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Heroes

People love this 1983 clip of a southern grandma feeding her community from her modest kitchen

"I always get what I want, but I know what to want," she said.

agatha burgess, cbs news archive, feeding community, service to humanity, grandma cooking

CBS Evening News/YouTube

Agatha Burgess cooked all day, five days a week, for anyone who showed up.

History remembers extraordinary people who accomplish great things, lead big movements, create new inventions, and make an indelible mark on the world. But what about the individuals who dedicate their time and energy to making their local community, however small, a better place?

Those everyday heroes rarely get lauded in posterity, but thanks to human interest stories, some people get the flowers they never asked for long after they're gone. Enter Agatha Burgess, an 80-year-old grandmother who, in 1983, had a visit from CBS Evening News as she went about her normal weekday business of feeding her community, simply because she could.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

In the footage from the archives, Burgess is shown bopping about her modest kitchen, where she's been working since 5:00 a.m. She's surrounded by pans and tins and bowls, which she's using to make corn muffins, rice, dressing, peach cobbler, and more for residents of her small town of Buffalo, South Carolina. She's done this for 15 years, not as a business, but as a service to her community. She said she didn't have any desire for a "big, fine home" and that she'd always wanted to "live by the side of the road and be a friend to man."

"I always get what I want, but I know what to want," she said.

Some meals were sent out to shut-ins in the community, delivered by Meals on Wheels volunteers. She made sure those meals were always ready by 11:00 a.m. After that, people also came to her home to get a meal. If they were able, they'd drop $2.75 per meal into a box on the side table to cover the costs, even making their own change on the honor system. But no one was ever turned away if they couldn't pay.

food, charity, corn muffins, meals on wheels, feeding people Apparently, Agatha Burgess's corn muffins were legendary.Photo credit: Canva

Burgess didn't have a large home, so people would crowd into her dining room and kitchen to eat the home-cooked meals she made single-handedly. After people had eaten and left, she would do the dishes and start on her baking for the next day. This was her life from 5:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., five days a week.

Why? Because she loved doing it. She said, "This guy asked me the other day, said, 'Miss Burgess, why don't you stop and rest?' I said, 'What would I have to live for?' Because these people come in every day. They mean so much to me. I just love. I fall in love with people."

Her sister said she might end up regretting the honor box, that someone would end up ripping her off. But Burgess said that God had always taken care of her, and if someone stole from the box, God would take care of them, too.

— (@)

Burgess's quote about being "a friend to man" comes from the poem "The House By The Side Of The Road" by Sam Walter Foss, the last stanza of which reads:

Let me live in my house by the side of the road,
Where the race of men go by-
They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong,
Wise, foolish - so am I.
Then why should I sit in the scorner's seat,
Or hurl the cynic's ban?
Let me live in my house by the side of the road
And be a friend to man.

People loved hearing about Burgess's extraordinary retirement in the resurfaced clip from the CBS News archives:

"She has the best attitude about life. She is so grateful for what she has."

"This is one of the most wholesome things I’ve ever seen."

— (@)

"'I don't want your big fine home. But I'm glad you got it.' There's beauty in being content with what you have, and being happy for people. What a sweet lady."

"'I always get everything I want, but I know what to want' might be the wisest thing I’ve ever heard."

"What a wonderful woman. My dad used to eat there for lunch while working his first job out of college. God bless."

"I'm a grown man and I'm sitting here watching this crying. I know you're no longer with us, but God bless you, Agatha. Did you ever realize all the lives you blessed?"

Burgess died in 1992 at the age of 89. Though she didn't spend nearly two decades cooking for friend and stranger alike in order to get praise or accolades, there's something truly beautiful about people seeing her service over four decades later and giving her the flowers she deserved.

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Community

Family sees exhausted UPS driver working hard and invites him to 'make a plate' at family cookout

"Everybody family around here 😭."

ups, ups driver, delivery driver, ups deliveries, cookout, family, food, hospitality, kindness

Relaxed008/YouTube

UPS driver invited to family's cookout.

UPS drivers are always on the grind delivering packages around the clock—even on holidays. And one family took notice of the hard-working UPS driver in their neighborhood who had his nose to the grindstone as they enjoyed a cookout together. Rather than simply let him pass by, they decided to flag him down and extend an invite to join them in a move that proved community and hospitality are still alive and well.

TikToker @1fanto shared a touching video with his followers from Easter weekend where his family invited a UPS driver making rounds in their neighborhood to come to their cookout and 'make a plate.'

"Everybody family around here 😭," he captioned the video. "Everybody invited to the cookout.😂"

@1fanto
Everybody family around here 😭 #easter #cookout #wherethefunction

In the video, the UPS driver is seen standing in the family's driveway, and a group of cookout attendees warmly welcome him to join them. The uncle of @1fanto says to the driver, "You've been working hard all day man, you can go on in there!" He calls out for a woman named Stephanie to "take care of him!"

The UPS driver walks up the driveway, and they encourage him to go inside and get his fill as he enters the garage. After securing a plate of food and a drink, the driver walks back outside to mingle with guests, shaking hands with the uncle who invited him.

"You good?" the uncle asks, and the driver responds, "Yeah I'm good. They hooked me up. Thank you so much. Appreciate y'all for inviting me out." On his way back to his truck, the uncle encourages the driver to invite other workers to stop by as well.

- YouTube www.youtube.com

In a follow up video, @1fanto explained more about how the invite went down. He shares that the UPS driver was driving by the family's house on the Saturday before Easter, and at the time the family was enjoying a big fish fry cookout together. His uncle flagged the driver down, and he pulled over.

He shares that his uncle told the driver, "Go inside and get you a plate!" The driver asked him, "Are you sure?" But he reassured him, adding that the family made sure to ask the driver what he wanted and didn't want on his plate to "make sure he was good and got everything he needed".

"I saw it had a positive impact. That's what my family do. That's not something that we just do for social media," @1fanto shared. "That's something that we do on a regular basis that doesn't just happen when the camera's on. It happens when the camera's off, too. We're all equal. We all bleed the same."

ups, ups truck, united parcel service, ups delivery, ups deliveries, ups driver A UPS truck with package deliveries.Image via Wikipedia

Viewers had lots of positive things to say in the comment section.

"I am a UPS driver and that makes our day. People showing love to us"

"Your family represents the best of America🫶🏼 Your uncle is now all of our uncle."

"Working the holidays suck. But they made that man’s entire day. Love it."

"I love when people are nice for no reason. You’re so real ♥️thank you for being so kind."

"Being a delivery driver is grueling, often thankless work. It's awesome to see a family that remembers those hardworking folks are essential parts of our communities."

This article appeared last year. It has been updated.

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Health

Experts share 6 easy ways to stay calm when you feel bombarded by scary news

There are accessible tips you can try to immediately de-stress.

stress, calm, exercise, coping techniques, sleeping habits, eating habits

Canva Photos

A woman is stressed out. A woman does squats.

"May you live in interesting times," said British statesman Joseph Chamberlin, though the quote is attributed to many—including an anonymous Chinse curse. And that, many can agree, we do. Unfortunately, with so much constant change and division around us, paired with a 24-hour news cycle, these "interesting times" can be incredibly hard on our psyches.

In fact, with such a bombardment of news, it can make people feel helpless despite wanting to effect change in whatever way they can. The truth is we aren't truly helpless, no matter how much it seems that way. We're best off remembering the airplane 101 rule: you must put your own oxygen mask on before you can help others.

First, a quick neuropsychology lesson on why our brains become overstimulated. Katherine Berko, LCSW, who spoke with Upworthy, explains that there's a region of the brain that gets stimulated particularly by distressing news. "Watching the news directly affects the amygdala, the part of the brain that processes emotions, especially fears and threats. There’s a reason so much of the news that’s covered is negative—negative news triggers the dopamine in our brains, causing us to keep watching even when it feels bad and there’s nothing new to learn about the distressing story."

Psychological reasons for why we might get "addicted" to the news. www.youtube.com, Sam Qurashi

In a recent article for Baylor Scott & White, the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Karla Acosta-Monroe, MD explains what true stress can feel and look like. Physical signs include "trouble sleeping, digestive issues, heart palpitations, and headaches." On a more emotional level, "feeling irritable, emotional detachment, or low motivation" can be common symptoms. Behaviorally, "avoiding social interaction, emotional eating or loss of appetite, and dependence on caffeine or alcohol" can also affect us, to name a few.

She and many other experts have weighed in on how to counter these thoughts and feelings.

Healthy eating

Acosta-Monroe reminds us that an easy habit to help combat stress is to keep our bodies nourished…literally. "Aim for regular, balanced meals with protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates. Foods rich in magnesium (like leafy greens and nuts) and omega-3s (like salmon and flaxseed) can also support brain health."

Use the TIPP method

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Dr. Kiki Fehling, licensed psychologist and author of Self-Directed DBT Skills, shares an easy-to-remember method with Upworthy:

"T - Temperature: Put your face in a bowl of cold water and hold your breath. This activates something called the 'mammalian dive reflex,' which slows your heart rate down. It's an intense skill, but can help when people are truly overwhelmed and having panic attacks. (People with cardiac problems or on heart medications should skip this skill, though—it works that well!)

I - Intense exercise: Anxiety ignites your fight-or-flight response, sending energy throughout your body so that you can escape danger. Moving your body—running, walking, dancing, doing jumping jacks—helps you expend that energy. When you stop and relax afterwards, your heart rate returns to normal and you can be in a calmer space.

P - Paced breathing: Take a slow, deep breath, making the exhale as long as possible and at least longer than your inhale. Breathe at a set pace—like a 4-second inhale, 6-second exhale—for 1–2 minutes, or as long as you want.

P - Progressive muscle relaxation: When we're stressed, our muscles tense. When we're relaxed, they relax. Purposefully going through all of the muscle groups of your body, first purposefully tightening then releasing and relaxing them, helps communicate to your body that you're safe and OK."

Elevate sleep habits

Sometimes easier said than done, but sleep is top of the list when it comes to toning down panicked minds.

Acosta-Monroe gives a few accessible tips on how to get better rest:

"Set a consistent bedtime and wake time.
Avoid eating after you go to bed.
Avoid napping during the day.
Turn off screens at least an hour before bed.
Keep your room cool and dark.
Journal or listen to calming sounds before bed."

With practice, one might find the duration of their sleep gets longer and more restorative.

Respond "As if"

Benjamin Daniels, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist and the Clinical Director of Equilibria Psychological and Consultation Services, also gave an excellent tip directly to Upworthy. He claims if you're ruminating, an exercise you can try is imagining the worst-case scenario and how you would respond. "Identify how we would respond, even if a catastrophe happens. Once we have in mind how we would survive, it makes the catastrophe feel less stressful."

Focus on the present moment

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Daniels also notes that a good strategy is to focus on the moment you're in. "You'll want to find something in the moment that you can focus on instead. Notice that the anxious thoughts about the news may come into your attention, but put that thought on a cloud and let it float away—and return to the present-moment sensations you're noticing at that time."

Acosta-Monroe also discusses this method in terms of "grounding." This is commonly discussed in terms of dealing with anxiety, but is a super helpful way to calm your body down immediately. Use the 5-4-3-2-1 technique.

"Name 5 things you see.
Name 4 things you can touch.
Name 3 things you hear.
Name 2 things you can smell.
Name 1 thing you can taste."

Take breaks

What might seem fairly obvious isn't always easy. Perhaps we all need a gentle reminder that while it's vital to stay informed, we do need to give our minds some rest.

Berko shares how she addresses this with patients. "I often ask my patients: 'When are you watching the news and for how much of the day? How much of that time is it actually news to you versus the same terrible story on repeat because you can’t pull yourself away from it?'"

She suggests having designated time allotted to exposing oneself to the news. "Limit social media use, since posts, Instagram stories, and reels are often the number-one news source for people. Put your phone on airplane mode 30–60 minutes before bed and don’t turn it off until you’ve had some time to wake up in the morning. If you start with the news first thing in the morning, before brushing your teeth or making your coffee or finding time to just breathe, you’re training your brain to crave that immediate dopamine hit, thus making the news feel addicting."

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Education

Gen Z is the first generation less cognitively capable than their parents but Denmark has a solution

"Since the late 1800s, every generation has outperformed their parents."

Gen Z; Millennials; technology; cell phones; social media; teens and technology; teens social media

Photo credit: Canva

Gen Z is the first generation less cognitively capable than their parents. Denmark has the solution.

Nearly every parent hopes their child will be better off than they are: smarter, more secure, and more well-adjusted. Many parents see this as a stamp of successful parenting, but something has changed for children growing up today. While younger generations are known for their empathy, their cognitive capabilities seem to be lagging behind those of previous generations for the first time in history.

Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, a teacher turned cognitive neuroscientist who focuses on human learning, appeared before Congress to discuss concerns about cognitive development in children. In his address to the members of Congress, he says, "A sad fact that our generation has to face is this: our kids are less cognitively capable than we were at their age. Since we've been standardizing and measuring cognitive development since the late 1800s, every generation has outperformed their parents, and that's exactly what we want. We want sharper kids."

kids, intelligence, sharp kids, generations, education, cognitive abilities Student smiling in a classroom, working on a laptop.Photo credit: Canva

Horvath explains that the reason this happens is that each generation has gone to school longer than the previous generation. Gen Z is no exception to the longer duration of time spent in school, but they're the first ones who aren't meeting this normal increase in cognitive development. According to the cognitive neuroscientist, the decline is due to the introduction of screens in the classroom, which started around 2010.

"Across 80 countries, as Jean was just saying, if you look at the data, once countries adopt digital technology widely in schools, performance goes down significantly. To the point where kids who use computers about five hours per day in school for learning purposes will score over two-thirds of a standard deviation less than kids who rarely or never touch tech at school," Horvath reveals.

In most cases, the decline in performance doesn't result in better strategies. The neuroscientist shares that the standardized testing has been adjusted to accommodate lower expectations and shorter attention spans. This is an approach that educators, scientists, and researchers went to Capitol Hill to express wasn't working. But not every country is taking the approach of lowering standards to meet lowered cognitive ability. Denmark went in the opposite direction when it realized their students were slipping behind.

France24 recently interviewed educators in Denmark following their seemingly novel approach to students struggling with cognitive development. Since the beginning of the 2025/2026 school year, Denmark has not only been having students turn in their cellphones, but they've also taken tablets, laptops, and computers out of the classroom. No more digital learning for the majority of the school day. Danes went old school by bringing back physical textbooks, workbooks, and writing assignments. The results have been undeniable. Even the students can't seem to deny the success of the countrywide shift in educational approach.

"I think the biggest issue has been that, because we kind of got rid of the books and started using screens instead, that we've noticed that a lot of the kids have trouble concentrating, so it's pretty easy to swipe with three fingers over to a different screen and have a video game going, for example, in class," Copenhagen English teacher, Islam Dijab tells France24.

Now, instead of computers being part of every lesson, Denmark uses computers very sparingly and with strict supervision. One student says that it has been nice not having screen time at school because she loves to read and write. But it wasn't just the lack of attention span children were developing, they were also developing low self-esteem and poor mental health due to the amount of time spent on devices.

kids, intelligence, sharp kids, generations, education, cognitive abilities Students focused and ready to learn in the classroom.Photo credit: Canva

The data showing the negative impact of screens on teens' brains has prompted a nationwide change in Denmark that extends outside of the classroom. Afterschool activities are eliminating or extremely limiting electronic use. There is also a national No Phone Day that encourages everyone to put away their devices for the day, and Imran Rashid, a physician and digital health expert, is petitioning parliament to ban social media use for children under the age of 15. The no phone movement in Denmark is a nationwide effort that hopes to right the ship before another generation feels the effects.

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Pop Culture

12 discontinued childhood food items people would pay good money to eat just one more time

"I've been craving a pudding pop for a decade now."

childhood snacks; 90s snacks; 90s nostalgia; Millennial childhood memories; candy; cheetos; shockers; fruitopia

Photo credit: Canva

12 discontinued childhood food items people would pay good money to eat one more time

Childhood snacks will always bring nostalgia, but not all snacks withstand the changing times. Companies close, ingredients have to be changed due to new regulations, or they don't sell as well to younger generations. Whatever the reason, some delicious treats from childhood go the way of the dodo bird, and some people would pay anything to taste them again.

The thought of a discontinued treat likely crossed a Reddit user's mind when they asked people to share their favorite discontinued childhood treats that they'd pay $100 to eat one more time. Snacks that haven't seen the inside of a child's lunch box since the '90s were prominent on the "pay to eat it one last time" list. Nostalgia immediately flooded the senses of those suddenly reminded of snacks they hadn't eaten in decades.

1. Flintstone Push Ups

"These were a big part of my childhood. I can still taste the semi-dissolved cardboard container it comes in," one person writes. But orange had a pretty big contender–rainbow. "But did you ever have the Flintstones rainbow one? We used to walk to a laundry mat when I was very little and stop at a gas station along the way. They had them there. Pure bliss and innocence. Wish I could go back to that simple mindset. We were poor, and I made it out and am successful now, but life is sad and heavy sometimes."

2. Pudding Pops

No one knows what happened to these frozen pudding treats, but the craving is still strong with this one, as someone shares, "I've been craving a pudding pop for a decade now." Another writes, "Vanilla pudding pops were the best, no question. I really miss them." People admit to trying to satiate the craving by making their own, like this person who says, "My husband and I got the molds and make our own, but it's not the same. The swirl is a pain to make."

3. Cheetos Paws

These cheesy paw prints made every bad day just a little better for kids in the '90s, but they were discontinued, maybe because they were dangerously cheesy. "In the 90’s Cheetos had these paws… size of a silver dollar. They brought them back once, but they weren’t the same.. not even the size," one person laments. "Cheeto paws! They were the same as the x’s and o’s of the early 2000s. My guess is frito-lay removing trans fat from their snacks in 2003 is why they’ll never taste the same again. Not even close," another writes.

4. Book It Pizza Hut Personal Pan Pizza

Yes, it has to be the Book It era Personal Pan Pizza, because the formula must've changed when they stopped bribing kids to read with pizza. One person admits, "I am an avid reader because of Levar Burton (Reading Rainbow) and because I got a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut after I read enough books in elementary school." What magic was in the trans fats that made things taste delicious? Someone shares that the new personal pan options don't taste the same, "It isn't the same Pizza. Not saying it is bad, just isn't the same. I can still smell that 90s Pizza Hut smell when I think about it. To be honest it was likely all those delicious Trans Fats, but damn they were tasty."

5. PB Crisps

This person is sharing the perfect Christmas gift if there's ever a limited edition run, writing, "PB Crisps. I would specifically stuff them in my stocking and eat them on Christmas morning like it's 1995 again." One person has been on a mission for over a decade, writing, "This has been my personal obsession for decades at this point. Was going to suggest nutty nostalgia as they were selling jars that were as close as you can get to the real thing but it looks like they shut down last year."

childhood snacks; 90s snacks; 90s nostalgia; Millennial childhood memories; candy; cheetos; shockers; fruitopia Bursting with flavor: Fruitopia's fruity splash!Photo Credit: Coca-Cola Canada Marketing

6. Fruitopia

It depends on how badly you're missing this treat, because the only thing between you and drinking a Fruitopia is the Canadian border. One person remembers them being an experience to drink, "Fruitopia was a vibe, drinking one felt like being part of a dance party in the forest probably because of the marketing." Someone else shares about how they had to hunt down change to get their fix at school, "They had them in my high school cafeteria vending machine. I would run down there every day during my study hall (I had to scrounge my house for change daily) and I’d get the strawberry one. All that corn syrup and artificial strawberries."

7. Shock Tarts

If you were a kid in the '90s, your mouth is probably already puckering at the thought of Shock Tarts, the candy that basically took extra sour Sweet Tarts and Sprees and mixed them together to make a candy baby. For a while, people were able to still buy them under a different name, but someone shares that this is no longer the case, "In 2021 I found them. They rebranded to “sweet tart sours.” Exactly the same 100%, life complete etc…. and then a couple years ago they went and changed the recipe to be more like a sour spree and RUINED THEM. I’m still mad about it."

childhood snacks; 90s snacks; 90s nostalgia; Millennial childhood memories; candy; cheetos; shockers; fruitopia Choco Taco: Indulge in a classic sweet treat!Photo Credit: Joey Rozier/Flickr

8. Choco Taco

These tasty taco ice cream treats were available from 1983 to 2022, and people are still upset about them going away. Maybe because it was around for so long, its existence was taken for granted until Unilever pulled the plug. People would pay lots of money to get their hands on one now. One person grabbed every Choco Taco they could according to this commenter, "The day it got announced that choco tacos were being discontinued, my Saint of a husband went to the local convenience store and bought me every last one. I put them in the deep freeze and got to enjoy them for another year.

9. Peanut Butter Twix

Forget choosing the left or right bar. Some people would eat both bars simultaneously if they could have a Peanut Butter Twix one more time. Someone with a flair for dramatics begs, "Peanut butter Twix. Please bring them back so I have a reason to go on," while another says, "I used to eat these almost every day on my break at work. I miss them sooo much."

@onehappy_day Found it! It’s popped into my brain for years. Finally took the time to look for it. #bubblejug #gum #childhood #90s ♬ original sound - One happy day

10. Bubble Jug

It's not a jug full of bubble mix, but a tiny jug filled with little pieces of bubble gum. This commenter's description is spot on, writing, "Bubble Jug. It sounds gross, but it was so good. 'Take some sh***y bubblegum and shred it into tiny chiclet pieces. Coat it all in mysterious pink powder that tastes like plastic happiness, and market it in a tiny pink jug so kids can just pour it straight into their mouths.'" According to others, Bubble Jug is making a comeback at stores like 5 Below and Dollar Tree.

11. King Vitamin Cereal

"I seriously miss King Vitamin cereal. Kaboom, too!" someone shares before another person chimes in writing, "King V was a staple in our house in the 90s. My sister and I recently found it again and tried it together and lemme tell you, either it's framed by nostalgia or that cereal always tasted like barf and our immature taste buds didn't know it yet."

12. Sizzlean

A replacement for bacon that contained multiple different types of meat. Did it taste as good as people remember it tasting? Based on the way it looks, one person has doubts, revealing, "ngl, that looks bad." Others were quick to jump to the meat product's defense, with someone sharing, "I loved sizzlean. My friend's parents called me it for years because I spent the night and when they asked what I wanted for breakfast I said what I always ate on the weekends: Sizzlean."

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Education & Information

The CIA says this one body language gesture is a dead giveaway you are an American

It's called the "American Lean."

americans, american flag, american body language, cia, cia body language

Photo credit: Canva

Americans are known to do this body language gesture, according to the CIA.

Americans have unique body language and gestures that set them apart from other countries and cultures. These American quirks—such as pointing and eating while walking—are easily picked up by non-Americans who are quickly able to identify us.

Besides a certain demeanor, other American indicators include clothing choices like backwards baseball caps and wearing sunglasses on one's head.

According to Jonna Mendez, the Central Intelligence Agency's (CIA) former Chief of Disguise, there is one specific posture that has been deemed a dead giveaway of an American identity. It's called the "American Lean."

@magni.fy
Only Americans Do This #travel #funfacts #culture #USA #bodylanguage The "American lean" is a cultural quirk where people from the U.S. instinctively lean on walls, railings, doorframes, or furniture when standing in public. It’s casual, relaxed, and often signals comfort in occupying space... but where did it come from?

American body language identifiers

In a 2019 interview with NPR, Mendez and former Director of the CIA, Gina Haspel, explained more about how American body language differs from European body language.

"They wear their wedding rings on different fingers. They eat differently than we do. They don't shuttle that fork back and forth," she explained.

Haspel also commented on Mendez's description of the "American Lean," adding, "They think that we are slouchy, a little sloppy. And they think that they can almost see that in our demeanor on the street because they stand up straight. They don't lean on things."

Mendez expanded on American appearance and body language during an "Ask Me Anything" interview on Reddit.

"More broadly, generalizing (and it is always a little dangerous to generalize) Americans are seen as a bit more casual in their dress on the street than other nationalities. Casual might be too soft a word. Sloppy? Nobody else seems to be wearing sweatpants and shirts on the streets," she explained. "We are also thought to be loud, for instance you can identify the group of Americans in front of the tourist office by the noise that they make. We are not disparaged everywhere, but we do tend to stand out."

- YouTube www.youtube.com

Why Americans do the "American Lean"

On Reddit, curious Americans tried to explain their leaning habits. Many offered their opinions:

"Idk why it’s an American thing, but I’m American and I lean on things because I feel uncomfortable and awkward all the time and having a third point of grounding (2 feet + shoulder/back) is more comfortable." - a_sternum

"American and I've gotta lean on everything because every job I worked was aggressively against us sitting in case the customers saw us comfortable [I guess]? There's a weird notion that sitting equals lazy." - pickleruler67

"Not allowed to sit at work so we tend to lean against things. The phrase 'time to lean, time to clean' is also very prevalent. We're not okay btw." - W3R3Hamster

"idk but apparently it's enough of a thing that my school advised us to not do it while studying abroad so as not to make ourselves targets as tourists/foreigners/Americans 😅." - uhhwhatamidoing

"1) Americans are less formal in most situations, good posture is less emphasized. 2) It’s cool.. think James Dean or fashion models. 3) Laziness." - No-Oil-1669

Others explained how different cultures "rest" in different positions.

"Drive down the street in South Korea and you see folks squatting instead of leaning," one shared. Another added, "The Slavic squat is an alternative."

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