorite works.”

The museum has both child and adult sizes, as well as options that can fit over prescription eyeglasses. For more information, consult the museum's accessibility page.

Portland Art Museum: Website | Instagram | X | Facebook
h/t: [The Oregonian]

This article has been edited and updated.

Related Articles:

Interview: Color Blind Photographer Reveals How He Overcomes His Chromatic Condition

Colorblind Father is Overcome with Joy After Seeing His Kids in Color for the First Time

10-Year-Old Boy Gets Colorblind Glasses for His Birthday and Has the Most Wholesome Reaction

This Reverse Ishihara Vision Test Only Works If You’re Colorblind

READ: Museum Offers Color-Blindness Glasses To Help Visually Impaired Visitors View Art in a New Way

Embed from Getty Images

This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase, My Modern Met may earn an affiliate commission. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Nearly 20 years ago, Canadian blogger Kyle MacDonald lit up the internet by trading his way from a red paperclip to a two-story home. Inspired by the childhood game Bigger, Better, where the goal is to trade an item for something more valuable, it took MacDonald just shy of one year to leapfrog from a common office supply to a home.

MacDonald was 26 years old in July 2005 when he decided that he wanted to settle down in a home after growing tired of paying expensive rent in Montreal. At the time, he wasn't working so he decided to see if he could trade his way there. He set up a website and offered his red paperclip for trade, promising to visit whoever made an offer. This set off an incredible chain of 14 trades that culminated in MacDonald being offered a $50,000 home in the small town of Kipling in Saskatchewan.

“I knew it was possible,” he said on a BBC radio show. “You can do anything if you put your mind to it.”

His first trade was for a fish-shaped pen, offered up by someone in Vancouver. The same day, he traded the pen for a hand-sculpted doorknob in Seattle. He then traveled across the country to Massachusetts to complete a trade for a Coleman camping stove with fuel. There was a lull in action until September when a sergeant at Camp Pendelton gave him a 1000W Honda EX generator for the stove.

After a moment of panic when the New York Fire Department confiscated the generator, MacDonald was able to get it back and trade it for an “instant party.” This consisted of an empty keg, a neon Budweiser sign, and an IOU to fill the keg with beer. The party ended up in the hands of a comedian and radio personality from Quebec, who offered up his Ski-Doo snowmobile.

The snowmobile turned into a two-person trip to Yahk, British Columbia, which then snowballed into a box truck and then a recording contract with an Ontario studio. By spring 2006, things really began to snowball, with the recording contract being traded for one year's rent in Phoenix, Arizona, and then that being traded for an afternoon with Alice Cooper.

An aspiring rock photographer and Cooper fan scooped up the Alice Cooper afternoon and traded MacDonald a motorized KISS snow globe. This seemed like a risk to some, and many fans commented their disappointment on his site. But MacDonald knew that someone would find the snow globe valuable, and he was correct.

Photo: OisinisiO via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

In fact, actor Corbin Bernsen traded a speaking role in a film for the snow globe. It turns out that Bernsen is an avid collector of snow globes and jumped at the chance to have the rare KISS globe in his collection. It was at that point that the town of Kipling, population 1,140, decided to offer up a two-story farmhouse for the role. And just like that, in July 2006, he managed to get the ultimate trade.

MacDonald and his girlfriend moved into the house, but they eventually traded it to a restaurant owner. Today, it's called the Paperclip Cottage Cafe in honor of this unique history, and the town of Kipling even had a large red paperclip sculpture to remind everyone of this crazy adventure.

As for MacDonald, he wrote a book about his adventure and inspired others to try to replicate his success. Looking back today, the project is a reminder of a simpler time on the internet, which was then used to make human connections and bring people together.

In 2005, it took a little over a year for blogger Kyle MacDonald to trade his way from a red paperclip to a $50,000 home.

In this TED Talk, MacDonald shared his incredible trading journey.

Related Articles:

People Donate $270,000 To Loyal Burger King Employee of 27 Years

Man Wins the Lottery 14 Times Using a Simple System of Basic Math

Woman Finds $6,200 Designer Wedding Dress at Goodwill for Just $25

59-Year-Old Who Bought His First Pool Table With Lottery Winnings Is Now Playing for England Team

READ: Learn How a Canadian Man Traded a Red Paperclip for a $50,000 Home

Photo: peterwey/Depositphotos

On July 22, a fire suddenly broke out in Jasper National Park, spreading quickly and causing significant damage across the Canadian forest. As the flames grew, hikers and campers in the area were ordered to evacuate, and thankfully, 18-year-old volunteer firefighter Colleen Knull was there to lead the way.

Knull was working a summer job as part of the kitchen staff at a Jasper lodge when the fire started. “The smoke was coming up from the mountainside,” she recalls. “It was big.” The trainee firefighter quickly alerted the guests at the lodge and searched for other campers in the area. She gathered a group of 16 people and led them through a difficult four-hour hike in the dark, guiding them all to safety.

Rebecca Tocher was among the evacuees. She described Knull as “an amazing leader,” recalling how she took charge and kept everyone united during the tense and frightening hike. Tocher vividly remembers, “There was intense smoke, my eyes were burning, and there was ash falling constantly.”

Fortunately, Knull was familiar with the trail and was able to use her tracking skills to navigate the area. “I had previously rode up a horse up to that lodge on that same trail and throughout the way me and my employer, we had cut logs on the way up,” she recalls. “So, I knew there would be 67 cut logs on the way down.” In addition to counting the logs, Knull also relied on horse tracks and manure to guide the group safely through the dark.

During the hike down, the group was able to communicate with search and rescue crews to help with the evacuation, and eventually, the group reached a pickup truck. Knull managed to pack all 16 people inside and drove them to safety without any serious injuries. “She was just on it,” said Dave Richmond, another evacuee. “And she led it the whole way.”

Knull, who is training to become a full-time firefighter, demonstrates that bravery and resourcefulness are essential in any dangerous situation. But what truly sets her apart is her compassion for others. She explains, “I do it because, at the end of the day, I know I’d want to go home—and I’d want someone there to help.”

18-year-old volunteer firefighter Colleen Knull guided 16 hikers to safety during a fire that erupted in Jasper National Park.

h/t: [CBC]

Related Articles:

Hawaiian Zookeeper Bravely Saves Critically Endangered Animals From Wildfires

Cat Saved From Earthquake Rubble by Turkish Firefighter Won’t Leave Rescuer’s Side

Man Scales 19-Story Building to Rescue Mother From a Fire in Philadelphia

Man Scales 19-Story Building to Rescue Mother From a Fire in Philadelphia

READ: 18-Year-Old Woman Bravely Leads 16 Hikers to Safety During Jasper National Park Wildfire

Embed from Getty Images

The Olympics had a bittersweet end for the Team USA gymnasts. Jordan Chiles, who won bronze in the floor final, has been asked to return her Olympic bronze medal following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Not willing to let her be without a memento of her great performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, rapper Flavor Flav got her a special present. On top of honoring her achievement, it is, in his own words, “something NO ONE else has.”

“Ayyy YOOOO @ChilesJordan,,, imma make you a BRONZE CLOCK NECKLACE,,,” Flavor Flav wrote on X (formerly Twitter). He later revealed the present with another message: “USA gonna Fight the Powers that be,,, in the meantime between time,,,Imma always a man of my word.” The clock, made by Rock N Stones by Kellz, is covered in bronze rhinestones, evoking the shining essence of a medal.

During the games, Flavor Flav emerged as a patron saint of women's sports. It all began when he heard that the women's water polo team were working two or three jobs to be able to chase the Olympic dream. The rapper also stepped up when discus thrower Veronica Fraley couldn't pay her rent a day before her first competition.

On August 5, Chiles received a 13.666 in the women's gymnastics floor finals. Moments later, Team USA submitted an inquiry stating that she was improperly credited for one of her skills. Her score was raised to 13.766, enough to win the bronze medal over Romania's Ana Bărbosu and Sabrina Maneca-Voinea. Romania then filed a complaint with the CAS, arguing the inquiry was not submitted within the one-minute deadline. The CAS recommended Chiles’ original floor routine score be reinstated, prompting the International Olympic Committee to instruct Chiles to return the bronze medal, which will be reallocated to Bărbosu.

The ruling made Chiles take a mental health break from social media. However, the gymnast's mother, Gina Chiles, thanked Flavor Flav for the gesture and assured the rapper that she would pass along his message. “Thank you. Means the world,” the gymnast's mother wrote. Simone Biles, her teammate, also sent her an uplifting message. “Sending you so much love Jordan,” Biles wrote in an Instagram story, “keep your chin up olympic champ! [W]e love you!”

Jordan Chiles, who won bronze in the floor final, has been asked to return her Olympic bronze medal following a ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Embed from Getty Images

Not willing to let her be without a memento of her great performance at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, rapper Flavor Flav got her a special present.

Ayyy YOOOO @ChilesJordan ,,, imma make you a BRONZE CLOCK NECKLACE,,, and that’s something NO ONE else has,!!! Hit me up my girl,,, I gotchu,!!! pic.twitter.com/qFVzkgkx25

— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) August 11, 2024

The clock, made by Rock N Stones by Kellz, is covered in bronze rhinestones, evoking the shining essence of a medal.

USA gonna Fight the Powers that be,,, in the meantime between time,,,
Imma always a man of my word @ChilesJordan https://t.co/evxFPV0YEd pic.twitter.com/rz72uZeWEz

— FLAVOR FLAV (@FlavorFlav) August 13, 2024

Gina Chiles, the gymnast's mother, thanked Flavor Flav for the gesture and assured the rapper that she would pass along his message.

Thank you. Means the world. She's not on socials right now as you can imagine. I'll share it with her. https://t.co/HzavHHYxhp

— Gina Chiles (@gina_chiles) August 13, 2024

Flavor Flav: Instagram | X
h/t: [Today]

Related Articles:

Billie Eilish, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Red Hot Chili Peppers Perform at the Olympics Closing Ceremony

Humpback Whale Breaches During Paris 2024 Olympics Surfing Semifinals in Tahiti

Olympics Then and Now: Watch How Different the Games Were a Century Ago

Hilarious TikTok Trend Shows Why Amateur Athletes Didn’t Make the Olympic Cut

READ: Flavor Flav Makes Jordan Chiles a Bronze Medal Clock After She Is Told To Return Her Olympics Medal

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by TODAY with Hoda & Jenna (@hodaandjenna)

While getting older can sometimes feel daunting, it’s also a time to embrace the wisdom and confidence that comes with age. For American TV personality Hoda Kotb—best known as the co-anchor of NBC’s Today—her 60th birthday was made even more special by some empowering words from her friend Sandra Bullock.

Kotb celebrated her 60th birthday on Friday, August 9, and was treated with a special birthday celebration on the Monday, August 12, episode of Today with Hoda and Jenna. The episode featured a surprise video message from Bullock, who shared some words of wisdom. The actor opened up about her own experience of turning 60 in July 2024, reassuring her that the milestone is “pretty awesome.”

“I had so many brilliant and funny things prepared for you for this message that were just going to slay, but you know girl, I’m just too tired,” said Bullock. “I’m tired because I had to make my way up that mountain before you got there so I could check out the terrain and see what things look like, and just get the feel so I can fill you in. And it's weird because people seem to want us to be afraid of what it might look like when we get there.” Bullock added, “Turns out it’s pretty damn great.”

Bullock also praised Kotb for being “so incredible to so many people.” She continued, “What you do for a living and how you have to shape-shift every single day, how you navigate your kindness, even when that’s not what's coming your way. How you are to those you care about and how you keep them safe, and just who you are as a human being. We’re all pretty lucky to have you, especially your kids.”

Bullock, who adopted her own son and daughter in her late 40s, inspired Kotb, showing her that it was never too late to start a family. Kotb also embraced motherhood later in life, adopting her first child, Haley, now 7, in 2017 when she was 52. She then adopted her second child, Hope, now 4, in 2019.

“The reason that I have Haley and Hope is because when I was looking for inspiration of somebody who was a mom at my age,” Kotb said. “Sanda Bullock popped up and I called her and I said, ‘Tell me about motherhood.’ And she said, ‘It is the best decision I ever made.’” Kotb added, “From that moment forward, she led the way to these two girls.”

Kotb and Bullock bonded over their shared experiences of motherhood, but also through their mutual strength as accomplished women. Bullock ended her birthday message by saying, “Happy birthday, my sweet friend. Thank you for allowing me to be in your circle. I feel very grateful. And I have your bar set up, up here, so we can look at the view. It’s pretty beautiful.”

For Hoda Kotb's 60th birthday, her friend Sandra Bullock sent a heartfelt video message, reassuring her that aging is actually “pretty awesome.”

Hoda Kotb gets a surprise birthday message from Sandra Bullock! pic.twitter.com/vM7PsM99F6

— TODAY with Hoda & Jenna (@HodaAndJenna) August 12, 2024

Hoda Kotb: Instagram | X
h/t: [People]

Related Articles:

25+ “Then and Now” Portraits of Celebrities Posing With Their Younger Selves

Hollywood Actresses Are Depicted in Breathtakingly Life-like Watercolor Portraits

‘Friends’ Stars Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox Celebrate Lisa Kudrow’s 60th Birthday

READ: Sandra Bullock Says Aging Is “Pretty Awesome” in Heartfelt 60th Birthday Message to Hoda Kotb

The older generation and Gen Z may not always connect on the same level, but one elderly woman is bridging that gap by showing that you’re never too old to have fun. She recently went viral on TikTok after a dancer named Lil Mark shared a video of her spontaneously joining his crew for a dance performance in a supermarket.

Lil Mark is known online for making dance videos in public spaces like food courts, supermarkets, parks, and streets. In one of his recent videos, he and two friends were dancing to a rap song by BossMan Dlow in a supermarket, filming everything on their phones. An older woman—affectionately dubbed “grandma,” by commenters—bravely joined in, trying to follow their moves while one of the dancers playfully showed her how it’s done.

Surprisingly, the older woman kept up impressively well with the pros, and you can clearly see she's having a blast. She proves she’s still got it, and people online are loving every moment of it. As of writing, the hilarious video has racked up over 11.4 million views and nearly 26,000 comments from people cheering her on. “Instead of turning up her nose, she turned up,” M Banks wrote. “Love it. [I] give her all her props. She ain't no Karen, she’s Carol.”

“Awww she was happy to be apart of it,” TikToker Mamie&Darrylsdaughter  commented. “I just wish more ppl would enjoy life like this instead of being angry all the time and ready to call the police on ppl for enjoying their life.”

The dancing grandma got so much love online that Lil Mark decided to do a follow-up video with her. This time, she’s dancing right beside him, and it's adorable to see her keep up with his fast moves while confidently showing off her own groove. She even lets her zipped-open handbag swing from her arm, clearly having a great time without a care in the world.

Check out both videos below and find more from Lil Mark on TikTok.

@lilmark_m256 She was lit dc : @FLAWDA ♬ original sound – lilmark

Lil Mark: TikTok | YouTube
h/t: [Upworthy]

Related Articles:

Seniors Recreate Rihanna’s Super Bowl Performance, Get Roses From the Pop Superstar

TikTokers Are Asking Their Parents To Show How They Danced to Music in the 1980s

This Video of Joyful Kids Performing a TikTok Dance Challenge With a Pro Choreographer Will Light Up Your Day

82-Year-Old Walmart Cashier Retires After TikToker Raises $100K for Him

READ: Grandma Shows Off Her Moves as She Spontaneously Joins TikTok Dancers in a Supermarket