I'm Garik Khachatryan, an editorial writer with a BA in Journalism and Mass Media and over five years of experience as a writer covering news across the Americas and Europe. I've been writing for Bright Side since 2022, creating articles on trends, human relationships, travel, culture, and the emotional experiences that connect us for millions of readers around the world.
I did a high school semester in New York City, spent a year living in Spain, and can speak conversational Spanish. These days, between articles, I'm perfecting what I consider my most underrated hobby: watching Harry Potter.
I write about the things that fascinate me most: the kindness behind human relationships and the world you discover when you actually leave home. A multiple international essay award winner, I bring the same curiosity I once used in newsrooms to everything I publish here.
Backed by a journalism degree and half a decade of editorial experience, I cover the emotional and the experiential: why we connect the way we do, and what the world looks like when you're willing to explore it.
You can email me at garik.khachatryan@id.thesoul.io, follow me on LinkedIn and on Instagram @garikked
World Kindness Day falls on Friday, November 13, and for a lot of people the office is where kindness is hardest to find. When Google’s analysts studied 180 of the company’s own teams across 250 attributes, they expected talent to explain the best ones. It didn’t. Analyst Julia Rozovsky and her colleagues found that psychological safety, the shared belief that you can speak up, admit a mistake or ask for help without being punished, was “far and away” the most important dynamic, an idea they took from Harvard Business School professor Amy Edmondson’s research, as Inc. recounts. That safety is built through small acts of kindness: stepping in between an angry client and a team member, telling a new mom to go get that baby fed. The 14 bosses in this article did exactly that, and with year-end deadlines and World Kindness Day right around the corner, their generous hearts, sharp wisdom and quiet leadership are the best reminder of what holds a team together. Read them before the 13th, then do one small kind thing for someone on your team.
“Nail salons near me” — that’s where my sister starts her search for a little November self-care. The request for the nail tech would be simple: something cute, cozy, and a little different from my usual polish. With darker evenings settling in and the holiday rush approaching, even a fresh burgundy pedicure with tiny hearts sounds like a good reason to make time for yourself.From glossy honey-amber shades to delicate florals and icy pearl finishes, autumn pedicure trends are offering plenty of inspiration for November 2026. Some designs call for a little nail art, while others prove that the right color can make all the difference. Today, we have 10 cute pedicure ideas that are worth saving for your next salon appointment, with easy ways to recreate your favorites at home.
Hair salons near you are the place to start, because Thanksgiving hairstyles are getting a softer, more playful update this November 2026. Across the U.S., holiday dinners and family photos are close, so it’s a good time to book one of the hair salons near you. Think bouncy blowouts, velvet bows, relaxed updos and easy braids, hairstyles that pair with fall fashion and beauty trends.In a November 2026 look at fall’s biggest hair trends, celebrity hairstylist Dimitris Giannetos points to polished blowouts with natural-looking movement. Soft shapes and glossy finishes work with any Thanksgiving fashion and beauty look. Here are 10 hairstyle ideas to save for your appointment at one of the hair salons near you, with simple ways and instructions to recreate each at home.
Cooking Thanksgiving dinner at home is easier than it looks, as long as you start now. This step-by-step guide to 10 easy Thanksgiving recipes walks you through every dish, and the clock starts with the bird: the USDA says a frozen turkey needs about 24 hours in the refrigerator for every 4 to 5 pounds, so a 14-pound turkey needs several days to thaw. The cost is manageable, too. These trending classics, from crisp-skinned roast turkey to green bean casserole and pumpkin pie, are written for first-time hosts, and each has one trick that keeps it from going wrong. Start the thaw this week, pick your sides, and cook the Thanksgiving dinner everyone remembers.
We have a step-by-step guide to 10 quick quizzes and riddles you can solve in 5 seconds, or work through step by step without a calculator, whichever you prefer. Harvard Health Publishing’s new Daily Brain Boosters guide, prepared with Harvard Medical School’s Beth Frates, MD, lists 50 simple routines for sharpening memory, mood and concentration, and it names puzzles and brain games as an obvious way to add a mental workout to your day. Mental challenges force your brain to solve problems and strengthen its neural networks. Think of this list as the small, daily version: a riddle with a trick, a quiz with a shortcut, and a mental math problem that looks harder than it is. Try the first one tonight, time yourself, and see how many you get right before the holidays turn your living room into quiz night.
Gardening can do more than transform a backyard this fall and winter 2026. An umbrella review and meta-analysis led by I. Panțiru and published in Systematic Reviews examined 40 studies and found an overall positive association between gardening and well-being, although the researchers noted that the evidence varied in quality. Matthew J. Wichrowski, a clinical associate professor at NYU Langone who specializes in horticultural therapy, also studies the relationship between nature-based activities and wellness. From growing a flower patch to starting a composting routine, these 10 real gardening hobby moments explore how backyard gardening can become a source of joy, connection, and everyday self-care.
Holiday pedicure trends are getting a fresh update this November 2026, and anyone searching for nail salons near me might want to book before the December rush begins. With office parties, family gatherings, and festive outfits approaching, nail artists are turning to richer polish colors, glossy gel finishes, and eye-catching designs that go beyond the usual fall shades.Mirror silver, icy chrome and classic burgundy are worth considering, especially if you’re looking for gel manicure shades that can match your holiday pedicure. Before the holiday appointment rush picks up, explore these 10 fresh pedicure trends for your next nail salon visit, complete with easy ways to recreate the best ones at home.
November is here, and if you’re planning a nail salon appointment before the holiday rush, now is a good time to choose a pedicure that won’t feel outdated by December. This year’s fall pedicure trends are moving beyond simple seasonal colors, with ombré finishes, updated French tips, and chrome nail designs offering fresh ways to carry your look into the festive season.Nail technicians are highlighting everything from delicate metallic details to rich, dimensional gel manicure shades for fall and winter 2026. Whether you’re searching for nail salons near you or looking for at-home pedicure ideas, there’s no need to choose between something cozy for November and something festive for the holidays.For anyone searching “nail salons near me” before the December rush, these 10 late-fall pedicure trends offer fresh inspiration for your next pedicure appointment, along with easy ways to recreate your favorite designs at home using nail polish.
November is when jewelry trends take a more expressive turn, with vintage-inspired earrings, colorful gemstones, sculptural bracelets, and statement necklaces bringing fresh energy to late-fall outfits. Ahead of Thanksgiving 2026, fashion experts are exploring bold shapes, unexpected textures, and modern takes on classic jewelry designs. From oversized silver chains to irregular pearls and personalized charms, the latest fashion trends offer plenty of inspiration for anyone browsing jewelry stores near you or looking to refresh pieces they already own.From mismatched earrings to colorful cocktail rings, these are the 10 jewelry trends worth exploring ahead of Thanksgiving 2026, including simple styling ideas you can recreate at home using pieces from your own jewelry collection.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, November is the perfect time to refresh your pedicure before the holiday rush. From cozy fall colors to glossy gel manicure shades, nail experts are embracing fresh designs that make even the simplest toenails feel special. If you’ve been searching for “nail salons near me,” this season’s pedicure trends offer plenty of inspiration. Think soft velvet finishes, playful nail art, and cute color combinations that go beyond the usual burgundy and brown.These ten November 2026 nail trends offer fresh inspiration for your next salon appointment, along with easy ways to recreate your favorite pedicure looks at home.
Ask a parent which gift they kept, and it’s rarely the expensive one. It’s the lopsided scarf, the pot holder with one wide side, the card with glitter still coming off. Handmade gifts like that make a parent happy, and they do something for the kid who made them too. Oliver Scott Curry and his colleagues went through 27 experiments on kindness, 4,045 people in all, and found a small-to-medium boost in the giver’s well-being (it’s a 2018 meta-analysis). So when a teenager sits down with a colorful knitting pattern for the first time, or a kid leaves lunch on a desk, the happiness goes both ways. The holidays are close, and these 13 acts of kindness are small, thoughtful gestures of compassion that made some parents’ year.
As we all know, retirement is supposed to be the reward, but for many people it’s when the phone goes quiet. A 2025 AARP study found that 40% of U.S. adults 45 and older are lonely, and it named retirement and grown children moving away as common triggers. Gardening won’t fix a family, that’s true, but gardening gets you outside, and outside is where kindness finds you. In retirement, a little kindness from strangers, and a lot of gardening, can rebuild a whole life.Margaret H., 77, from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, only wanted to keep her hands busy. Her kindness at home ended up growing a lot more than flowers.