Tomorrow marks the 1st of December, which means we're 25 days out from Christmas. Many families celebrate the yuletide countdown with Advent calendars, delighting in a delicious treat or special surprise each day until the holiday. But you don't have to purchase any particular products to partake in this tradition — making your own Advent calendar and counting down with activities is a wonderful way to spend even more time with family (or practice some much-needed self-care amid the busy holiday season). Learn how to create your own and get activity ideas to fill it with. — the Nice News team
Featured Story
"Create Space for Understanding": Expert Advice on How to Stop Being Easily Offended
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We hope your Turkey Day was filled with good vibes, but it wouldn't be totally out of left field if you'd experienced a comment or action around the dinner table that offended you — perhaps one you're unfortunately still ruminating over. If you feel as though others are constantly ruffling your feathers, or that any mention of a particularly sensitive topic can push you over the edge, here's some insight to consider: Although everyone takes offense at times, doing so too easily may be more detrimental than you realize. "Learning not to be so easily offended is really about emotional freedom. It means you don't let every comment or misunderstanding pull you off center," Arati Patel, a psychotherapist who practices in California and Illinois, tells Nice News. "You preserve your energy, strengthen your relationships, and develop more inner peace. It's not about dismissing your feelings, but learning to meet them with awareness rather than reactivity." Click below to get advice fromPatel and other experts on how to let perceived slights roll off your back and better manage your emotions.
Holiday Savings on the Season's Top Sneakers and Athletic Gear
Got an athlete in your life? Champs Sports is bringing the energy this holiday season with exclusive deals on the latest sneakers, activewear, and performance essentials from top brands like Nike, Jordan, Adidas, New Balance, and Under Armour. Whether it's fresh kicks for the court, cozy hoodies for winter, or bold streetwear looks, Champs Sports has the gear everyone wants this season — at can't-miss prices. Right now, shop the Black Friday sale for up to 50% off select products.
The Very Last Pennies Minted May Be Worth Millions
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How much is a penny worth? The answer might seem obvious (1 cent), but as collectors know, some rare editions of the copper coins are incredibly valuable. That's certainly the case for the Omega pennies, which are the last-ever minted pennies and bear a unique "Ω" mark. The decision to stop penny production came down to simple economics, per Popular Science. For the past two decades, pennies have cost more to make than they are worth, and they've become somewhat obsolete. So, on Nov. 12, the U.S. Mint produced its final sets using the die casts seen above — and they're not your average pocket change. The last batch of pennies consists of 232 three-coin sets to commemorate the 232 years since the currency's inception in 1793. Each set includes a Philadelphia-minted penny, a Denver-minted penny, and one made of 24-karat gold. It's unclear just how much these coins will command at the Dec. 11 auction hosted by Stack's Bowers Galleries, but some enthusiasts suggest they could sell for $2 million-$5 million apiece. See renderings of what the Omega pennies look like. (And note that, though probably only worth 1 cent, the pennies you still have lying around remain legal tender.)
Humanity
How a Diverse Range of Emotions May Help Us Make Better Decisions — Take the Test
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When it comes to emotional states, we'd all love to vacillate between being just plain happy and having the time of our lives. But research into an idea called emodiversity suggests that experiencing many different emotions — even negative ones — is a good thing. "What we found in our research is that people who experience a diverse range of emotions, both in terms of balance but also in terms of pure richness, tend to be healthier, mentally and physically," Jordi Quoidbach, a professor of behavioral science who studies happiness and decision-making, tells Nice News. But it's not just well-being that emodiversity may improve. Quoidbach and his colleagues also found that it plays a role in good decision-making. Click here to learn how to diversify your emotional experience — and when you're done reading, consider contributing to Quoidbach's research by taking his Emodiversity Challenge, linked at the bottom of our article.
Environment
"Adopt-a-Ranger" Program Helps Parks Employees Have a Happier Holiday Season
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The National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service oversee some of the country's most treasured natural resources, from the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone to 154 national forests. Budget cuts and layoffs — more than 4,400 park rangers and other staff were fired in February — have put these lands and their stewards in jeopardy, but a grassroots initiative called "Adopt-a-Ranger" aims to help. Sandra Ramos, known as @nationalparkpatchlady on Instagram, launched the movement when she realized many people wanted to lend a hand but didn't know how, she said on the Rangers of the Lost Park podcast earlier this month. Built on the "idea of community and mutual aid," the program allows public lands staff to sign up to be "adopted" by a supporter, while members of the public can sign up to "adopt" an employee. Ramos and her colleagues make the matches, and ensure each adoptee receives a care kit for the winter holidays. More than 500 people signed up to participate when Ramos launched the initiative — far more than the 50 she had initially expected. "Things are rough all around, but the generosity and abundance of spirit we are seeing on this project is so, so good," Ramos wrote after seeing the response.
The holiday season has all the ingredients that make it perfect for playing games and doing puzzles: colder weather for cozying up indoors, family togetherness, and a break from work or school. And while you may be in the habit of pulling up Wordle or Strands on your phone in your free time, there's also something special about putting pencil to paper when it comes to filling in those crossword clues. The New York Times has you covered with its new game book, Puzzle Mania!, a beautiful collection of your favorite puzzles, logic games, trivia, and more for poring over with loved ones or on your own.
Canadian comedian Katherine Ryan is 42 years old — but in the first season of her podcast, she clocked in at age 77. That's because on the series, Ryan and her celebrity guests take biological age tests that offer insight into how their bodies' ages compare to the years they've actually been alive, and then they discuss the results with a biochemist. Ryan's initial test was affected by her pregnancy, lifestyle habits, and the fact that she lives with the autoimmune disease lupus, but this month she took a follow-up test on the show: Learn how her biological age changed.
This Week in History
Rosa Parks Refuses to Give Up Her Seat on an Alabama Bus
December 1, 1955
Underwood Archives/Getty Images
It's difficult to comprehend that just 70 years ago, Jim Crow laws in Montgomery, Alabama, mandated that Black people sit in the backs of city buses and give up their seats for white riders if the bus was full. On Dec. 1, 1955, seamstress and civil rights activist Rosa Parks challenged that system of segregation, refusing to yield her seat. Her courageous act got her arrested — and also sparked a movement that would put "the effort to end segregation on a fast track," per the National Constitution Center. Parks' arrest spurred a 13-month protest called the Montgomery Bus Boycott, during which many Black residents refused to ride the city's buses. The boycott began Dec. 5, when local Black leaders met to form the Montgomery Improvement Association, electing a 26-year-old pastor as the group's president: Martin Luther King, Jr. The movement shaped the course of history, resulting in the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that segregation on public buses is unconstitutional.
Brad's Deals:Make the Most of Your Prime Perks This Cyber Monday
Free shipping and exclusive shows and movies are just a few Amazon Prime perks. But if these popular perks don't cut it, maybe some lesser-known incentives will convince you to sign up — especially ahead of Cyber Monday. The experts at Brad's Deals uncovered hidden Prime perks that many members don't know about, and they can help you save big tomorrow.
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