Does money really buy happiness? Are Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos happier than a school teacher living in Arkansas or a fireman in Nevada? Studies show that more money can make people incrementally happier, but Dr. Jordan Grumet, hospice doctor and author of The Purpose Code, says that the important thing is knowing how to spend it. Grumet has a great perspective on money and happiness because he has seen people from every background in their final days when they get honest about their regrets, and he doesn’t see much of a difference in how happy they are. “I take care of people at the end of life, and I’ve seen people from every economic class,” Grumet tells CNBC Make It. “I’ll tell you, money doesn’t seem to correlate. It really doesn’t. I’ve seen really, really happy poor people, and I’ve seen really, really miserable rich people.”The key indicator of whether someone has led a good life at the end is whether they have any regrets. “The happiest people I see are the ones who don’t have regrets, and the ones who don’t have regrets put the energy, courage, and time into becoming who they wanted to be, whether they spent money on it or not,” Grumet says. A woman running in the desert.via Canva/PhotoSpend your money on 'becoming' your true selfThat’s why Grumet believes that we should be careful to spend our money on things that help us grow as people. Buying a new sports car or an expensive vacation will bring you temporary happiness, but the kind that lasts comes from what Grumet calls “becoming.”“When you direct resources toward becoming a fuller, more intentional version of yourself, you’re not just chasing pleasure—you’re investing in growth,” he writes in Psychology Today. “If you love writing, you might hire a coach. If you’re adventurous, maybe it’s a trip to Machu Picchu. When spending fuels purpose and passions, it naturally draws others to you. And as the Harvard study reminds us, it’s those human connections that form the foundation of happiness.”The Harvard study Grumet mentions is the Harvard Adult Development Study, which studied participants for over 80 years. The big takeaway was that personal connections are the key to true fulfillment. “Good relationships keep us happier, healthier, and help us live longer,” Robert Waldinger, author of The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness, writes. A group of friends hangining out in nature.via Canva/PhotoPursuing your potential leads to meaningful connectionsInvesting in exploring your passions will help you grow as a person and form meaningful connections with others who share your interests. Whether that means making new friends at the runners group or connecting with other writers in your Introduction to the Novel class. Spending money on a new F350 or on jewelry probably won’t do that.Further, when we invest our resources in following our passions and personal development, it will likely lead to fewer regrets in our final days. The greatest regret people have while in hospice is that they wish they had lived a life "true to myself, not the life others expected of me.” By pursuing your passions, you’ll know in your heart that you pushed yourself to live as authentically as possible.“The data are clear: earning more money does not guarantee happiness,” Grumet writes. “Spending on things and even experiences can offer momentary boosts, but their impact tends to fade. The most enduring form of spending is on becoming—on growth, purpose, and passions that make you a better version of yourself.”

The school calendar is chock-full of activities that both parents and teachers have to rally for, but December is particularly teeming with holiday-themed events.Between the labor-intensive donation drives, the parties requiring a bajillion different snacks and decorations, and the festive field trips that need several chaperones…conjuring up holiday magic is exhausting work for everyone involved—except maybe the kids.For one mom on TikTok, the growing list finally felt like too much—and her stance sparked a heated debate about who’s really responsible for creating Christmas cheer.In a video that quickly went viral, the creator known as @heyempoweredmama shared that she plans to decline every holiday request from her child’s school this year. No donations, no volunteering, no party planning, no field trips. Her message was clear: she’d reached her limit and made a firm decision to step back.In her view, families that have the capacity will fill the gaps and classrooms will continue to run—and parents who bow out shouldn’t feel that they’re letting their children or their schools down.This sentiment immediately prompted teachers to speak their piece about how this logic often forces already overworked educators to shoulder the burden, because, in truth, many parents opt out of showing support. @heyempoweredmama This is one way im reducing the mental load as a mom of 4 navigating high functioning anxiety. Maybe this will help you too! ♬ original sound - heyempoweredmama “Don’t worry, teachers like me are accustomed to picking up the slack and working even more (unpaid) when we don’t get enough parental support because WE don’t want to let our kids in our classroom down. ??”“Please don’t make assumptions about the other parents who are picking up the slack. I teach. My husband teaches. We have two kids in two different schools. We are spread thin. But we still prioritize showing up for our kids, their teachers, and our school communities. I don’t always WANT to step in and volunteer, but I do, so that my children & their teachers are supported. It’s the same group of us, to- who participate, show up and do what we can to fill the holes left by so many families. You know nothing about what all were juggling and whether we WANT to step in and pick up the slack. You do you. But don’t make it sound like the list for volunteers is neverending. That's a lie you’re telling ourself in an effort to feel better about your choices.” Self described “room parents” seemed to share a similar opinion. “I am the room parent for my son’s class…other parents don’t step up, period. Everyone has the mindset that someone else will do it.”The original poster responded to these reactions with understanding and reiterated that she’s doing her best within her own home. She acknowledged the strain on teachers while standing by her decision.Still, some parents could empathize with where she was coming from. “Honestly, I completely understand. This is one of the reasons I don’t LOOOVE the holidays the way others do. It’s like two months of chores. School parties, teacher gifts, cookie swaps, food drives, Christmas concerts, etc., etc. On top of everything else that has to be done this time. It’s a LOT. I have also had to set some boundaries in this department. I will participate and volunteer some other time of year. Christmas? The busiest time of the year? Count me out.”Many also had constructive ideas for how things could be made more manageable, such as taking on just one volunteering activity, volunteering only for events their child is actually involved in (like a performance), or making a monetary donation instead. media4.giphy.com As the conversation grew, @heyempoweredmama released a series of follow-up videos in which she clarified that, at her child’s school at least, there was no real shortage of active parent volunteers. She also argued that the real problem is the school system itself, which requires everyone—parents and teachers alike—to do “too much.” @heyempoweredmama Replying to @its.alli ♬ original sound - heyempoweredmama What this viral moment reveals isn’t a battle between parents and teachers, but their shared burden. Parents feel buried by the growing demands of schools. Teachers feel equally swamped by a system that’s failing them. Both groups want students to experience joy during the holidays. Both wish the load felt lighter. Both are overwhelmed.No matter where you stand on this particular debate, most of us can agree on this: no one can carry the season alone. As long as the system relies on people who are already stretched thin, conversations like this will keep resurfacing every holiday season.

Five years ago, one of the most iconic Christmas sketches ever aired on Saturday Night Live. It's called simply, "Christmas Robe," and it depicts an average American family excitedly waking up on Christmas morning, running to the tree, and opening their presents. In song form, each member of the family takes turns rapping about their own gift haul: A hat, a drone, a pinball machine...Except for poor mom, played perfectly by Kristen Wiig, who only got a robe—that was 40% off. Things only get worse for Mom as she discovers that her stocking is also empty and she must now go make the family breakfast while everyone plays with their new gifts.If you haven't seen it, here it is. It's well worth watching in its entirety: - YouTube www.youtube.com The sketch got a lot of laughs and resonated deeply with people—especially moms—who watched it. It's no big secret that moms are the primary makers of Christmas magic in most Western families. While they get joy out of making the holidays special for their families, it's a lot of exhausting work, made worse when it goes unnoticed and unappreciated. It's implied, of course, that Kristen Wiig's character bought everyone their presents while no one in the family bothered to think of her at all.Jessica Cushman Johnston writes for Motherly: "[Making Christmas magic] is not something my husband or my kids put on me, it’s my own deal. It’s also a tinsel-covered baton handed down from generation to generation of women. As a kid, I just thought the warm fuzzy feelings I felt on Christmas morning 'happened.' Now I know that the magic happens because someone is working hard, and now that someone is me."Kristin Wiig's character beautifully says it all with the dead-inside expression as she feigns excitement over her lonely robe. In just two and a half minutes, the cast and writers managed to capture a frustrating feeling that millions of women relate to.The sketch spawned discussions, think pieces, and even parodies when it aired in 2020. Real moms took to social media to "show off" their own robes in an act of solidarity. The sketch had, one could say, a moment. And then, quietly, it retired and took its place in the SNL holiday hall of fame, destined to be re-watched for years to come. See on Instagram And then something funny happened. People kept tuning in. The skit continued to reach new viewers, and somewhere along the line, a few people actually learned something from the extremely silly sketch.Saturday Night Live's YouTube and social media are full of comments from viewers who say the sketch opened their eyes in a very real way. And even better, that they're changing their behavior because of it:"As a retail worker, I actually heard multiple people reference this sketch while buying presents for their wife/mom this year. Thanks SNL!""This skit changed Christmas in our house. The year it aired my husband made sure I didn’t get a robe and since this aired (okay, two Christmases have gone by) it’s a joy to see boxes under the tree and a full stocking- now in our house when I’m forgotten my husband says, “you got a robe” and adjusts the situation. Never thought a skit could change my life.""I just saw this first time. I'm definitely going to buy better present next Christmas to my mom." See on Instagram "A few years ago, I got a robe. This year, I got a new iPad plus all the accessories. SNL doing all the moms a solid.""As a grown man, this skit is the first time I've realized how true this is. And now I feel so damn awful :( Gonna bombard moms with the presents this year""Seriously! I got a bunch more stuff for my mom after seeing this! It's so accurate. No more robes for mom!""I was laughing at this, then realized my mom's stocking was empty and ran out and bought her a truckload of stuff. Love you Mom!""Thanks, SNL. After watching this with the family, I had the most bountiful Christmas ever!! And the gifts were wrapped instead of left in the bags the came in.""This video did more to stimulate spending on Moms this year than almost anything else, guaranteed. Look at SNL actually making a difference with their humor"The comments go on and on, with the video now reaching over 12 million views. Some moms changed their behavior, too, after seeing the sketch:"This is spot on, and exactly why I now buy myself Christmas presents, without feeling guilty about it."The trouble of moms unfairly shouldering too much labor around the holidays (and, well, most other times of the year) is not a new problem. Not by a long shot. So why has this skit reached people when other forms of messaging has failed to sway them?Marie Nicola, a pop culture historian and cultural analyst, says that no amount of deeply serious essays or shrugged off "mom is complaining again" can fix what satire easily addresses. That's the power of comedy at its best:"It allows the audience see what was historically unseen or ignored, and it validates the labour as visible and concrete, without being accusatory because it wraps the whole thing up in camp comedy and exaggeration. The skit makes it safe to laugh. This is what psychologists call benign violation," she says. "SNL is showing viewers that something is wrong but they have made it safe enough that people can laugh at it instead of feeling attacked. Once the defenses drop, then recognition can flow through that opening."The Humor Research Lab writes that humor occurs when an accepted "norm" is violated in a benign way—that's the benign violation Nicola's referring to. "Jokes ... fail to be funny when either they are too tame or too risqué." The best pieces of satire—the ones that reach the highest levels of cultural relevance—thread that needle perfectly. The norm, in this case, according to Nicola, is that it is "a privilege to curate the perfect holiday experience for the family, the gift is the joy in the moment and their memories for years to come." We're not allowed to talk about the dejection and exhaustion that come from all that hard work. This sketch gave a lot of people permission for the first time to do so.It’s not the first time that SNL’s comedy and satire have had a palpable effect on how we view the world. - YouTube www.youtube.com Once SNL performed the "More Cowbell" sketch, none of us could look at the bizarrely overproduced "Don't Fear the Reaper" the same way again. An old Eddie Murphy sketch got a lot of laughs out of the idea of "white privilege" long before it became a commonly known concept. And people had a hard time taking Sarah Palin seriously after Tina Fey's spot-on yet over-the-top impersonation, with studies later investigating the "Tina Fey Effect's" impact on the election.And now, the more than 12 million people who have seen "Christmas Robe" are going to have a hard time looking at Mom’s empty stocking without being reminded of Kristen Wiig’s pitch-perfect performance.Of course, "Christmas Robe" continues to land and connect with viewers today in part because it has not solved the problem of household inequities. The phenomenon continues to exist in spades. But the fact that it’s made even a small dent is pretty remarkable for a two-and-a-half-minute parody rap song.

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On what would have been Ozzy Osbourne’s 77th birthday, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Birmingham (U.K.), Councillor Ken Wood, presented the Lord Mayor’s Award to Ozzy Osbourne in a private ceremony celebrating his life and legacy. The award was accepted on his behalf by members of the Osbourne family. “Ozzy Osbourne was more than a music icon—he was a proud son of Birmingham whose influence reached every corner of the globe,” noted Councillor Wood. “Presenting the Lord Mayor’s Award to his family is a deeply meaningful way to honour his incredible legacy and the love he always had for this city. Ozzy will forever be part of Birmingham’s story.” The Lord Mayor, Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE also presented Books Of Condolence to the family. The Lord Mayor’s Award is one of Birmingham’s highest civic honors and celebrates individuals and groups’ outstanding achievement or exceptional service to the City and people of Birmingham. Ozzy sold over 100 million records worldwide and is one of only 27 artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice (as solo performer and as a member of Black Sabbath).  Osbourne died at his Buckinghamshire home on the morning of July 22nd, 2025. ### The post Ozzy Osbourne Receives Posthumous Lord Mayor’s Award appeared first on RockinTown.

Leftist race-baiter accuses MAGA of hating Hispanic Americans.