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Skip Black Friday and shop discounts at these companies making a positive impact on the world

Courtesy of DoneGood

While Thanksgiving is meant to celebrate all we have to be grateful for, it's also the unofficial kick-off to the holiday shopping season. Last year, Americans spent about $1 trillion on gifts. What if we all used that purchasing power to support companies that reduce inequality, alleviate poverty, fight climate change, and help make the world better?

Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, the coming days will have spending on everyone's brains. But in an effort to promote the companies doing good for the world, DoneGood founder Cullen Schwarz created Shop for Good Sunday (which falls on December 1 this year.)

Dubbed the "Alternate Black Friday," Shop for Good Sunday is dedicated to encouraging people to shop brands that do good for people and the planet. It also serves as a reminder to support local businesses making a positive impact in their communities.

While Shop for Good Sunday technically falls on a single day, this year, participating ethical and sustainable brands are running discounts for the whole week prior.

Where you invest your dollars matters, and there's great potential to put that money to good use if you know how. Check out these six brands that sell amazing products while also making a positive impact on the world. You'll not only be getting your loved ones meaningful gifts, but also making the world a brighter place along the way.

Isn't that what the holidays are really about?


Functional outdoor gear

Parque Rain Shell

Cotopaxi makes unique, sustainable outdoor gear, like this Parque rain shell, while keeping ethics at the core of its business model. The company gives 1% of its annual revenue to organizations that fight poverty and improve the human condition.

Modern furniture

Simbly Coffee Table

Simbly is a direct-to-consumer furniture company that sells modern, sustainable products built in the U.S. made of FSC-certified wood. And for every product sold, the company plants a tree.

Beautiful jewelry

Tho Bar & Geo Buffalo Horn Earrings

Hathorway is a jewelry company that handcrafts its accessories with materials like ethically-sourced up-cycled buffalo horns and handwoven rattan. Each item is designed and assembled in the U.S. with thoughtfully selected materials sourced from Vietnam, Thailand, and South Korea. A portion of the company's profit goes to initiatives that empower young, underprivileged women.

Luxe linens

Bamboo Charcoal Sheet Set

Ettitude crafts its home textiles from CleanBamboo fabric, a unique material made from 100% organic bamboo, the most resource-efficient plant on the planet. It also requires significantly less water to grow and produce than traditional cotton textiles. The products are also ethically made and come in packaging made from extra pieces of fabric.

Unique wood wares

The Charcuterie Board

Would Works creates and sells beautiful household wood products handcrafted by people experiencing homelessness or living in poverty. The company works with its artisans to provide job skills, financial literacy, and an income so they can reach their financial goals.

Empowering candles

She Inspires Candle

Prosperity Candle products are created by women refugees building a brighter future for themselves and their families. Each candle is made of soy-blend wax with essential oils hand poured in a well-designed container that is easily refilled or repurposed.

Find more of these great deals at DoneGood!

*Upworthy may earn a portion of sales revenue from purchases made through affiliate links on our site.

Business

People have newfound empathy for Boomers after video reveals the world they grew up in.

Over the past couple of decades, Boomers have been taking a lot of heat from younger generations. Their generation has become synonymous with being cold, rude, and chronic complainers. But a recently resurfaced video is bringing a level of empathy for the Boomer generation that has been lacking.

The video is an excerpt from the 1990s series, Making Sense of the Sixties. The film crew interviewed hundreds of Baby Boomers from 1989 to 1990, allowing them to reflect on their childhoods in the 1950s. They intended to help make sense of the behavior of young adults in the mid-1960s, a period that saw a massive countercultural movement in which free-loving hippies rejected traditional norms. A look through historical archives suggests that Boomers went from a Leave It to Beaver–style ideal of family life to experimenting with drugs and embracing more nomadic lifestyles.

It turns out that families in the 1950s weren't perfect at all. It was a highly curated facade meant to fool neighbors, classmates, and coworkers into believing they were a "normal" family. But it seems everyone was playing the same game, reinforced by videos that would now be viewed as propaganda.

boomers; millennials; gen x; gen z; generational differences; boomer childhood Family bonding over a game of dominoes in a cozy retro setting.Photo credit: Canva

"Everyone watched Ozzy and Harriet, and assumed that everyone they knew lived that life, and then they went around pretending that they lived it too, but no one really did," author Elaine Tyler May says. "Even Ozzy and Harriet didn't, so on some level, there's been a myth all along, and part of the plague of the 50s was the incredible personal efforts, the incredible pain involved in perpetuating that myth about one's own family. About one's own happiness in that family, about the health of that family."

Those interviewed recall an emphasis on rules and a high-control environment that discouraged anything that made a child stand out. Schools showed films that depicted the "proper" way children and teens were expected to behave, reinforcing these strict societal rules. One person interviewed said rules were so important that they were all anyone talked about, even when teens were with friends.

boomers; millennials; gen x; gen z; generational differences; boomer childhood Classic vibes: A vintage car parked in front of brick houses.Photo credit: Canva

"The rules were things you talked about on the telephone with your friends," James Gilbert recalls. "They were imposed by your parents. Parents talked about it a lot. There were high school counselors who told you what the rules were, and even if they weren't written down, everybody really knew, and you could almost read them out, cite them. And I think looking back on it from the 60s...what people did in the 60s I think subconsciously was break every damn one of them."

According to those interviewed, children weren't allowed to show negative emotions or express opinions that conflicted with what they were told to think. It appears all family members were expected to pretend to be happy while ignoring whatever emotions they were actually experiencing. So what were the rules?

The rules were simple and few: blindly obey authority without question; always control your emotions; fit in with the group no matter what; and, finally, don't think about sex. Ever.

These constantly repeated rules, along with the expectation to never break them, were stifling. One woman describes how lonely she felt growing up in the 1950s idea of the "perfect family." Another says children weren't treated as people, but as aliens expected to have no emotions.

boomers; millennials; gen x; gen z; generational differences; boomer childhood Retro family time: modern tech meets vintage charm.Photo credit: Canva

"What startles me when I look back on my yearbook photos now, they all look so old," Anne Beatts shares. "Everybody looks so old. I mean, they look like little adults...it's startling to me how old, how already getting into the groove all these people look with their flattop crew cuts, and then every so often you turn the page, and you see the guy with the duck tail, and you know ah, here's the rebel."

This small glimpse into how Boomers were raised is stirring empathy among viewers. Several say it's giving them a new perspective on their parents. One man said he had to turn the video off, writing, "Jeez. I just can't watch this anymore. It makes me physically ill. And I didn't even live through that period - I was born in 1958."

boomers; millennials; gen x; gen z; generational differences; boomer childhood Classic car cruising along a scenic coastal road.Photo credit: Canva

Another person shares, "As a late 80s born Millennial raised by young Boomers, this explains a lot about why my parents are who they are-especially my dad."

Someone else explains that their parents were happy to leave the 1950s behind: "I'm a child of the 80's & early 90's, so I thankfully never had to deal with the 50's. My parents were kids of the late 40's and throughout the 50's. They were teens in the mid 60's and came of age in the late 60's. Mom didn't miss the 50's at all and I think Dad was content to have left it behind, too."

One person empathizes, "It's no wonder the rebellion of the '60s happened - strict social hierarchies where emotions are repressed inevitably lead to an overcorrection. People are not meant to be robots on a schedule, we think and feel, it's essential to being human."

Pop Culture
Photo credit @mckinnongalloway (with permission)

McKinnon Galloway in Paris, France and images showing some of her medical experiences.

McKinnon Galloway is a health advocate and public speaker raising awareness about neurofibromatosis (NF2), a genetic disorder causing tumors to grow on nerves. In an Instagram post, she recounts her experience navigating cancer, surgeries, and other health challenges that began when she was just 16.

At 32, she's facing chemotherapy again. Her simple, honest reflection, conveyed through a kind smile and a warm laugh, says everything about an amazing young woman. It's no surprise that a growing following is not only enamored by her, but deeply intrigued by her positive mindset and drive to serve others.

Four brain surgeries and an unbreakable spirit

In the video, Galloway takes viewers on a journey through countless doctor visits, MRIs, surgeries, chemotherapy treatments, the loss of her hearing, and even an allergic reaction to epilepsy medication that changed her personality for a year. She smiles, laughs, and shares all the uncomfortable details with incredible poise and clarity. At 31, she finally caught a break from the constant medical hoops, only to face chemotherapy again at 32. Galloway shares, "A lot of people ask me how am I so happy?" This is what she has to say in the video:

"It's not about having a pain-free life; it's about having a meaningful one. So I took all of that pain, and I turned it into purpose. So now, I help as many people as I can, as much as I can, as long as I can. Because I believe when you help others, it not only helps them, but it heals you in return."

hospital, healing perspective, kindness, service, helping people, Instagram post, transcribing device, love At the hospital, fingers crossed.Photo credit: @mckinnongalloway (with permission)

Galloway shares a powerful message

Upworthy spoke with Galloway about her journey, gaining insight into how she developed such a strong perspective while navigating a complex and unique life. Here are some of her thoughts:

What about your experiences led you to the conclusion that helping people was healing?

"Living with chronic illness and disability can make your world feel very small. So much attention goes into what you’re losing, what’s changing, and what you can’t control. When I began helping others and sharing what I was learning, offering perspective or helping however I could something in me shifted. My experiences stopped feeling like isolated pain and started feeling like purpose. Helping people didn’t fix what I was going through, but it gave my struggles somewhere to land. It reminded me that even in the middle of uncertainty, I could still create impact, and that was really healing."

Was there a specific moment or experience that served as a catalyst for finding this mindset?

"After my 3rd brain surgery, I had gone completely deaf. Being deaf in a hearing community is very isolating. We don't grow up knowing ASL or lip-reading. People who have my illness (NF2) can go deaf overnight as I did. Literally overnight. I am a tech nerd so when I lost my hearing, I turned to deaf technology. I found a transcribe device and it wasn't perfect but it was a start.

I was at a conference, and a mom came up to me and asked, 'What is that?' I said, 'well, it's how I get around.' And she said, 'I can't believe that is a thing,' and I said 'well how do you communicate with Jake?' (which was her son, who was deaf) She said, 'Well we text' and I said 'For how long?' She said, 'Well, for 10 years now.' I grabbed their phones and downloaded some transcription apps that just came on the market.

The next day she comes up to me, and she tells me that her and Jake had their first successful conversation in 10 years. Tears are just streaming down both our faces. My soul overflowed with love, fulfillment, and happiness. I have been through hell and back,and I thought I had nothing left to give. And here, because of my trials, was the reason I was able to give. I haven't stopped since."

She was able to sit down and have a nice talk with that exact mom in this Instagram post:

How do you handle moments of hopelessness or despair?

"I feel like you don't have an incurable illness with 4 unsuccessful brain surgeries, over 50 bad MRIs and 16 years of failed chemotherapy, and not have hopelessness. lol... I experience hopelessness and massive anxiety. There isn't a cure for what I have. Most time I feel hopeless is when I go through an MRI and get an outcome I don't want. I have had over 50 MRIs, and since I am still battling this, almost all of them have been outcomes that you don't want. Having large brain tumors is scary. And I don't have just brain tumors, I have 6 spinal tumors too. When you start laying out the possibilities of what can happen, it gets heavy fast.

My biggest thing is to feel what you feel, then wipe your tears, stand back up and move forward. It's not healthy to hold it in. Cry it out. I feel sometimes people get stuck with holding it in or just letting it out all the time and wallowing. I believe handling this in a healthy way is a balance. Holding it in all the time isn't a strength. That exhaustion. Yesterday I cried all day. I have an MRI coming up. So I give myself the grace to get it out but I don't give myself excuses to not move forward. Yes, I have been dealt a difficult hand, but we have ONE life. And every moment, I can, I am going to live it fully."

puppies, playfulness, honesty, small stuff, brain surgeries, spa day, brain, COVID Nothing quite like puppy love.Photo credit: @mckinnongalloway (with permission)

What do you wish more people knew about the struggle and suffering?

"I wish people had my perspective but didn't have to go through what I have gone through to get it. Because it's really beautiful. You don't waste time on the small stuff. The minor problems because you understand how short and fragile life can be. When you struggle, yes, it sucks, but it also brings perspective. I am a very happy person, but I became so much happier after I almost died. I know, sounds weird. My 3rd brain surgery turned tricky. My brain was swelling, and we didn't know what to do. I remember thinking if I ever see out of this hospital room I am going to really live. Freely and fully.

Don't sweat the small stuff, because in the end, you'll realize...it never really mattered. (Honestly, this question could be answered with this one line.)"

Can you summarize how you approach each day in a few sentences?

"Simple, I wake up and think to myself, 'It's a beautiful day to be alive!' Today I am going to enjoy as much as I can.

After my 3rd brain surgery, my eye rolled inwards. I am sitting there in a hospital bed, really sick, with brain swelling, during COVID. Oh, and completely deaf. My mom and one of my best friends walk in, and the nurses help me set up a makeshift spa day with hospital towels and wash bins for our feet. And in the hospital bed, we had a spa day with a facemask and a COVID mask over them. Hospital Soap and ICU washcloth. That is now such a core memory for me. It was the moment I realized, the day is what you make it."

MRIs, fishing, hospital bed, @mckinnongalloway, mindfulness, gratitude, optimism, hope More pictures showing the balance of finding fun and doing what it takes.Photo credit: @mckinnongalloway (with permission)

Experts agree that mindset dictates happiness

Mindfulness, gratitude, optimism, and hope are all linked to happiness. Research conducted in 2025 examined whether positive coping strategies affect life stressors. The more people relied on these skills to manage challenges, the better off they felt. These positive traits helped individuals cope more effectively, manage stress, and strengthen their mental health during complex and demanding situations.

Much like Galloway, finding purpose and meaning can help prolong life and better manage depression. A 2022 study found a direct correlation between a higher purpose and overall lifespan. A 2023 study substantiated the idea that "you have to give to receive." Community connectedness, shared vulnerability, emotional expression, and a pay-it-forward approach improved health, reduced depression, and increased physical activity. The results strongly support the idea that small acts of kindness and generosity ripple through communities and have real health benefits.

cliff jumping, psychological traits, well-being, coping strategies, life stressors, determination, spirit McKinnon showing off some cliff jumping skills.Photo credit: @mckinnongalloway (with permission)

If you'd like to follow Galloway and grab some inspiration for your own life, go to @mckinnongalloway on Instagram.

Community
Jacques-Louis David/Wikimedia Commons & John Jabez Edwin Mayall/Wikimedia Commons

Why do men in famous portraits all have one hand in their coat?

One of the most famous portraits of Napoleon, completed in 1812, features him striking a rather odd pose. He's slouching in a formal uniform while standing in his study, but it's the placement of his right hand that strikes some viewers as unique.

His hand is tucked into his uniform. Not in a pocket, per se, but right through the buttons, which have been opened to accommodate all five fingers. It looks a little like he's getting ready to pull out a pocket watch or a pistol. It's not a pose you would see commonly these days, that's for sure.

photography, photographs, portraits, famous portraits, napoleon, ancient greece, rome, royalty Napoleon in 1812Jacques-Louis David/Wikimedia Commons

The more you look at it, the stranger it becomes. What's especially interesting is that this wasn't the first or only time Emperor Napoleon posed like this; it was something of his signature look.

Here's another portrait from when he was younger. The hand placement is the same.

photography, photographs, portraits, famous portraits, napoleon, ancient greece, rome, royalty A younger portrait of Napoleon.By Unknown author/Wikimedia Commons

The "hand-in-waistcoat" pose wasn't even Napoleon's invention. It was extremely popular at the time, especially in portraits of royalty and noblemen.

Some of the most famous portraits of all time feature men with a hand tucked inside a shirt, vest, or coat. A few notable examples include:

  • General Lafayette
  • The 1st Duke of Wellington
  • George Washington

photography, photographs, portraits, famous portraits, napoleon, ancient greece, rome, royalty George Washington doing the "hand-in-waistcoat."By Charles Willson Peale/Wikimedia Commons

The pose wasn't just ever-present in old paintings; it eventually made its way into the early days of black-and-white photography.

Here's philosopher Karl Marx in 1875, doing the same thing with his right hand.

photography, photographs, portraits, famous portraits, napoleon, ancient greece, rome, royalty Karl Marx posing in 1875.By John Jabez Edwin Mayall/Wikimedia Commons

So, what gives? Why the hand tuck? The simple explanation is that the pose was a sign of dignity and high class.

It likely dates back to ancient Greece.

"Some societal circles in ancient Greece considered it disrespectful to speak with your hands outside of your clothing," writes Readers Digest. "Statuary from the sixth century BC, therefore, showed celebrated orators such as Solon with their hands tucked into their cloaks."

Keeping one hand in a robe also helped prevent nervous gestures while speaking, which made the pose commonplace among powerful men and great orators, such as Aeschines, who helped popularize it.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, portraiture was incredibly important. It helped symbolize the power held by royalty, functioning almost as propaganda. It was crucial for figures of nobility to appear powerful in their portraits, so they adopted the ancient Greek approach to posing.

"Concealing a hand in a shirt became a common pose in paintings as a symbol of statesmanlike nobility and restraint," writes BBC History Magazine. "According to a 1737 book on etiquette, The Rudiments of Genteel Behaviour by François Nivelon, it symbolised 'manly boldness tempered with modesty.'"

Similar poses, like holding your hands behind your back, are still often perceived as displays of confidence and thoughtfulness.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

But there are other, more fun explanations and theories behind this iconic pose.

Some theorize that sitting for portraits, especially paintings, took so long that it was more comfortable to rest one hand inside a jacket. In fact, portrait sittings could require several sessions, each lasting multiple hours.

Others point to the famous idiom, "It costs an arm and a leg!" Hands and feet are notoriously difficult to paint, even for seasoned artists, so hiding one's fingers could make a portrait easier and perhaps even cheaper. Painter Thomas Hudson was responsible for so many famous portraits featuring this pose that some theorized he was simply terrible at painting hands.

Some say the hand-in-waistcoat pose signifies membership in the Freemasons, a secret fraternal society. Others suggest that, when it came to Napoleon's role in popularizing the pose, he may have been clutching a painful stomach ulcer. After all, he later died of stomach cancer.

But most of these theories are not backed by evidence. The pose most likely caught on as a symbol of power and nobility and, frankly, because people thought it looked cool at the time. Frankly, anyone sitting for a portrait needs something to do with their hands, and today you'll often see men posing with one hand in a pocket or "candidly" adjusting a sleeve. In a weird way, it's Napoleon's legacy living on.

Art

Frugal people share "expensive" things that actually save lots of money.

Living a frugal lifestyle is centered on saving money by being mindful about spending, often by spending less or refraining from buying altogether.

However, investing in cheap or low-quality items and services can sometimes be a waste of money, while spending more upfront can ultimately be a smart investment and a major money saver.

Frugal people on Reddit offered their advice on saving money with things often assumed to be expensive but that actually save money in the long run. As one frugal person noted, "Buy once, cry once."

These are 16 "expensive" things that frugal people say can save you more money over time.

"One thing my parents always told me was expensive was online groceries. The store I go to calls it click and collect. It's $1 and I find that I save so much money! Are the actual groceries any cheaper? No. I find that I save money because I only buy what I need I don't stroll down every aisle buying new snacks or wander into the home decor clothes or makeup sections. I also find I can easily compare prices and cost per gram or ml instead of going all around the store comparing. It's also so much easier to shop flyer deals and I don't 'hungry shop' because I use the grocery app as essentially a running list I just put stuff into my basket as it finishes throughout the week. For reference an average shopping trip when I go in store ends up being $120 and online shopping is around $90. Not to mention the time I save!" - jellostapler1

"Going to the dentist twice a year for cleanings." - MegaDaveX

"Quality bed / bedding. Invest in good sleep. 😴 Quality foods / beverages. Exercise membership / fitness equipment. I personally believe you should spend more on things that keep you healthy - because it in long run saves wear and tear on your body. You might not see the immediate effects, but your health is the most valuable thing you have." - Sure-Instruction-123

"Buying second hand luxury items. They're still new to me and a fraction of the cost. They're good quality and last!" - No_College2419

"My mother seems to think a dishwasher is expensive. It uses a fraction of the soap, water, and time. I still can't figure her her logic but that's another story." - salt_life_

dishwasher, unloading dishwasher, using dishwasher, save money dishwasher, woman with dishwasher Using the dishwasher can save you money.Photo credit: Canva

"My mother was under the impression that canned spaghetti and ground beef was the most frugal food to eat because her mother had made it when she was a teen mom and they were dirt poor. She also insisted it would be too expensive for us to eat more vegetables. In reality, I think it was probably based on the fact that neither my mom nor my grandmother knew how to cook much, and my mom hated vegetables. I make tons of food from vegetables now, and they are the cheapest things I buy. And healthy." - Boring_Energy_4817

"Backpacks. Bought my kids character bags at Target for kindergarten/first grade. They fell apart mid year. Bought them Jansport ones, they cost about 3-4 times what the cheap ones were, however, they used them elementary, middle school and high school. My oldest brought hers to college. In the long run, they were more cost effective than the cheap ones that needed to be replaced." - According-Paint6981

"Good athletic shoes. $150 running shoes: cheap. $150,000 knee replacement surgery: expensive." - Redcarborundum

"Therapy. I save a lot of money on not buying alcohol and impulse purchases!" - Own-Firefighter-2728

"For me it was my espresso machine. It definitely WAS an investment, but I went with an entry-level option and a nice grinder. It has absolutely saved me money now that I'm not picking up coffee several times per week. I did the math and, even accounting for the cost of buying milk and beans, the machine and grinder paid for themselves within ~100 days." - simple_shrimple

espresso, make espresso, espresso machine, at-home espresso machine, save money on coffee Making espresso at home can save money.Photo credit: Canva

"I would nominate AAA. One tow and you've paid for it. Or dead battery. Plus, the peace of mind is worth a lot in itself. And it's surprising how many random places have AAA discounts. It never hurts to ask!!" - Eastern-Listen5759, midwestbruin

"Getting a good laptop is a game changer. My parents always bought the cheap ones from Costco that were made of cheap plastic. I've bought the $1000 metal ones now from Lenovo and they've lasted through drops and spills and life much better. They're not slow either. Same with a good phone. I used to buy cheap ones that never lasted and now I bought an s22 and I'm on my third year with it and still happy." - monstera0bsessed

"Having hobbies! I think especially Western women have been conditioned to consume products as a pastime. Think 'shopping is my life' and 'retail therapy'. Since I got hobbies, I spend way less time scrolling through stores online or planning shopping trips. Sure, yarn and running shoes aren't cheap (*caveat that some people take the consumerism with them into the hobby, which isn't helpful), but I spend so much time making things and exercising that I don't have the inclination to even look at the latest trends." - Fatcat336

"A chest freezer! I just got one last week. It was $200 and only costs $30 a year to run. I have an air fryer too to I can make my favorite foods pretty quick from frozen. If filling it with meal prep soups and stews and craving foods like French fries and burger patties saves us from eating out once a month, it will pay for itself in no time." - Cats_books_soups

"Paying for your insurance as a lump sum." - PristineAnt5477

"A zoo pass. 120 dollars for year long access for me, my child, and one other person. By visit 3 it paid for itself and by the end of the year we have easily gone over 30 times. Often the zoo has a water spot, a playground, an aquarium, and obviously all the animals. So much cheaper than paying by visit and saves time and energy trying to find a way to keep my young kid entertained." - TheCatsPajamasboi

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