Why does receiving a compliment often feel as awkward as being told you have food in your teeth or your fly is unzipped? In a recent episode of the NPR podcast Life Kit, social psychologist Erica Boothby and behavioral scientist Xuan Zhao delve into the science behind compliments — and explain how your reaction to them might reflect your own self-esteem. Their insight on giving and receiving praise is illustrated in this comic strip, which we suggest scrolling through after listening to the episode. — the Nice News team
Featured Story
Why Stretching Is Underrated — Plus 4 Exercises a Master Flexologist Recommends Doing Daily
roze ultra/ iStock
It's easy to think of stretching as merely a pre- or post-workout ritual, but the practice is such a boon for your body that it shouldn't be limited to your weekly kickboxing class. Just a few minutes daily can invite a bevy of benefits, improving everything from posture to blood flow. "Stretching is one of the most accessible yet profoundly healing practices we can offer ourselves," Bonnie Strati, a master flexologist at stretching and mobility studio StretchLab, tells Nice News, adding: "Stretching is a conversation with your body. It's a chance to listen, soften, and return home to yourself." Click below to dive deeper into the physical and mental health perks, and learn four stretches that take less than five minutes each.
Much of the U.S. has weathered multiple heat waves this summer — and it's only early August. One way to stay hydrated amid the high temps? LMNT's science-backed electrolyte drink mix. LMNT delivers the ideal electrolyte ratio of sodium, potassium, and magnesium in delicious flavors, like Citrus Salt, Raspberry Salt, Watermelon Salt, and Orange Salt. Get a free eight-count sample pack of LMNT's most popular flavors with any purchase to find your favorite.
"Clear the Shelters" Is Back to Match Rescue Pets With Forever Families
Arlington Animal Services
August signals the tail end of summer for some — but it could be just the beginning of a new chapter with a furry best friend. This month marks the return of Clear the Shelters, a national campaign that helps rescue pets find their forever homes. Led by NBCUniversal, this monthlong campaign has facilitated nearly 1.2 million adoptions since its inception in 2015, including a record 170,000 last year alone. The aim is to turn the spotlight on pets in need through adoption events and media coverage, with many participating shelters reducing or waiving adoption fees throughout August to encourage more people to open their homes (and hearts) to animals. Take it from Joe Manganiello, who hosted the Clear the Shelters TV special on Friday: "Pet adoption is one of the best things I've ever done in my life," the actor told People magazine of his experience adopting rescue pup Bubbles. He added: "This little dog is the light of my life." So if you've been thinking about adopting a pet, there may be no better time than right now to make it happen. But if you're not quite ready to bring a furry friend home, you can still support the initiative by volunteering, donating, or showing your pride with some new swag (100% of profits go to the Clear the Shelters fund). Learn more and check out the map of participating shelters.
Culture
Planning Your Next Vacation? Take a Page Out of Your Favorite Novel
FreshSplash/ iStock
Have you ever wanted to explore castles like the ones in the Bridgerton series, or traverse America using Jack Kerouac's On the Road as your guide? That inclination to live out the pages of a favorite book has reignited literary tourism: a trend in which travelers choose their vacation spots based on locations they read about. Literary tourism raked in nearly $2.4 million last year, according to Future Market Insights, and it's projected to reach $3.3 million by 2034. The recent resurgence can be partially attributed to #BookTok, a TikTok community that's attracting younger readers. As a result, creative, novel-driven trips — like literary festivals, book club reading retreats, and hotel-book collaborations — are on the rise, targeting travelers "seeking more personal and meaningful experiences," Carl Walsh, a senior vice president at VisitBritain, told Thrillist. "Books create a powerful emotional connection to a place," Walsh noted. "When travelers visit a location they've read about, it adds another layer to the story and … turns a good story into something they can feel, walk through, and remember in a new way." Check out some potential itineraries.
Environment
These Paddleboarding Pups Are Helping Protect Australia's Elusive Platypuses
Zoos Victoria
You've heard of working dogs, and you've heard of paddleboarding dogs. But what about working paddleboarding dogs? At an animal sanctuary in Victoria, Australia, some impressive pups clock in by hopping on a board — their mission: helping conserve the area's vulnerable platypuses. Exceptionally well-equipped for such an assignment, the canines use their noses to sniff out the elusive species and their burrowing systems. In doing so, they're aiding scientists in tracking and learning about the platypus population around a creek that flows through Healesville Sanctuary. Having dogs search for the duck-billed mammals isn't a new practice at Healesville, but having them do so while waterborne is. This year, two detection dogs — Moss the Labrador and Kip the Kelpie — began testing the boards for reaching otherwise hard-to-access locations, earning them the nickname "the paddle pups." Watch them at work.
Sunday Selections
Deep Dives
It's not your fault you're always late — you just have a different "time style" than punctual people
How watching 1970s Muppet Show reruns helped a writer process her grief over her dad's death
A French startup lets engaged couples sell seats at their weddings to strangers who simply love celebrating love
Kids who grew up reading Louis Sachar's wacky writing, like Holes(1998) and Sideways Stories From Wayside School(1978), can now experience his storytelling all grown up. The National Book Award winner's debut adult novel hit shelves last week, and it offers all the hilarity and magic of his previous work. Set in the fictional kingdom of Esquaveta, the story revolves around Anatole, a man who was once declared the greatest magician alive but has now become an object of ridicule. It's written in first-person and offers readers tidbits of real medical and scientific history along with the plot.
In the much-anticipated sequel to 2003's Freaky Friday, Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan reprise their roles as a mom and daughter who unwillingly switch bodies — only this time, a whole other generation is involved. Lohan's character is now a mother herself, and as she prepares to wed her fiance and blend their families, her quarreling daughter and soon-to-be stepdaughter find themselves experiencing the same "identity crisis" their predecessors did via a four-way body swap. If that sounds confusing, be sure to watch the trailer for a clearer picture (and a laugh).
This Week in History
The Louvre Museum Opens in Paris
August 10, 1793
StockByM/ iStock Editorial via Getty Images
Originally built in the mid-1500s as a royal residence for the sitting king and his art collection, the Louvre opened as a public museum one year after the fall of the monarchy during the French Revolution. The site itself dates back to the 12th century, when a fortress with moats and towers was constructed there to protect Paris from invasions, the remains of which are still visible in the museum's basement. On opening day, the Louvre held 537 artworks in total, a collection that Napoleon Bonaparte would expand through his army's conquests (though many looted pieces would later be repatriated). Today, there are nearly 35,000 objects on display, including, of course, the "Mona Lisa" — which attracts around 9 million annual visitors and will soon get its very own room.Walk through the hallowed halls of the famous institution from home by taking one of these free virtual tours.
BetterHelp: Let Summer Be Your Fresh Start With Therapy
You don't have to wait for a crisis to start therapy. Consider using the calm of summer to get curious, reflect, and talk to someone who gets it. BetterHelp makes it easy to get started, with sessions offered by phone, video, or chat: no commute, no pressure. Sessions are rated 4.9/5 from over 1.7 million reviews, and right now, you can get 25% off your first month.
"It's your outlook on life that counts. If you take yourself lightly and don't take yourself too seriously, pretty soon you can find the humor in our everyday lives. And sometimes it can be a lifesaver."
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