You know that feeling you get when you walk into a classroom and see someone else's stuff on your desk?
OK, sure, there are no assigned seats, but you've been sitting at the same desk since the first day and everyone knows it.
So why does the guy who sits next to you put his phone, his book, his charger, his lunch, and his laptop in the space that's rightfully yours? It's annoying.
All you want to do was walk in, sit down, get out your notebook and (try to) pay attention. But now? Now you've got to talk to a stranger about moving their stuff and there goes your day, already bogged down with petty annoyances.
Sound familiar? It should.
We've all got so much to do these days that interacting with people we see every day — not our friends, but our classmates, fellow commuters, co-workers, the people in line for coffee with us every day — can feel like a burden.
So, when these people do something we perceive as annoying, like putting their stuff on our desks, we don't have the time or the energy to assume their intentions or think about the lives they're leading.
But if we stepped out of ourselves for a second, we might just realize that we're all much more connected than we think, that our preconceived notions of others are usually just that — preconceived. And, often, inaccurate.
That's why this Twitter story about a guy who learned an important life lesson from a classmate he was frustrated with is going viral.
It's the perfect example of that "don't judge a book by its cover" adage we should have all learned in preschool but sometimes forget. And it starts the exact same way as this post — with a college student groaning on the inside as he sees someone's stuff on his desk.
— (@)
— (@)
— (@)
— (@)
— (@)
— (@)
— (@)
— (@)
— (@)
If not for this one day running late, McFall may have never realized what his classmate was trying to do. And he may have continued to think of him as annoying, maybe telling others about "the weird guy who was always trying to take up my space"... when all the guy was really trying to do was be kind.
We all misinterpret the actions of others sometimes. It's easy to do that!
But if there's one thing this story reminds us, it's that it's important to stop and remember that while you're living your life, other people are living theirs, so assuming best intentions can do us a great favor.
That's why we should step outside of our bubbles and engage with the world on a regular basis.
You could make a new friend. You might brighten someone's day.
But most importantly, getting out of your own head, checking your own biases, and giving others the benefit of the doubt will make you a more compassionate person.
You don't have to engage with everyone you meet, but the next time someone smiles and offers you a high-five?
Maybe just take them up on it.
This article was originally published on April 16, 2018.
When you hear the words “all in,” what do you think? You might picture a color-coordinated, fairy-themed surprise proposal that took months to create, or maybe you think of a singer who went on stage and nailed the perfect high note in front of everyone (like this girl). Whatever you picture, the idea is the same: Going “all in” means doing something with total commitment—literally giving it your “all” and going completely over the top. No second guessing, no holding back—just full-throttle enthusiasm with some creativity and flair thrown in. That’s how we get those viral internet moments we can’t stop watching.
This week, we've found a handful of hilarious and heart-warming videos that perfectly capture what it's like to go "all in"—moments where passion, creativity, and commitment take center stage and something truly special happens as a result. Here are five of our favorite examples.
The viral song “Sports Car” by Tate McRae has become an absolute viral hit, and it’s not hard to see why. Not only is the song super catchy, but her performance is show-stopping (you might even say she and her backup dancers go all in). Everyone is singing and dancing along—although this content creator’s rendition of the song might be the most passionate one. He gets a little too caught up, as you’ll see at the end of this video—and, well, his reenactment becomes "show stopping" in a different way. (Don't worry, though, he's totally fine.)
2. A little bit of everything, according to Reddit (but especially personal growth)
This week, the team at All In asked Reddit users what they go “all in” on in their own lives, and the responses were entertaining and inspiring (and sometimes both). One commenter shared that they go all in on blue cheese dressing when they’re eating buffalo wings (respect), while another shared that they go all in on saving up their retirement (we love to see people reaching for big goals). Turns out you can go “all in” on everything from maintaining a healthy marriage to putting salt on your cucumbers. Our favorite responses, though, were people who went in on personal growth and learning. Click here to see what they had to say (and click here to snag a box of All In bars—for free!).
If you’ve ever caught yourself thinking you’re “too old” to follow your dreams, watch this video, because this midlife mom will prove you wrong. This video shows a woman skating in her first figure skating competition—and she’s about to turn 50. The daughter, who filmed and posted the video to TikTok, says that ice skating has always been her mother’s lifelong dream, and recently she just decided to go for it. The costume, the composition, and the passion are all first-rate, but the best part is that the commenters are going crazy for her, too. One of them wrote, “As a former competitive figure skater, nothing makes me tear up like videos of people getting into skating later in life. The ice was my first love, it was home. Welcome home.”
Okay, so unlike the figure skating mom, there’s nothing technically impressive about this woman dancing—as in, she’s not a professional dancer. She doesn’t use choreography or sparkly costumes—but what’s great about these videos is that her passion and enthusiasm just can’t be denied. It’s just her in her bonnet, dancing along to upbeat classics like “Some Nights,” by Fun, and somehow you can’t help but be completely mesmerized—and maybe start dancing along yourself. We watched a bunch of her videos—there are tons, and they’re all equally enthusiastic—and we couldn’t help but laugh and groove right along with her. That’s what’s great about going “all in”—it inspires other people, too.
People can sometimes be “extra” when it comes to their pets (like dressing up their dog as a cowboy or a mailman for Halloween). But there’s being “extra” with your pet, and then there’s going “all in,” which this TikTok creator undoubtedly does. King Guinea Adventures (@animallover.zx123) has built a platform on staging re-enactments of popular songs, but with a twist: the star of the show is a guinea pig. These hilarious videos show the guinea pig acting out the lyrics of popular songs such as “Video Games” by Lana Del Ray and “Whiskey Lullaby” by Braid Paisley and Alison Kraus. The literalism of these videos is what makes them actually hilarious, and it shows how much thought the creator put into making them (In “Video Games,” for example, when Lana sings “Swinging in the backyard / pull up in your fast car,” you see a literal toy car appear in the swing next to him. When she gets to the lyric “video games,” you see a Nintendo Switch pop up.) It’s creative, it’s funny, it’s fun—and best of all, this creator takes their love of pop culture (and the love of her pet guinea pig) and truly goes “all in.”
Snag a free (!!) box of All In snack bars here while this deal lasts. Just pick up a box at Sprouts and text a pic of your receipt to get it for free. Enoy!
Linguist and self-professed "etymology nerd" Adam Aleksic shared a video on TikTok explaining how many common phrases we use for thinking directly reference walking. We often use metaphors in our speech, of course, but there are many that we likely don't even recognize as metaphors.
He starts with "by the way," which literally means being next to the way, or the path we're supposed to be on. It indicates that we're taking a mental detour from the path we were supposed to be on to introduce something unrelated. On the other hand, when we're talking about something that is actually on the path we're meant to be on, we say, "of course," which literally means "of the path."
"We use this metaphor all the time when we say, 'you're on track' or 'you're way off,' literally implying that you're not where you should be on the 'path' of thinking," Aleksic says, explaining that there's a greater metaphor at play here that "thinking is walking."
Once you see some examples, it becomes so clear. Our minds "race" or "wander," our thoughts "stray," and we "arrive" at conclusions.
"Via" just meant "road" in Latin #etymology #linguistics #language
"All this relies on physical motion, even though your mind is stationary," says Aleksic. "But it's from that idea—that thoughts can walk—that we can then go ahead and make statements about our own cognition. Like how I just used 'from'—originally a preposition for motion—and 'go ahead' to indicates continuation…Once you know thoughts can walk, you can 'follow' them down 'a line of thinking' until you 'come to' a resolution."
Even a saying as common as "Way to go!" is a metaphor indicating that you are on the correct path.
Once you start thinking about it, it's easy to come up with many more examples of how we conceptualize thinking as walking:
"Let's circle back."
"Walk me through your thinking."
"I'm backtracking here."
"The thought crossed my mind."
"No way."
"Let's move on."
We use physical movement metaphors to conceptualize ideas. Giphy
Some commenters shared that their languages use similar metaphors:
"In Norwegian you can say 'du er på helt på bærtur' when someone is way off, and it means that you are on a berry trip—specifically blueberry trip."
"In Czech, you say btw as ''mimochodem', while mimo means outside and chodem means a step or a walk, so literally meaning by the walk."
"En passant in french is the same way. It's like 'I passed near this thought' while on my way to another thought."
There's something to be said for "thinking is walking" even beyond the metaphorical way we describe our thoughts. Many of the world's greatest thinkers were also obsessive walkers.
In 2014, Marily Oppezzo and Daniel Schwartz of Stanford University conducted a foundational series of studies on 176 people, mostly college students, to see if walking had any effect on different types of thinking. They found that participants who walked instead of sitting or being pushed in a wheelchair consistently came up with more creative responses on tests commonly used to measure creative thinking, such as thinking of alternate uses for common objects or coming up with original analogies to capture complex ideas. In one test, they had some people walk outside and others walk on a treadmill, neither of which seemed to make a difference. Wherever people walked, their answers were more creative than those who sat or were pushed in a wheelchair.
"Thinking is walking" and waking can also help us think. Photo credit: Canva
“Incorporating physical activity into our lives is not only beneficial for our hearts but our brains as well," Oppezzo said. "This research suggests an easy and productive way to weave it into certain work activities." Could we perhaps say, "walking is thinking" in addition to "thinking is walking"?
A 2021 study of students in Japan found similar correlations between walking and strong responses on alternate use tests that measure divergent thinking.
So it appears at least some types of thinking are enhanced by walking, which of course makes it all the more fun that we use so many walking metaphors to describe our thoughts.
You can follow Adam Aleksic for more on TikTokhere or check out his book, Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language, here.
International frugal living tips for people in the United States.
People around the world have one major financial goal in common: save more money. Living a frugal lifestyle and cutting overall living costs is something that unites us all, regardless of the country we live in.
While Americans also prioritize putting money away, others nationalities are better at it. According to GoBankingRates, the top five countries that save the most money are: Slovenia, Morocco, Sweden, Sri Lanka, and South Korea.
Frugal people from around the world shared their best frugal tips on the subreddit r/Frugal from their cultures that people in the United States can use. These are 16 of their best money-saving tips.
"Most highly specialized cleaning sprays don't exist outside of the US. You don't need 7 different sprays for every surface in your kitchen/bathroom." - Ajreil
"Buying a whole chicken and breaking it down is cheaper than buying pre-cut pieces. For millions of families breaking down a chicken is just part of shopping day." - Ajreil
"Buy produce when it's in season and cheap, then pickle/dehydrate/ferment it to preserve it for the winter. Many cultures prepare 6+ months of produce during the summer." - Ajreil
"Line Drying clothes in the sun rather than use a dryer bc it’s not standard to have a dryer in most places around the world. I set this up on the balcony of my American home and it preserves my clothes and saves energy!" - krickitfrickit
"The big one is having multi generational households, it’s a far bigger savings than anything you can list." - Dismal-Bee-8319
"I moved to Ireland and the way most people heat their homes here is to have the boiler turn on with a timer in the early morning for about two hours (eg 4-6am). This way the house is warm in the morning, then by afternoon the houses are oriented towards the sun and warm up that way. By the time the heat wears off in the evening, it’s time for bed. We had oil heat and radiators in Connecticut before this, a colder climate but the same system except with thermostats instead of timers, and I’m shocked how little oil we actually burn here. We filled our tank in April and the supply company said most Irish homes wouldn’t have another delivery until after Christmas." - breadit124
"In the hot summers, when I wake up I open my living room window and have a fan pointed towards out and turn it out the highest setting and then I open the bedroom window (my place only has 3 windows). What happens is with the fan pointing outwards instead to the inside of the house it is drawing out the warm/humid air from inside the house and pushing it outside and the other window is drawing in the cool air. Within about 1/2 - 3/4 of an hour I can reduce the humidity level in my place by about 10% and lowering the temperature by 2-3 degrees depending on how hot it is inside and cool outside or how long I have the fan turned on. I do this until about 9am when it starts warming up then turn off the fan, close the windows, close the blinds/curtains and my place is nice and cool inside all summer doing this every day. It is very noticeable just how much cooler the inside my home especially when I go from the outside to the inside. For my bedroom, to sleep, I have a ceiling fan above the bed." - Rexzies
"Buying whole chickens is actually more expensive for me here in the US. I used to do it in the 90s every month when I got groceries, but something changed and it was actually cheaper to buy rotisserie chickens or bogs of frozen thighs from the restaurant supply. Now? I buy Costco rotisserie chickens and break them down every month. Kind of like I used to, but pre-cooked." - EducatedRat
"Not constantly buying stuff? Americans really don't understand or appreciate just how much nonsense we buy. In 2022, U.S. household final consumption accounted for 34% of the world's total, when we're only about 4% of the global population. Part of it is the average US household does have more income than households in other parts of the world, but we use that to just buy loads of utter.....sh*t." - hyperside89
"Not a ton of single use disposable things in the kitchen like - cleaning wipes (use rags), paper towels (use rags), ziploc bags (use reusable tupperware), clingwrap (put the thing in bowl with a small plate/lid on top)." - considerfi
"We cooked pasta by bringing the water to boil and letting it cook for a minute. Then stirring a few time, covering the pot, taking it off the heat, and letting it sit for about 10 minutes. We did this because cooking gas was expensive. It was important to avoid opening the lid too early because it would let out the heat that was needed to cook the pasta." - Mission_Sir_4494
"Eat more canned and dried fish. People in Mediterranean countries and in Latin America and the Caribbean eat dishes made with canned fish such as tuna, sardines, salmon, mackerel, herring and different varieties of dried fish regularly. It's cheap, high in nutrients, versatile and widely available." - Clear-Taste-7178
"In France, I buy laundry shavings, dissolve them in hot water and have laundry detergent. I bought some for €50 2 years ago and I only used 50% of the shavings. It also works for washing lots of things, from floor to ceiling. For softener, I use vinegar. Same for the dishwashing machine. And I don't have a car, I only travel by public transport (metros, trams, buses, trains, carpooling). Finally, I buy a large part of my fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meats and fish from local producers (it costs me less, it's better, and I prefer to pay them for their work). All this can be quite common in France, but also in other countries I imagine." - Puzzleheaded_Ear1950
"Cook at home. We make every meal at home, family of 5 and both parents work full time. Do a weekly shop and take the time to cook all meals from scratch. But then, eating out in Norway is very expensive. Make sure to have little to no food waste." - Bookkeeper_Best
"While showering we don't let the water run while we put soap all over our body. And showering everyday is not always a thing. To shower, 3 steps. You wet yourself. Stop water and use soap. Rinse the soap. Done. I still don't get how one would run the water while putting soap on: doesn't it rinse the soap before it has had time to be on your skin and actually clean you?" - theelefantintheroom
"Plug in air fresheners, spray air freshener and scented dryer beads. Unnecessary spending and potentially harmful for the health of your family. What are you breathing in when you spray those chemicals? Open a window. Wash your floors. Smoke outside. Put blankets down where pets sleep and wash them regularly. So many things we can all do instead of spraying artificial crap into the air we breathe." - Canadasaver
Every high school has a few "popular" students that almost everyone likes. They are often chosen to be prom king or queen and elected to the student council. They are the folks that everyone waves to in the hallways, and they are usually confident and friendly.
So, what are the traits that make certain people popular and others slink by with little recognition? Are the most likable kids also the most athletic? Do they have a higher GPA? Are they more extroverted? Are they funnier? Are they more attractive?
Communications expert Vanessa Van Edwards was recently on The Dan Buettner Podcast, where she shared the common trait that popular kids have in common. Van Edwards, who describes herself as a recovering awkward person, teaches communication skills at Harvard University.
Researchers discovered the trait after interviewing thousands of high school students and asking them to list the people they liked at school. It revealed a significant finding: popular kids had the longest lists of people they liked.
The findings are straightforward: if you like a lot of people, many of them are likely to like you back.
Even though you may no longer be in high school, there are benefits to being popular in your workplace, church, or neighborhood. Van Edwards says we should all learn how to like other people if we want to be likable ourselves.
“Learn how to like," she told Buettner. "In fact, be free with your likes. The most popular kids were the ones who were first likers. In other words, they walked down the hallway and they say, ‘Hey, Dan. Hey, Sarah. Hey, Joy.’ They're the ones who walk into a class and be like, ‘Hey, you want to sit with me?’ They are inviters. They are likers. They are looking for good. And in that way, I think that we can train ourselves to be more likable by searching and hunting for likes."
Body language expert Vanessa Van Edwards reveals what makes kids popular and the common trait that all of them have 👀 Full episode on The Diary Of A CEO #podcast #podcastclip #interview #bodylanguage #tips #advice #tip #vanessavanedwards #expert #doctor #dr #didyouknow #popular #friends #diaryofaceo
There’s something very positive about the fact that people who like others are liked in return. It’s a great excuse to have an open attitude when meeting new people and to look for the good in everyone around you, even if they may be a little challenging to get along with.
What is the reciprocity of liking?
There is a concept in psychology known as the reciprocity of liking, which states that if someone likes you, you tend to like them back. Because when someone likes you, they are usually kind and supportive. Therefore, most people like those who like them.
However, there is one big caveat to this truth: People with low self-esteem often dislike themselves, so if someone shows them affection, they may not reciprocate because it makes them feel out of balance.
Ultimately, if you want to be the popular kid in any of your social or professional circles, you have to like yourself first. Because when you like yourself, there’s a much greater chance that you will like other people. This leads to a virtuous cycle of friendship growth, where you expand your social circle in a wonderfully positive way.
Megan Anderson and boyfriend Alec Olmstead are walking green flags.
Amid the endless scroll of relationship theatrics and red flag compilations, a quiet moment of genuine tenderness has managed to captivate millions. When Portland creator Megan Anderson shared what could have been just another tearful breakdown, she inadvertently offered the Internet a masterclass in what love actually looks like when things get real.
The video opens with Anderson, 28, in tears after what she describes as a "crash-out" morning. Rather than offering the usual male repertoire of awkward back pats or "can-do" platitudes, her boyfriend (now fiancé), Alec Olmstead, responds with something that stopped millions of viewers in their tracks: emotional intelligence wrapped in a thoughtful roadmap to help her reset her day.
"Start with the treadmill," he suggests, his voice steady as a metronome. There's not a trace of derision or belittlement here: this isn't just exercise-as-medicine advice; it's the opening movement of what TikTokers would later dub his "reset day symphony." Olmstead crafts a ritual of renewal rather than a mere to-do list: "In the shower, tell yourself, 'I'm washing away every bit of bad energy for the day.' Then, your day will restart," he coaches, convincingly.
For his grand finale, Olmstead delivers what can only be described as a walk-off grand slam in the stadium of love: "Take the car to 23rd and shop. I'll give you money."
Before she can protest, he swoops in with the cherry on top. "When you're done, come get me. I'll have everything ready—blanket, food, paints," he promises. "We'll have a little picnic and paint. Does that work?"
Anderson beams back. She nods.
"We're going to reset our day and have an amazing day," Olmstead tells her, assuredly. "I love you."
No judgment, no fixing—just presence and a path forward.
The brilliance of Olmstead's intervention isn't merely in his choice of words, but in his emotional competency and perfect execution. In the video's caption, Anderson mentions she might be in her "luteal phase"—that monthly hormonal rollercoaster where progesterone peaks and emotions run amok—and yet, her boyfriend doesn't miss a beat.
Not once did he resort to the tired "Is it that time of the month?" eye-roll that's been the downfall of lesser men since time immemorial. Instead, he navigated her emotional weather system with the finesse of a seasoned storm chaser, walking confidently into the eye of the storm with a reminder: "I've got you."
"I was emotional but also smiling inside, because he knows me so well," Anderson told Newsweek. She adores his suggestions, as demonstrated in the video, because she knows they "always stem from such a sincere desire for my well-being."
Therapists refer to this as emotional intelligence—the ability to recognize, understand, and respond appropriately to emotional cues. Research indicates that this type of supportive partnership can have a profoundly positive impact on mental health and relationship satisfaction.
The Internet's reaction
The comments section erupted into a digital town square where relationship POVs collided. Women tagged partners with pointed "take notes" comments while single viewers lamented with theatrical despair.
"I didn't think this was real, and I literally read and watch Hallmark movies in my spare time," wrote one commenter. Another simply added: "Looked at my man and sighed…"
And of course, there was well-deserved admiration. "Who is his mother? She deserves a reward!!" someone enthused.
"When he knows how to calm your storms and find resolutions instead of making you feel bad for having big emotions. HUGE WALKING GREEN FLAG ENERGY!" replied another.
One commenter put it very simply: "If men ever wondered what women actually need in a relationship, this is it," they wrote, garnering over 80,000 likes.
The ripple effect went far beyond mere admiration. Women flooded the comments with their own luteal phase war stories—moments of feeling emotionally hijacked by their hormones and left to fend for themselves. "The luteal phase is literally a monthly personal hell," groaned one person. Another offered advice: In case anyone hasn't heard of this yet, taking an antihistamine has helped with my meltdowns."
What emerged was a digital chorus saying: "This happens to me too." In an Internet landscape where menstrual health often remains shrouded in euphemisms and bizarre commercials, this comment section became a revolutionary space—normalizing what has been whispered about for generations.
The science behind the support
Olmsted's response, while sweet, also emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence in relationships. Research suggests that the most effective way to support someone in distress is to both acknowledge their feelings and offer practical help. He nailed both effortlessly.
What we can learn from his response:
Moving the body, moving the mind: His suggestion to hit the treadmill wasn't just about endorphins—exercise has been proven to regulate mood and reduce stress hormones, especially during times of hormonal fluctuation.
The shower reboot: That simple "wash away the bad energy" ritual? Pure genius. Mindful transition rituals are the emotional equivalent of turning your phone off and back on again—a psychological reset button when your internal operating system freezes.
Partners, not saviors: Notice how Olmstead didn't try to swoop in and fix everything? (Well, the Internet sure did.) No one wants to be ordered around or made to feel as if their problems can be fixed with a wave of a wand. Unless they can be…in which case, wave away. Partnership, not paternalism, is the key here. Olmstead instead offered a steady presence and created a framework where they both could navigate Anderson's emotional weather together.
A lesson in showing up
As it turns out, this wasn't just any random Tuesday for the couple. Anderson later revealed that this tender moment happened right before Olmstead dropped to one knee with a ring. Talk about emotional whiplash.
"What I didn't know at the time was that Alec had been planning a proposal for months," Anderson toldNewsweek. After three and a half years together, Olmstead flew both their families in for the big surprise. "It was such a special and unforgettable moment," she gushed.
And yes, they actually followed through with Olmstead's reset day blueprint. "My favorite part was the picnic at sunset where we painted together," Anderson remembers. "It was so sweet…I feel so grateful to always have him as a cheerleader in my corner."
In our fast-paced, hyper-stimulated world, what Olmstead gave Anderson that fateful day—and the Internet—was a masterclass in emotional partnership. He heard her. He saw her. He accepted her at every step. Then, he built a bridge, bringing her from her darkness into the daylight, brick by brick, simply through the act of being there.
When you're trying to change the world, or at least a New Jersey town, sometimes you've gotta go big. For Will Thilly, a man running as an Independent for the Cranford Township Committee, he believes in being anything but conventional—at least in terms of grabbing attention.
A clip of Thilly addressing the current public town hall committee went viral recently on social media, but not necessarily for his viewpoint on taxes or any of his other political ideas. It was his dancing. Thilly shimmies on up to the podium and is asked by Mayor Terrence Curran to state his name and address for the record. Thilly seemingly ignores this request as he has some popping and locking to do. He holds his finger up as if to say, "One second," as the mayor reminds him, "Mr. Thilly, I've started your time." The audience is smiling, some with their heads in their hands. He turns to them and asks, "Wanna see me do the back spin?"
(The Washington Post clip on Instagram is cut down for time, but in the same clip posted on Thily's page, the Rocky theme song is added and he vamps a bit longer. )
Thilly decides he doesn't need a yes. Without any prompting, he gets on the ground and says, "Watch this," as he does an impressive breakdancing back spin, landing on his back with both feet up, similar to the yoga pose "happy baby." He groans as he stands back up and composes himself, occasionally looking back at the crowd asking for applause that doesn't quite come.
Thilly begins to speak, quite seriously, on a topic important to him: taxes. "400 bucks on an average assessed home....Why did our taxes go up so much?"
Mayor Curran gently says, "Thank you Mr. Thilly. I liked the interpretive dance." Mr. Thilly takes the compliment in as he moonwalks away from the podium.
In just a few weeks, this clip grabbed well over a million likes on the Washington Post'sInsta-reel alone. The comments are hilarious. One writes, "I don't understand your protest. Perhaps you could break it down for us?" Another enthusiastically exclaims, "I’ve seen enough - send him to the Olympics!"
Breakdancing at the Paris Olympics Giphy, GIF by NoireSTEMinist
But some see the method behind the madness, writing, "It worked. He got our attention. We’re watching his video. Hip Hop wins again."
The truth is Thilly was seeking attention because this run for township committee matters very much to him. Upworthy had a chance to "break it down" with him and find out just why he's running and, of course, how he learned to moonwalk.
Upworthy: When did you get interested in politics?
Thilly: "When I moved to the town (Cranford, New Jersey) with our kids and saw how the town community was treating residents on a non-equal level. They were talking down to them. And I saw all over New Jersey, the developers are getting 30-year tax exemptions in these small towns." (This, he further suggests, puts the heavy lifting on the taxpayers which he doesn't believe is fair.)
"Ideally, I'm trying to get everyone's taxes down. And to get government to make decisions together with the community - instead of this 'Us vs. You guys.' They shouldn't be making decisions for us. My outlook is we should be making decisions WITH you, not for you."
Upworthy: Are you just naturally funny or is this a ruse to get people to pay attention?
Thilly: "I wasn't trying to be funny necessarily. And no, it wasn't a ruse. We've talked and talked and there's no point of going in and talking at the meetings. They don't answer. So I had an instinct that night that it could break down barriers and set people straight if I do this."
Thilly: "1983! That's when we all learned, right? I was pretty good as a kid. Could do a lot more movements than now."
Upworthy: Did going viral move the dial?
Thilly: "We'll see in a month. Certainly seemed to be very well received from the town, especially young kids because it went really big on TikTok. So high school all the way down to elementary school kids have been coming up to me taking photos. Lots of people are asking for pictures, all over."
Upworthy: Any other town halls lined up?
"We just had another one last week and they (allegedly) censored it because they didn't want anything to go viral." (Thilly alleges they turned off the broadcast and later claimed it was a computer glitch.)
"And what we did is kind of a group dance. Audience members got up to dance!"
Upworthy: Did they break-dance too?
Thilly: "I invited everyone as a community bonding type-thing to all get up and dance together. And different people did different things. But we also had pairs dancing, couples dancing in the aisles."
This wasn't Thilly's first time to stand out at a community town hall. "I would go up and do nothing for five minutes. Just two minutes of silence, doing like a meditation."
Whether it moves the dial or not, Thilly has certainly made a name for himself, at least in the dancing community. The election will be held November 4th.
We use metaphors all the time. 
We use physical movement metaphors to conceptualize ideas. 
"Thinking is walking" and waking can also help us think. 
A couple on a charming picnic date. 
Couple painting together. 
Breakdancing at the Paris Olympics