High school loves its cliques. Even when there’s no classroom involved, everyone’s learning who they are by who they’re surrounded by. And if you were one of the kids who never quite fit into any specific crowd, it might have been a lonely time.But here’s the thing: being a loner in high school wasn’t a flaw. It was training for becoming the kind of adult who moves through the world with depth, empathy, and authenticity.Author Alexandra Robbins, who coined the term “quirk theory” in her book The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth, explains that the very traits that make someone an outsider in high school often become their greatest strengths later on. Nonconformity is a wonderful trait, and it's going to be valued in adulthood,” she told Salon. If you're different in school, that makes you an outsider. If you're different as an adult, that makes you interesting, fun, and often successful."Of course, no two people’s stories are the same. Being a “loner” can come from a hundred different experiences…some chosen, some not. What follows isn’t a checklist or a box to fit into, but a look at a few shared traits many former loners say helped shape who they became.Here’s what that often looks like.1. You’re observantWhen you’re not caught up in all the noise of popularity politics, you start to see things others miss. Be it that telling flicker in the eye when someone is lying, or acts of kindness that tend to go unseen. It’s an awareness that sticks with you, allowing you to make connections that feel a little more grounded and real. Two women gazing deeply into each other's eyesPhoto credit: Canva2. You’re fiercely independentYou learned early on that your sense of worth didn’t come from fitting in, which gave you an unshakable independence (even if it was hard won). You’re self-reliant, resourceful, and comfortable doing your own thing. These are all skills that make for confident, grounded adults who don’t crumble under pressure.3. You’re selective about your relationshipsLoners tend to take the "quality over quantity” approach to friendships, choosing a handful of loyal, ride-or-die friends instead of chasing popularity. Therapist and author Esther Perel said it best: “The quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life.” So having higher expectations early on is a pretty good setup for success. 4. You’re comfortable in your own companyWhile plenty of adults still struggle with being alone, you made peace with solitude a long time ago. Time to yourself doesn’t feel empty, it feels restorative. In the quiet, you recharge, reflect, and reconnect with what matters. As psychologist Itai Ivtzan, Ph.D., notes in Psychology Today, “The benefits of solitude include increased self-awareness, enhanced creativity, and reduced stress.” When you can find peace in your own company, you carry it with you wherever you go. But you already know that. A man looking out over a valleyPhoto credit: Canva5. You’re highly self-awareYou know yourself. Really, truly know yourself. You recognize when your emotions are getting the better of you, when to pause, and when to speak up. That kind of awareness helps you move through the world with thoughtfulness, and helps you make choices that actually align with who you are, not who others expect you to be. What a gift. 6. You’re purpose-driven, not status-drivenRemember how popularity was everything in high school? You opted out…maybe not by choice then, but intentionally now. Instead of chasing status or approval, you tend to pursue what feels meaningful. You value authenticity over applause.7. You’re empathetic toward outsidersThankfully, your childhood experience of being on the outside looking in made you softer, not harder. You notice when someone’s being overlooked, and you have a quiet way of making room for them. That kind of empathy isn’t flashy, but, boy, is it powerful.8. You’re private, but you feel deeplyLoners often have rich inner worlds, they just express them in quieter ways. So while you might not wear your heart on your sleeve, your emotions run deep. You care deeply, love intensely, and think before you speak. And the right ones take note. A woman tearing upPhoto credit: CanvaAnd finally, a slightly less “positive” trait…9. You still battle old narratives, but you’re rewriting themEven now, there might be a small part of you that still feels “uncool.” But the truth is, you were never meant to fit in. Every step you’ve taken since high school proves it. We all carry echoes of those teenage years. Growing up just means learning which voices to keep, and which ones to finally let go.So, if you ever catch yourself thinking back to those cafeteria days and feeling like you didn’t belong, remember: the loner you were back then helped shape the remarkable person you are now. You found depth where others chased approval, and peace where others sought attention.And honestly? That might just be the real definition of cool.

Some people just seem to age, for lack of a better term, better than the rest of us. Take Paul Rudd, who hasn't aged a day in 30 years and may actually be getting visibly younger in front of our very eyes.But aging gracefully goes far beyond just how you look or even move. The thing we really want to keep as we get older is our brain power, our mental faculties, and specifically our memory. When humans get into their 80s and beyond, these become incredibly precious.There's actually a name for people over the age of 80 whose cognitive abilities and memory rival the average 50-year-old. They're called SuperAgers.SuperAgers have been a source of fascination in the scientific community for a long time, as they may hold the answers for how all of us can live not just longer, but healthier and happier lives.One research team at Northwestern University has been studying the brains of SuperAgers for the last 25 years. They just recently published their first batch of findings in the Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association. - YouTube www.youtube.com The team identified SuperAgers primarily using a delayed word recall test. It's a commonly used assessment in identifying Alzheimer's Disease and involves subjects being presented with a list of words and asking them to recall them after some amount of time has passed, often around 10 minutes.According to the study, your average 80-year-old does about half as well as your average 50-year-old on these kinds of recall tests.There are many different kinds of memory and cognitive function that can be measured, but the researchers focused on this one, called episodic memory, because "Episodic memory function ... is the faculty with the most decline during average aging and also the area of cognition that triggers frequent complaints in older individuals."Tamar Gefen, one of the authors, says less than 10% of people over the age of 80 are SuperAgers. But, wow, are they impressive. CNN recently highlighted a woman named Carol Siegler who won her age group in the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament at 82-years-old and regularly auditions for Jeopardy! despite closing in on her 90th birthday.So what are the SuperAgers doing right that the other 90% of us aren't? Here are some highlights from the study:1. SuperAgers both drank alcohol and abstained. They ate clean and nutritious, or they ate lots of junk. Some exercised regularly and others did not. Overall, the subjective "health" of their lifestyle was not a major factor. Exercise is great for your health, but not all SuperAgers were fitness nuts. Photo by Joseph Corl on Unsplash You've heard of the health nuts that live long and virile lives, but you've probably also heard of the 100-something-year-old man who swears by a bottle of whiskey a day. The Northwestern research backs up both stories.At least when it came to their brains and cognitive function, SuperAgers haven't done anything drastically different than the average person—which is an encouraging sign. After all, nobody's perfect.2. There were two major things most of the SuperAgers had in common: They were outgoing and often involved in many activities.The study specifically observes that most of the participants were "gregarious."It's a chicken-and-the-egg scenario, for sure. Whether they were an outgoing bunch because of how sharp their brains still were, or whether their penchant for joking around and trying new things somehow helped them age better isn't for certain. But it's extremely intriguing that the correlation was so strong in the findings.3. Much of the difference between SuperAgers and average agers came down to biological differences in the brain. The brains of SuperAgers were different in a few key areas. Photo by Shawn Day on Unsplash Our brain mass decreases overall as we age, particularly in the cerebral cortex which is involved in memory, learning, and cognitive function. It's a process called cortical thinning.The researchers at Northwestern were able to determine that SuperAgers experienced less cortical thinning than their peers, so they were able to maintain more brain mass through aging. It's possible they are also born with larger brains and able to withstand more of the loss. Some areas of the SuperAgers brains were even thicker and more developed than adults 30 years younger, particularly an area associated with "homeostasis; motivation; emotion; and, most importantly, social networking and affiliative behaviors."Finally, SuperAger brains are somehow better able to protect themselves against Alzheimer's Disease."What we realized is there are two mechanisms that lead someone to become a SuperAger," author Sandra Weintraub said. "One is resistance: they don't make the plaques and tangles [key components of Alzheimer's Disease]. Two is resilience: they make them, but they don't do anything to their brains."This isn't something your average person can replicate, most likely, but don't fret: It could open up exciting new doors into Alzheimer's Treatment and prevention one day if this ability could be harnessed in some kind of medication or therapy.80-year-olds that have the brain power and memory of people half their age definitely seem to have some biological advantages. But that doesn't mean it's all sheer luck. There are steps anyone can take to maintain their brain function as they get older. Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash Lee Lindquist, a geriatrician at Northwestern, recommends a few habits that can help anyone age more gracefully and stay sharper for longer.Though not always a major factor for SuperAgers, other studies have shown that poor physical fitness and BMI can heighten your chances of getting Alzheimer's Disease, so regular exercise and activity is still important.Next up: Continue to challenge yourself. Famously, Dr. Sanjay Gupta says that discovering new things and "stretching" the brain is key to brain health as we get older. It helps create new neural pathways instead of letting them corrode. Lindquist agrees, writing, "Try reading an article on a subject with which you’re unfamiliar, or take classes that put you outside your comfort zone." Or, you could always try out for Jeopardy!Third, it's important to prioritize social connection as we get older. The SuperAgers are social butterflies, which might just come naturally to them or could be related to how their brains age, but either way, we know that loneliness is horrible for your health in the long run."While we can’t guarantee that you’ll never get Alzheimer’s Disease if you have a strong social network, it’s an important part of the lifestyle decisions we can make—like diet and exercise—that can contribute to living better, longer,” says Dr. Lindquist.Finally, remember that it's OK to indulge sometimes, in moderation. SuperAgers with razor sharp brains rarely abstained from sweets and alcohol or lived in the gym. A healthy lifestyle and diet is important, but not at the cost of finding joy, fun, and social connection in everyday life.It's safe to say that most of us would like to live a long life, especially if our brains stay sharp and active into our twilight years. We'd like to remember our lives vividly, have strong friendships, enjoy hobbies, and form connections with our grandkids and great-grandkids and maybe even great-great-grandkids one day. There's no guarantee any of us will win the genetic lottery when it comes to our brain structure, but there are things each of us can do to ensure we have the best chance at such a future.

Millennials and their Baby Boomer parents have generational differences when it comes to parenting. While some Millennials feel that Boomer grandparents have taken an "absent" approach to grandparenting, others are showing up—especially for babysitting duties.Millennial mom Lily Chapman, who is currently expecting her second child, expressed her "controversial" parenting opinion about when her Boomer parents come to babysit. Rather than micromanage and try to instill her own parenting beliefs into her parents, she relinquishes them while they babysit and goes with the flow."Just don’t give her a grape and we’re good lol," she captioned the TikTok video. @ebcjpg Just don’t give her a grape and we’re good lol “I think this is more controversial or unique than I thought it was, but my take is basically: If you’re watching my kid, you can do it your way,” Chapman said in the video. “My baby has three sets of grandparents. They all do things very differently. As long as you’re not crossing an explicit boundary that I’ve set that has to do with safety, I will not be complaining.”Chapman also shared that her dad will send photos of him and her daughter Ruby still up long after her normal bedtime (two hours, to be exact)—but that it's not a problem for her. Her response: "Looks like you guys are having fun."She also added, "I'll be like, 'Oh I hope my baby likes potatoes' and my mom will be like, 'Well she loves my French fries'...and I'm like, 'Hell yeah, sister!" @ebcjpg I don’t care if it’s fear mongering it’s honest and I was not ready lmao However, Chapman did note that one rule she hopes her parents will implement is "strictly, strictly no screen time." But when she gets a photo from one of her daughter's grandfathers of the two watching a baseball game together, she doesn't let it bother her. "Ruby’s cheering for the Rangers? Hell yeah, she is," she said.And many parents watching the video appreciated her parenting perspective. "YES this is how a village works. And who better to disrupt their routine than people who love them vs a teacher or friend later on," one commented. Another mom added, "It’s good for them to see that not everyone has the same set of rules. As long as my babies not eating popcorn I’m good. ??♀" And another wrote, "Part of growing up was 'breaking the rules' with aunties and grandma!!! It’s part of having a village!! I love this. I think it helps teach balance too." Another mom also commented, "I think that’s so healthy. She’ll be adaptable, and have the broader experience of different approaches and experiences." - YouTube www.youtube.com Chapman told TODAY.com that she's taken this approach because she recognizes her need for support as a parent. "There has not been a single day of parenthood when I haven’t needed help...I had to relinquish control right off the bat," she said. "Boundaries are good but they need to be worth it."And her strict safety boundaries? Chapman shared that they are: having caregivers cut her daughters food into small pieces to avoid choking, no guests dropping by while watching her daughter, and always following safe sleep practices.Chapman added that she is open to her personal parenting beliefs being challenged if they are not related to safety. "I want my daughter to remember that grandpa always had the game on—it’s a core part of his personality," she said.

Most pet owners will have multiple pets in their lifetime, and the bonds between humans and their animals vary drastically. Some pets are equal parts annoying and adorable, some are nice companions, and some become beloved members of the family. But once in a while, a certain pet will come along that is qualitatively different. They're special. They get you. And the bond with that one special pet is one that people cherish and remember their whole lives. One woman managed to capture the moment she knew her new Border Collie was her "soul dog" on video, and honestly, it couldn't be clearer. Victoria Lorenzo (@viccttoorriia on Tiktok) shared a video of her dog, Stryfe, sitting in the passenger seat of the car while Whitney Houston's "I Have Nothing" blares on the stereo. Victoria sings along at the top of her lungs, and as the chorus ramps up, Stryfe—whom she had just gotten—begins to howl along with her. The more Whitney and Victoria belt, the more the dog howls. And then comes the climax, which gets the good doggo barking and howling, all while looking back and forth between Victoria and the world whizzing by outside, as if she's lost in the music like any girl would be. @viccttoorriia I had just gotten her, I went on a drive to blast music and she sat and sang the whole song with me. Still my girl #souldog #trendingvideo #fyp #viralvideo #whitneyhouston ♬ original sound - Sug ? Victoria tells Upworthy that she met Stryfe at the animal shelter the same month she lost her childhood dog. "We locked eyes and I knew she was the one," she says. "My mom and I came back the next morning as soon as the shelter opened up to get her. She loves French fries, music, and chicken. She’s referred to as my 'shadow dog'—she’s always with me wherever I walk."People loved seeing such a clear example of a dog and human bonding in real time, especially over an emotionally charged Whitney Houston song."She’s literally just a girl," wrote one person."When she gave a big howl and started barking on point for the drop ??????? soul mates," wrote another."I just know she feels like she’s in a music video when she takes little breaks to look out the window??," shared another. People were a momentarily concerned when someone who claimed to be a vet chimed in, until they saw what the person's whole comment said: "Vet here. Please be careful when singing and playing loud music like this in front of your dog as it may cause her to leave you and audition and win The Voice."Some people shared their own experiences with their "soul dog," the one pup that they shared a special bond and mutual adoration with. @pennypiepuppy my soul dog ? That bond is not all in people's heads, either. According to Science, research from 2015 shows that when our dogs stare into our eyes, it launches the same hormone response in our bodies that makes us bond to our human babies. That gush of love when you gaze at your puppers? That's real. And the hormone rush happens to dogs, too (albeit to a lesser degree than in humans, which probably isn't too surprising.)Takefumi Kikusui, an animal behaviorist (and dog owner) conducted a study of oxytocin levels in dogs and dog owners at Azabu University in Sagamihara, Japan. Oxytocin is nicknamed the "love hormone" because it's the one that's released when we fall in love. Kikusui's study found that both humans and dogs saw a significant increase in oxytocin levels as a result of gazing into each other's eyes. @kovuthefrenchie ? #souldog #cutestdog #frenchiesoftiktok #frenchiepuppy #petsoftiktok "Mutual gazing had a profound effect on both the dogs and their owners," wrote David Grimm for Science. "Of the duos that had spent the greatest amount of time looking into each other's eyes, both male and female dogs experienced a 130% rise in oxytocin levels, and both male and female owners a 300% increase." Dogs and owners who didn't gaze into one another's eyes showed no release of oxytocin.However, who needed a study to know that the bond some people have with their dog is legit? When that mutual love is there, it's usually pretty obvious, even from the outside. But for those lucky enough to experience it, a "soul dog" is a beautiful bond that transcends basic pet ownership. Thanks to Victoria and her crooning Stryfe for the perfect example.

Brittany Carey knows her way around a thrift store. The California-based mom makes a side hustle of hunting for hidden gems to resell online, which lets her stay home with her kids when she’s not chasing the thrill of a great find. But even for a seasoned thrifter, her latest discovery was next level.While scoping out her local Goodwill in search of a Halloween costume for her daughter, Carey spotted what looked like a basic Halloween mask. “It was dirty, had several holes, and was smushed as if it had been sitting under a heavy box for months,” Carey told Newsweek.Still, something about it caught her eye. When she flipped it over, she noticed a small mark under the chin that read “Fun World.” That single detail changed everything.Carey had unknowingly nabbed herself a vintage Ghostface mask—the same one worn by the killer in Scream, one of the most beloved slasher films of all time. @curatedbycarey it’s almost Halloween, keep an eye out for these at the thrift store!!! #sidehustle #reseller #ghostface #funworld ♬ original sound - curatedbycarey Thinking it should go to a fan that would truly “treasure it,” Carey listed her $5 Goodwill purchase on eBay for just 99 cents. Within half an hour, the bids soared to $405. By morning, they had climbed past $500. When the auction ended, the final price reached $780 (with fees, the buyer paid more than $850).“It was incredible,” Carey said in her Instagram video, which has now been viewed more than a million times. “I’ve always heard of people finding things like this, but I never thought I’d be one of them.” @curatedbycarey #stitch with @curatedbycarey does this mean I don’t have to get a 9-5 job now?! #reselling #sidehustle #ghostface #thriftflip ♬ original sound - curatedbycarey For longtime Scream fans, the story is a perfect blend of nostalgia and movie magic. The Ghostface mask, designed to emulate Edvard Munch's painting "The Scream," wasn’t originally designed for the big screen. It started life in the early 1990s as part of Fun World’s “Fantastic Faces” line of budget Halloween masks, with names like “Weeping Ghost” and “Peanut-Eyed Ghost," according to Newsweek. During production on the first Scream movie, a producer spotted the mask in a Halloween shop and showed it to director Wes Craven, who instantly knew it was perfect.The find couldn’t have come at a better time, either. Ghostface has seen a cultural comeback in recent years, from viral TikTok trends to Halloween costumes for both people and pets. @makoandkonasmom I AM SO EXCITED FOR THIS SERIES ? #dogsoftiktok #dog #scream #ghostface #greenscreen ♬ glow up challenge - Spencer Hunt Carey told Newsweek that the sale helped pay for essentials like diapers, groceries, and medical bills—but the true joy came in knowing the mask would go to someone who “valued it.”For anyone hoping to follow in her thrifting footsteps, Carey says patience is key. “It takes time to go through every item, and it can feel discouraging when you’re not finding the right piece," she told Upworthy. "[But] if you can’t find what you’re looking for, I guarantee it will be there waiting for you next week."She also noted that you never know what small piece of information might lead to your next great find: “I learned about vintage Ghostface masks from a friend on Instagram, and that enabled me to know what I stumbled about at the thrift store!”It certainly makes you wonder what other treasures might be lurking in Los Angeles thrift stores. After all, if there’s any city where Hollywood relics could end up sandwiched between old Tupperware and a velvet Elvis painting, it’s LA.

People are always taught that it’s right to be kind and to make others feel comfortable. To be someone who isn’t easily offended and doesn't make people walk on eggshells. However, Kim Peretz, a personal growth influencer and host of the Claim Your Power podcast, says that people shouldn’t always be totally comfortable around you.“People should be 5% uncomfortable around you ... it does not mean that you are a rude, unkind, unpleasant, malicious person, it means that there is an unspoken energy in your aura, an unspoken declaration that you don't need to verbalize outwards. It’s in how you carry yourself,” she said in a TikTok video with over 60,000 views. “How you respect yourself in your own self-worth and how much you love yourself, that those around you do not feel comfortable enough to disrespect you, to talk down on you, or to betray you.” @kimperetzz When you truly love yourself, your energy speaks before you do. It’s not about being intimidating or cold at all (stay kind and with good values) but rather it’s about having an aura so grounded and self-assured that people naturally think twice before disrespecting you. That slight discomfort at the thought of disrespecting you is the frequency of true AUTHENTICITY. It comes from deep self-love, from knowing your worth so fully that your presence silently commands integrity. comment “part 2” if you want me to make a more in depth explaination on this #energyspeaks #selfdevelopment #mindsetshift #selfeesteem #personalgrowth Peretz believes that once people become comfortable making others a little uncomfortable, something hidden within them will be unleashed, and they will earn more respect from everyone.Why it's okay to make others a little uncomfortable“You're going to go from being this like people pleaser person who overextends themselves, who doesn't have boundaries, who isn't fully immersed in their self-worth, to this energy of ‘I am in my power. I know who I am, I am this kind, loving person, and you do not mess with my energy because my energy is my gift and I protect it at all costs.’ And it's not something that you say; it's in how you carry yourself,” she continued. A confident woman.via Canva/PhotosPeretz may come off as a little “woo-woo,” as they say, with her use of words like energy, aura, and power, but there is a lot of truth at the heart of her message: You should carry yourself in a way that people should be concerned about crossing you.Although Peretz’s post seemed controversial, just about everyone applauded her in the comments. “Yeah, I think it’s all about boundaries. Knowing who you are and not dimming that for others really angers other people’s demons. Really wish I had known that when I was younger, would have saved some painful memories. I am absolutely done with that, staying true to who I am,” AGraceFilledGarden wrote. @drazizgazipura Why You Should Stop Being So Nice #draziz #confidencecoach #SocialAnxiety #niceness #lessnice #conversation #authenticself #confidentconversation #communication #stuck #liberateyourself #nicepeople #doubleyourconfidence #confidence #confidenceboost #avoidance #anxious #socialanxiety #stopbeingniceguy #rejection #anxiety #selfesteemcheck #lowconfidence #socialconfidencebuilding Rethinking what it means to be 'nice'Dr. Aziz Gazipura, the world’s leading confidence expert and author of Not Nice, shares the same sentiment on his website. He says that when we are overly concerned about other people’s feelings, it’s a sign of weakness, not compassion. “Over-responsibility is when you take too much responsibility for the feelings and experiences of others,” Gazipura says. “In essence, this means if someone around you is feeling bad, sad, anxious, irritated, or uncomfortable in any way, that's your responsibility. You have to ‘fix’ the other person and their feelings to make sure they feel good again, and then everything's going to be okay.”“It comes from an underlying belief that says if you feel upset in proximity to me or because of me, then you’re not going to want to be my friend, my lover, or my boss anymore,” Gazipura continues.Ultimately, both Peretz and Gazipura teach that you can be kind without needing other people’s approval, and there’s nothing wrong with having a presence that makes others wary of taking advantage of you. That’s not being intimidating; it’s a symptom of having true confidence and the respect of others.

Whether you're a cat person, a dog person, or neither, you likely know that cats have a reputation for being…mmm, particular. Cats like what they like and don't like what they don't like, and they expect you to not only know this but to cater to their likes and dislikes without ever having to voice them aloud. That's right, there are unspoken rules that cat owners are expected to know and follow. If you own a cat or are around a cat, it's vital that you understand these rules. It's like a feline code of law you're just supposed to intuit or learn by trial and error, but thankfully, our friends at Feline Fanatics have laid them out clearly for us all. Here are 11 rules that will make your life with your kitty much more pleasant for everyone if you follow them: - YouTube www.youtube.com 1. Don't stare at them for too longWhile gazing into the eyes of your cat might feel like you're bonding with them, you're not when the stare goes on too long. Cats are highly visual, and in cat language, holding eye contact is a challenge—an aggressive indicator that you're down for a fight. "Among cats, even friends don't hold eye contact," the video says. "They glance, blink, and move on." So give your cat a look, but don't hold their gaze. 2. Let them come to youIf you've ever walked up to a cat and tried to pick them up, unless it's a rare kitty who actually enjoys being manhandled, most cats will not respond positively. They may immediately wriggle out of your grasp and some might scratch or bite. Others may begrudgingly accept their fate, but in general, they prefer to come to you. "Autonomy is their love language," as the video states. Yep, they want affection, but on their terms. "This blanket smells like me now."Photo credit: Canva3. Respect their 'scent map'A cat's scent map is their way of marking territory with their scent by rubbing their cheeks and bodies on items (as well as marking with urine or feces, but hopefully not in your house). This scent marking creates a sense of familiarity and comfort for a cat, and if you mess with that too much, it can make them feel disoriented. Of course, we have to wash things like blankets, pillows, beds, etc., but Feline Fanatics suggests washing things gradually and not all at once so as not to disturb their scent map. 4. Respond to their meowsCats mostly meow for humans. They sometimes meow at one another, but rarely and mostly as kittens. When they meow, they're communicating with us in some way, even if we don't understand what they're "saying." Acknowledging their meows tells your cat that you heard them, even if you didn't understand them. "Hey, I'm talking to you."Photo credit: Canva5. Give them an escape routeIn the wild, being trapped means danger, and cats are sensitive to that feeling. They like to know they can get away, so always make sure they have an exit strategy. That might mean leaving a door cracked open or avoiding crowding them. Ironically, if a cat knows they can leave, they're more likely to stay, so always give them a way to escape. 6. Don't pet them like a dogMost cats like affection, but petting a cat is different than petting a dog. Cats don't usually enjoy heavy strokes or pets that run their whole body. Their favorite petting spots are usually their heads, cheeks, and under the chin. Avoid their bellies unless you've really earned their trust, and even then a cat may or may not like their belly touched. "Do not disturb."Photo credit: Canva7. Honor the 'Do Not Disturb' signSee a cat loafing on the sofa or curled up in a sun spot on the carpet? Leave them be. Cat naps are sacred and they do not want to be disturbed. (It is tempting, though. A cat sleeping is the kind of cute that begs for cuddles. Resist the urge.)8. Speak cat body languageCats communicate far more with their body language than with sounds. A flicking tail means a cat is stimulated, possibly irritated. Purring can be a sign of contentment, but it can also be a signal of stress or pain or a way to self-soothe. Cats knead (or "make biscuits") for comfort. Showing you their belly can mean they trust you, but it can also be a trap. Watch for patterns to learn what your cat is telling you with their body language. The litter box is sacred. Giphy 9. Keep the litter box sacredCats don't love to do their business in front of people or in busy, noisy parts of the house. They also like their toilet to be clean, so keep it scooped daily and change out the litter frequently. Use unscented litter and use an open box if possible (enclosed litter boxes trap odors inside). And have one litter box for each cat in your home, plus one extra.10. Routine isn't boring—it's comfort.Cats may seem like wild creatures in many ways, but they actually love routine. Too much change to their home environment and regular routine can stress them out, so things like the family going on vacation or getting new furniture can cause stress and anxiety. As the video states, "Cats don't see routine as boring; they see it as safe." 11. Quiet is connectionKitties love sitting silently in the same place with their people. "Cats are masters of presence," the video says. Cats love quiet companionship, so if they're sitting silently in the room with you, that's a form of bonding. Just be with them in the silence and try not to disturb the peace too much. Following these unspoken rules can help create a comfortable, happy life for our feline friends, even if they can't tell us that directly. You can follow Feline Fanatics on YouTube for more helpful cat tips.

A truly under-appreciated legend. The post The singer Ian Anderson called the “unsung hero” of the 1960s first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

How sweet. The post The song Leonard Cohen wrote about falling for Joni Mitchell: “I know that we are not new” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

Just as her career was taking off, her health took a turn for the worse.