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Ryan Puno

I'm a writer, comedian, and super great friend from the Philippines. I just want to effect meaningful change in the world and believe the best way to do that is, of course, by telling funny jokes. Let's hang out on Facebook and Twitter.

Family

Meet the doctor spreading her preventive care message to the entire country.

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LaTasha Seliby first knew that she wanted to become a doctor after her aunt passed away at a very young age.

Her aunt had died of a "very, very preventable" ailment that could have been treated if she had just gotten the proper care. And when Seliby realized that, it lit a fire inside of her.

All images via Cigna.

After all, family always came first for her. That's why, soon after the incident, she decided to dedicate her life to health care and make sure nothing like what happened to her aunt ever happened again — to her family and to others.

"I wanted to be kind of a catalyst of change," says Seliby. And today, that's exactly what she is.

Because on top of being an accomplished physician, Seliby is also creating change in ways that go beyond the definition of her profession. In fact, you can see exactly how she's doing that in the amazing video below:

This is a day in the life of a doctor who is trying to make preventive health care the norm.
Posted by Upworthy on Friday, July 28, 2017

Seliby is redefining how we think about health care by putting preventive care at the heart of everything she does.

"Medicine has been looked at as sick care — you go to the doctor, and you find out what's wrong," she explains. "What I want to do is change that. Let's go to the doctor and find out everything that's right — and how to keep it right."

What's one easy way to do that? Well, you can start by keeping an eye on your health before something goes wrong. Head to your doctor for a regular check-up and know your four health numbers — blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and body mass index (BMI). That way, you can easily spot red flags and worry less when it comes to your health.

Taking care of yourself, though, is especially important for young people.

With the modern world becoming faster than ever and the daily grind for many getting more pressure-packed by the minute, it can be easy for a young person to let their well-being fall by the wayside. In fact, in a survey conducted by Zocdoc, 9 in 10 millennials admitted to avoiding regular doctor visits — skipping check-ups and screenings altogether.

And that's exactly what Seliby wants to change. Because consistent visits to your primary care provider, according to a study by UCLA, can lead to fewer ER visits and hospitalizations in the long run.

That's why Seliby is taking her mission to Capitol Hill to get the word on preventive care out to the entire country.

She regularly speaks with various lawmakers about how she can translate her firsthand experience into actionable bills that get as many people as possible understanding the value of preventive care.

"You feel like you're a part of a bigger purpose when you're able to go speak to lawmakers about things that will affect entire populations," she says.

And she's not stopping there.

Seliby is also affecting countless lives through her work as a writer and editor for Heart and Soul magazine, a national publication that "focuses on women of color, health prevention, fitness, and wellness."

Everything Seliby does is about one thing: getting people to take care of themselves before they get sick.

It's the first step needed to redefining how we all view health care. And it's the step that Seliby has worked her entire professional life to help everyone take.

Because if more people are able to practice regular preventive care moving forward, the more "catalysts of change" we'll see for generations to come.

"I feel like I'm doing what I said I want to do," says Seliby. "And I'm working to leave the legacy that I really want to leave."

Learn more about how to take control of your health at Cigna.com/TakeControl.

Heroes

What the tales of the 'Mountain Mama' can teach us about ignoring hesitation.

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Today, Amelia Mayer is known by many as the "Mountain Mama," but when it came to adventures with her own mama growing up, she wasn't into it.

When she was just 1 year old, Amelia's parents took her hiking up the glaciers and mountains surrounding her home in Alaska.

She may have been in the great outdoors often, but young Amelia had to be bribed with strawberries and pieces of chocolate.

All images via Amelia Mayer, used with permission.

Everything changed when she was around 7 years old — the same age her eldest son is now. For the first time, Amelia realized what made the outdoors so magical. She was hiking up "Lazy Pete" — a mountain you have to be anything but lazy to conquer.

"I clearly remember running to the end of it," she says, "and feeling that sense of accomplishment."

That sense of accomplishment went from being afraid and hesitant to a woman who discovered her calling.

As she got older, Amelia's love for the great outdoors only grew stronger — she even hiked and camped after her high school prom.

She'd take any excuse to be outdoors. In college, it became an even bigger part of her life. "I had a quarter where I had classes only two days a week, so I would literally go up to Mount Baker and go snow-shooting three days a week."

Once she started a family with her husband Bill, her passion for the outdoors went to a level she never thought possible.

Bill is a wildland firefighter and, believe it or not, was much more skilled than Amelia when it came to conquering the outdoors. "My husband really challenged me," she says. "To go beyond what I had known before and to get my past my mental limitations."

It's the same mentality they knew they wanted to instill in their kids — Jack (8), Peter (6), Liza (3), and Mara (1). "I want them to be able to feel comfortable enough to surpass even our knowledge," says Amelia. "Seek out something and be able to pass it on to the next generation."

Not many mothers would take on the task of looking after four kids while also keeping an eye out for elk, moose, and bears.

For Amelia, though, it's more like a typical Tuesday afternoon. The full-time mom, who lives in Yellowstone National Park, runs the popular "Tales of a Mountain Mama" blog and spends her days taking her children on epic adventures and offering practical advice for other parents on how to keep family adventures exciting and safe through her online program, "Outdoor Mom Academy."

The coolest part? Amelia's kids are learning the kind of skills that would intimidate most adults.

Whether that's rafting down a river, going cross-country skiing, or in some cases, dealing with wild animals.

In fact, those skills were put to the test when a bear unknowingly entered their campsite on one particular hike. "I turned around and I looked at the tent and literally right by the tent," Amelia explains, "the bear was standing there and my daughter was in the tent."

Immediately, Amelia grabbed her daughter while the family cleared the campsite of any food that might attract more bears and slowly made their way to safety inside their car.

It was an eye-opening moment, but one that Amelia knew her family had the strength and resolve to deal with.

Why? Whether it's a full-day river float or a 12-hour hike, these adventures serve as both confidence boosters and unparalleled family bonding experiences.

There's just something special about the bond created when you take your family off the grid and out of the comfort zone.

"Obviously, the outdoors provides a lot of unexpected challenges," says Amelia. "That's the beauty of it. We're learning those challenges as a family."

The great outdoors will always hit you with challenge after challenge. But when you push past your hesitation, more often than not, you'll surprise yourself.

Tackling tremendous feats in nature has helped her children build confidence at an early age, she says. "Pushing them just enough that they can see their strengths and the things that they can do."

The family continues to grow — it was on a backpacking trip along the Indian Creek Trail that Amelia announced she was pregnant with her fourth child.

Now, she has a fifth on the way, and it hasn't slowed her down.

"With getting outside, a lot of the limitations people put on themselves is the fear of the unknown," she says. "And I think once you get past that … we can really find great freedom in what we can do."

"There's a great strength in saying yes to adventures."

How a father-daughter duo is bringing joy to people's lives by doing what they love.

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Each holiday season, father-daughter team Ty and Vicky Shen pull out their trusty map and deliver delicious meals to people in need.

Vicky (left) and Ty Shen. Image via Vicky Shen, used with permission.

Once they've planned out their route, they load up their station wagon with all the hot meals and holiday baskets they can fit and then drive around Massachusetts — going door to door until their car is empty. They do this over and over all day until there's nothing left to be delivered.

"I've been a firm believer that those who can help, should," writes Ty in an email. "Regardless if it's time or other resources, helping our fellow man is our responsibility."

That's why, in 2001, Ty and Vicky decided to start this tradition in the first place. They loved volunteering, and Community Servings, a local nonprofit food program, was the perfect choice since they could share the open road together and, most importantly, bring joy to people's lives.

Community Servings provides medically tailored meals to individuals and families living with critical and chronic illnesses.

With 15 different medical diets on their menu, clients across Massachusetts and Rhode Island receive the perfect nutrition combination for their specific health conditions right on their doorstep. On top of that, Community Servings also provides supplementary meals for caregivers and dependent children to make sure every tummy in the house is filled up daily.

Volunteers happily hard at work. Image via Community Servings, used with permission.

Vicky fell in love with the cause when she first entered their kitchen some 16 years ago as a corps member of City Year Boston — an education-focused student support organization. Once she learned about the holiday deliveries, she knew she needed to get her family involved right then and there. After all, the spirit of helping others, Ty says, runs in Vicky's veins.

"Volunteering with [Community Servings] with my dad is one of my favorite things to do," writes Vicky. "I get to spend time with my dad, and the people at [Community Servings] who are so wonderful, and really do something that on a daily basis helps people's lives be a little bit better. "

And since they've started, they've done everything from chopping cabbage to chatting up guests to prepping the actual baskets. Whatever's needed, they're right there, ready to push the mission forward.

Delivering holiday meals in style. Image via Community Servings, used with permission.

Community Servings offers an important and much-needed service — and it wouldn't be possible without the dedication of all their volunteers.

"Each year, our volunteers give more than 55,000 hours of service, which is the equivalent to almost 30 full time employees," explains Community Servings CEO David Waters in an email. "There's no way we'd be able to serve the 1,850 individuals and families we do each year without their generous efforts."

In fact, thanks to their volunteers, Community Servings is able to prep 2,200 made-from-scratch meals every day. And just this past January, they celebrated their 7 millionth meal. (That's right. 7 million!)

8 million meals, here we come. Image via Community Servings, used with permission.

For everyone who hits the road for Community Servings, it's all about bringing joy to as many people as possible.

So whether you're a college student, retiree, parolee, or corporate professional, all Community Servings asks for is a shared passion for service. That's the heart of their mission and exactly why Ty and Vicky got involved to begin with.

Vicky goes on to add, "My involvement in [Community Servings] has been one of the pieces of my life that has made me realize how important it is to try to make a difference and make the world a better place every day."

Why one man turned his DNA test results into fascinating works of art.

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For an artist named Detour, a very deliberate trip to Tanzania changed everything.

All images via Upworthy.

Thomas "Detour" Evans was there as part of an outreach program. He didn't know the language or the culture, yet it was being outside of his comfort zone that made him feel most at home.

Which sparked the question: Where was home, originally?

The curiosity excited Evans. So much so that as soon as he came back to the U.S., he took an AncestryDNA test to dive deeper into his heritage.

When Evans got the answer he was looking for, he turned it into one of the most inspiring works of art in his career. More importantly, he sparked a much-needed conversation in the community.

The moving experience led Evans to start the "They Still Live" project.

It's a photography exhibition in collaboration with art collector Paul Hamilton.

Evans took some of Hamilton's traditional African masks, paired them with different members of the African-American community who took AncestryDNA tests, and started snapping some amazing shots of them in modern-day settings.

"As African-Americans, we still have some of that DNA within us," Evans explains. "We want to show it visually."

Well, the results are fascinating.

I mean, how awesome is this?

One of the coolest parts? The models for the shoot actually learned their AncestryDNA results at the show itself.

More than anything, "They Still Live" is a project that's bringing the community together and engaging young people in the arts.

During the exhibition, people even marked places on maps that showed where they believed their ancestors were from. From there, those that attended the event would spark conversations with others about the origins of their ancestors.

"When people were learning about themselves," Evans says, "you saw other people learning about themselves as well."

"It helped bridge a gap between us as people, and it kind of helps you just learn more about what's in your community."

In fact, with the help of activist Panama Soweto, Evans is now expanding his project to help 40 young people who are at risk of gang involvement.

The youths will start by creating their own mask based on how they see themselves. Then, after three months, the youths will do it all over again. Only this time, they'll have their AncestryDNA test results with them.*

"If you understand where you've come from," Soweto adds, "then the negative things that we put with ourselves every day in order to get by, we can chip away at them if we truly have a unique understanding of each other’s experiences and what that really means."

Each and every one of us has a unique story to tell. And sharing those stories with others only makes our bond even stronger.

As we learn more about the richness of our past and shared history, it undoubtedly lights the way towards a brighter and more unified future.

"Everyone has this background that they can shine a light on," Evans says. "And I want to try to give that to everybody, and this was a really unique way of doing it."

Watch how the entire experience unfolded right here:

This artist created a beautiful and moving photography series, inspired by the results of this AncestryDNA test.
Posted by Upworthy on Friday, June 30, 2017

*The AncestryDNA service is intended for adults. Minors can only use AncestryDNA with the consent of their parent or guardian.

How one man is helping at-risk youth by providing a place to do what they love.

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Nowadays, it feels like skate culture has become synonymous with Long Beach. But it wasn't always that way.

In fact, before the year 2000, Long Beach, California, didn't have a single skate park to its name. But Mike Donelon, a former city councilman, helped change that.

In 1996, Donelon noticed more and more kids around the neighborhood picking up skateboards. But they didn't have a safe — or even legal — place to skate. Kids ended up skating on private property or the streets most of the time, which led to them being ticketed by police or getting into serious accidents.

Donelon knew that if he could provide a proper venue for the kids to skate, they'd take full advantage of it.

All images via ASK, used with permission.

But many members of the community were against the idea. They latched on to negative stereotypes such as kids destroying property and thought more skating would lead to more crime.

"Most of the opposition was the unfounded negative impression of skateboarders," Donelon writes in an email.

But Donelon, who calls himself a "a rebel with a positive mission," had a plan to enlighten the naysayers: have the kids talk to the community themselves to highlight just how important this was to them.

The plan was a success. Says Donelon: "I was blown away by the kids' involvement. We would invite 25 kids to a meeting and 50 would show up."

The city listened. In time, the kids had a skate park they could call their own.

In 2000, Donelon helped open the El Dorado Skate Park to finally give kids a safe and legal place to do their thing. But soon after, Donelon saw that skate parks could have an even bigger effect in the community.

When he noticed kids from all over Long Beach traveling long distances to enjoy El Dorado Skate Park, Donelon realized that expanding the program and building more skate parks across the city — including in under-resourced areas — would engage at-risk youth unlike ever before.

In 2003, the Michael K. Green Skate Park was established.

The best part? After just three years, the city of Long Beach let Donelon know just how effective the skate park was. According to Donelon, drug-related incidents and violent crime have dropped in that neighborhood since the skate park was built.

To keep this incredible momentum rolling, Donelon then founded the Action Sports Kids Foundation (ASK), where he now serves as executive director.

Their main mission is to provide at-risk youth with an alternative to gang life through action sports, education, and community activities. And since day one, they've been flourishing.

Mike Donelon (left) and ASK team co-founder Alberth Mimila.

"Our team started with 8 kids in 2011," writes Donelon. "We now have 180 members with 60 that show up to our monthly meetings."

ASK also regularly invites guest speakers to share their wisdom — from the mayor to the police chief to professional skaters and their official teams. ASK even hosts fun events like best trick contests and field trips to other skate parks in the city.

Since its inception, ASK has undoubtedly played a major role in changing countless lives and establishing eight skate parks across Long Beach.

In fact, legendary pro skater Tony Hawk uses ASK as a model in his own foundation to show cities across the country just how effective a skate park program can really be.

"Skateboarding and skate parks give at risk youth a sense of belonging to something positive," Donelon writes. "It works and we are proof."

Donelon and Tony Hawk with the kids of ASK.

ASK welcomes anyone to come in and join their mission. All you need to do is reach out to them to let them know you're interested, and they'll find the perfect spot in their organization where you can help out. You can also attend any of their upcoming events to see how they're creating change firsthand.

If you're unable to work with them directly, though, there are so many other ways you can make a similar impact in your community. Whether it's becoming a mentor, throwing events to shine a light on important issues, or even reaching out to your local government about starting your own skate park, there are countless ways to follow ASK's incredible example.

At the end of the day, if there's anything that their story shows us, it's how creating lasting change in the community simply starts by listening to the people who make it so special.

From Your Site Articles

This veteran took a 2,500-mile road trip to save his dog's life. It worked.

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U.S. Army veteran David Broido and his dog Bones have been best buds since Broido brought him home 10 years ago.

Broido was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after his service. "It was pretty bad," he says, and he knew that he wanted a canine companion to help him with his recovery. So two years later, he rescued Bones as a puppy from a shelter and trained him to be a service dog. That, he explains, changed everything for him.

(In fact, it wasn't long before Broido's friends noticed Bones' impact on his mental well-being and started calling him Dr. Indiana Bones.)

Image via David Broido, used with permission.

Over the years, the pair did absolutely everything together.

They'd often dress up in full gear and go to cosplay events. And when they weren't doing that, they took road trips to fun places like the Whitewater Preserve in Whitewater, California, and the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve in Lancaster, California.

Bones taking it all in at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve. Image via David Broido, used with permission.

They also spent their days driving to over 200 historic film locations all across California.

[rebelmouse-image 19528726 dam="1" original_size="750x750" caption="Yes, that's where they filmed the famous drag race scene in "Grease." Image via David Broido, used with permission." expand=1]Yes, that's where they filmed the famous drag race scene in "Grease." Image via David Broido, used with permission.

But on June 2, 2017, Broido got some devastating news.

Bones had developed a severe limp in his rear left leg, so, concerned, Broido took him to the West Hills Animal Hospital. After running a series of tests, the veterinarians told him that Bones had osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer.

Broido was told that the disease was fatal and that the only way to save Bones was to amputate his leg — a procedure Broido couldn't afford.

Needless to say, Broido was devastated, but he knew time wasn't on his side if he was going to save his best friend's life. He couldn't give up. So, he says, "I acted mad fast," immediately researching every possible solution over the weekend.

He soon had a plan: With the help of a GoFundMe page set up by his friends, he would drive cross-country to his home in Philadelphia, where the cost of Bones' surgery would be much lower.

ROAD TRIP! Image via David Broido, used with permission.

He wasn't sure whether he would raise enough money to pay for both the trip and Bones' treatment, but at the very least, he thought, it would give him one more epic adventure with Bones.

Even if the trip just served for Bones to be surrounded by friends and family at the end of his life, he knew he had to make the journey special.

"I was fairly positive this was just gonna be the last road trip we were gonna have," explains Broido. "I had to make it really awesome."

So Broido packed his trusty Subaru in L.A. with everything they needed, double-checked all the gear, and hit the road with his buddy.

The trip was one of their most epic:

They went to Arches National Park to see some of Utah's incredible rock formations:

Image via David Broido, used with permission.

They made sure to visit Ghost Rock in Utah to take in more of the great outdoors:

Image via David Broido, used with permission.

They definitely, Broido says, had to drive through the Rocky Mountains — it was something he always wanted to do:

Image via David Broido, used with permission.

They even stopped by the Gateway Arch in St. Louis:

Image via David Broido, used with permission.

And to really get in the spirit of a road trip, they even slept in the back of Broido's car in a Walmart parking lot in Kansas:

Image via David Broido, used with permission.

Finally, four days later, they arrived in Philadelphia.

While they were on the road, something Broido didn't expect happened: The community had come together to help save Bones.

"By the time that I had gotten home, [the GoFundMe page] had reached its original goal," Broido remembers, meaning that he could afford to go ahead with the expensive procedure to save Bones.

And the surgery at VRC Hospital was a success.

Image via David Broido, used with permission.

Today, Bones is recovering well, says Broido. Soon, they'll be outfitting him with a cart to help him walk.

It was a whirlwind month, for sure, but more than anything else, Broido is excited that he can still go on countless more adventures with his best buddy.

Image via Lecsy Bell, used with permission.

For Broido, Bones' story is the perfect example of the power of people coming together.

"There isn't any way I'm ever gonna be able to thank all these people," he says. "There's no amount of words that are appropriate for this."

That's why Broido understands — more than ever before — that it doesn't take much to pay it forward. Even if it's the smallest act of kindness, for Broido, what matters is that you're making a positive impact on people's lives.

Image via George Zerumski, used with permission.

"It doesn't really cost much to make somebody happy," he adds. "It costs a lot to make somebody angry or upset, you know what I mean? It costs way more to be stressful and angry than it does to just be happy."

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What this basketball champion can teach us about finding our own passion.

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In the NBA's storied history, few players played with as much passion as Paul Pierce.

All images via Barilla.

Nicknamed "The Truth," Pierce was known the world over for his undeniable court savvy, clutch shooting, and killer basketball instinct. In 2008, he won an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics and capped off his amazing playoff run with a Finals MVP award.

Pierce is also a champion off the court. His nonprofit, "The Truth Fund," empowers underserved youth by providing them with educational assistance. He's also the recipient of the NBA Home Team Community Service Award and has assisted various organizations with rebuilding parks and neighborhoods across the country.

This past season, Pierce stepped away from the NBA after a legendary 19-year career.

But just because he's no longer playing basketball doesn't mean he's lost an ounce of his passion for sports — he's still got plenty of it.

And aside from basketball, there's one sport in particular that Pierce loves — a lot. And it might take some people by surprise.

"I'm very passionate about bowling," he explains. He says part of the reason he loves it so much is because it is a very social sport.

"Even though there is a competition, it's a great social environment for you and your friends to go relax, get your mind off stuff, and also have fun with it," he says.

In fact, as Pierce started seeing success in the NBA, he never let go of bowling and always made sure it was a huge part of his life.

He talked all about it in a recent interview with YouTube sensation Hannah Hart on the YouTube show "While the Water Boils" — all while they cooked some delicious pastafeaturing Paul's special "Truth sauce." Check it out right here:

Pierce is especially passionate about sports because he loves seeing the work ethic that other athletes put into their craft.

That's why Pierce's next big step is to circle the globe and experience every major sporting event.

"I made a list," he adds. "I've never been to a Super Bowl. I was thinking about maybe, like, going streaking during the World Cup."

Clearly, that last part is a joke.

But what isn't a joke is his appreciation for what gets athletes to the pinnacle of their sport.

"People don't know how hard other athletes work," he says. "It's just like a certain admiration for them because I know, behind the scenes, they're doing something that we wouldn't probably imagine doing."

Whether it's basketball, bowling, or any sport, for that matter, to Pierce, the recipe for success is simple: Pour your heart into doing what you love. And keep doing it no matter how big the obstacles are in front of you.

Yes, following your passion takes a lot of sacrifice and dedication, but ultimately, it's all worth it.