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body language

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This is pure nostalgia.

There are few celebrities so universally loved as Lucille Ball and Richard Simmons. Each was completely their own person with a unique and contagious sense of humor that lit up every room they walked in. So it’s no wonder that when they appeared on a live game show together over 40 years ago, they completely dominated.

The gameshow in question was Body Language, wherein one contestant used charades to convey a list of words, and a celebrity guest would try to correctly guess as many words from that list as possible in under 60 seconds. This particular episode, which aired the day after Christmas 1984, had both Simmons and Ball—as well as The Jeffersons' Isabel Sanford and Broadway star Robert Morse—competing.

The real magical moment came when Simmons was in charge of acting out clues and Ball was the guesser. In the clip below, there’s a sweet exchange between the two, where a starstruck Simmons tells Ball, “I’ve watched you on television…I can’t believe I’m sitting here…doing these things” before launching into the round.

You instantly see that the dynamic plays perfectly to their strengths (both Simmons’ balls-to-the-wall physicality and Ball’s incredibly sharp wit) because in mere seconds they rack up seven correct guesses, earning $900.

It’s a hoot to watch:

  - YouTube  youtube.com  

Glorious, wasn’t it? Unsurprisingly, the short clip left many feeling a bit nostalgic.

"Pure joy. Two people who brought so much joy to humanity despite their personal pain. Now gone into Love and Light forever."

"Two of the good ones. Always brought a smile to my face."

"Both of them were loved by so many people for completely different reasons!! I hope both of them knew how much they were truly loved!"

That same year, Ball would be inducted into the 1st Television Academy Hall of Fame, tape for her TV special, All-Star Party for Lucille Ball, and discuss the legacy of her show with Entertainment Tonight. Meanwhile, Simmons, at the height of his own fame, would film the final season of The Richard Simmons Show, and continue growing his fitness empire.

Both legends are gone now, but continue to bring a smile to so many. At the end of the day, is there any marker of success greater than that?

If you’re curious, you can see the full episode of Body Language below:

  - YouTube  www.youtube.com  

A psychologist breaks down what 5 comon couch sitting styles reveal about our personality.

Many of the most seemingly mundane of activities can reflect deeper aspects of our psyche—be it how we use our body language, or even what side of the bed we sleep on.

Even the way we sit on the couch can uncover clues to our personality, according to psychologist Dr Rebekah Wanic.

As reported by The Mirror, Dr. Wanic partnered with Sofa Club to analyze five common couch sitting positions and determine likely character traits associated with each one—from a need for control to complete laissez faire-ness, and everywhere in between.

Curious as to what your go-to move says about you? Read on.


Sitting criss-cross

Photo credit: Canva

Those who like to sit criss-cross-applesauce, aka Criss-Crossers, often have a “desire to project an image of sophistication and composure,” says Wanic.

Ultimately, Criss-Crossers want to appear “polished and controlled.” Or maybe they do a lot of yoga, who knows.

Lounging back

Photo credit: Canva

If you’re a “Lay Back Lounger,” Wanic surmises that you’re all about “relaxation and comfort” and are perfectly confident taking up the space to do so.

Sitting with knees curled up

Photo credit: Canva

Those who sit with their knees curled up, nicknamed “Snug Sitters,” also value comfort, along with peace. That “may also be less interested in gaining attention but more focused on enjoying their experience,” says Wanic.

Propping feet on a stool

Photo credit: Canva

“Footstool Fans,” as Wanic calls them, are likely to be very practical, yet adaptable…which is something my recliner-loving husband will surely rub in my face from now on.

Hugging a pillow while sitting

Photo credit: Canva

Lastly, Wanic said that “Cushion Cuddlers” are most likely to be more on the shy, introverted side who prefer “blending in” to standing out.

Of course, these labels aren’t necessarily gospel. An extrovert can certainly enjoy hugging a pillow from time to time. Maybe you just want to prop your feet up to take some pressure off your back. Or maybe you’re like me and go through all six of these positions in a single hour.

While non verbal communication has relevance, many people erroneously believe in body language myths that have little evidence to back them—thanks in no small part to TikTok. Many still believe, for example, that speaking while looking in different directions indicates deceit, though that has long been debunked. Or that crossing your arms signals discomfort (spoiler: not necessarily).

Humans are complex creatures, even when they’re sitting on the couch. We can’t determine the full scope of all their inner workings from just one thing. But, certain patterns of behavior can tell a story. As the saying goes, “"We are what we repeatedly do.” Plus, just like with taking an online quiz or reading your horoscope, it’s nice to quell our curiosity, gain a better sense of ourselves and others, maybe even feel some validation. Not to mention, it’s just fun!

A couple falling in love over dinner.

The great poet Rumi once wrote, "Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They're in each other all along." In these 2 lines, he perfectly expressed the almost indescribable feeling of connection that people in love experience.

This type of spiritual connection may exist outside of the realm of science. However, a recent series of experiments published in Communications Psychology revealed that some people have a unique talent for deeply connecting or "synchronizing” and people find them very attractive.

One of the big giveaways people are attracted to one another is when their minds and bodies magically sync up. People who share a connection on a first date often unconsciously mirror each other’s postures, mannerisms and facial expressions.

A great way to see if someone is attracted to you is to cross your legs and if the other person follows, there’s a good chance they may be interested. People attracted to one another may also experience synchrony in heart rates, respiration, hormone levels and other autonomic functions.


All in all, when 2 people are in the throes of synchronicity, they share feelings of intimacy and cooperation. It’s a very similar physiological phenomenon seen in parent-child interactions.



To find out if synchronicity was tied to romantic attraction, researchers had participants watch a video of a man and a woman on a date. Some of the couples were in-sync and others were out-of-sync. After watching the video, the people were asked to rate their attractiveness and how strongly they appeared to be attracted to one another.

Synchronized couples scored higher in both attractiveness and mutual attraction.

In a second experiment, scientists held a speed dating event with 24 men and 24 women. Each person wore a wristband to track their physiological arousal. They were also asked to tap to the beat of a metronome. Those who synced both musically and psychologically received higher attractiveness scores.

Those with the highest scores were known as "Super Synchronizers" by scientists.



“We discovered that the ability to synchronize is stable across tasks and across partners. Some people are Super Synchronizers and Super Synchronizers are consistently rated as more attractive,” Shir Atzil, study author and director of the Bonding Neuroscience Lab and an assistant professor at Hebrew University, said according to Psy Post. “Being sensitive to a partner and attuning to them can help promote romantic bonding. This is because synchronized physiological states can improve regulation across various bodily systems, making interactions more fulfilling and suggesting cognitive and evolutionary advantages.”

To take advantage of synchronicity on your next date, plan some activities that make it easier to connect with someone. Studies show that people’s heart rates and breathing align when they watch emotional films together. This can also happen when listening to music together or dancing. A simple shared task such as doing a puzzle together can also help you sync with your date.

Ultimately, it’s all about building a connection with another person. “When we become aware that ‘we’ are sharing a moment with someone else, it is no longer necessarily the case that we are fundamentally separated by our distinct heads — we could really be be two individuals sharing in one and the same unfolding experience,” Tom Froese, a cognitive scientist from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology in Japan, told Discover Magazine.

Photo Credit: William Fortunado via Canva

Amanda Seals breaks down history of DAP handshake

We've all seen people do it. Anywhere from basketball players on television to kids meeting up at the skating rink. Even former president Barack Obama when greeting a mixed group of men gave "DAP" to the Black men in the group, yet switched to a firm handshake when greeting the other men.

It was almost like watching the president code switch, but with body language, in a move that many Black Americans recognize as a gesture of acceptance and comradery. But did you know that there's an actual history behind the DAP that has nothing to do with looking cool? Social justice educator and actress, Amanda Seales, recently re-shared a clip from "The Real" where she was diving into the history of the handshake.

Seales, who has a master's degree in African American Studies from Columbia University, was also admittedly surprised when she learned there was a deeper meaning to the gesture.


On the show Seales explains that the DAP originated in the 60s during the Vietnam War between Black soldiers. "Young African Americans were being sent into combat and the DAP was about unity and survival. There were cases of Black soldiers reportedly being shot by white soldiers during combat and so it was a physical act of solidarity," Seales reads. "It was used to convey their commitment to looking after one another."

The actress says that DAP is an acronym for dignity and pride, but was once banned in the military because people thought it was a secret black power sign. It wasn't. The handshake was so helpful in making Black soldiers feel safe, DAP Therapy was created to help with PTSD symptoms.

The entire history of the DAP gives it so much more meaning. It's quite fascinating how things from the past continue to evolve and grow with society. While the meaning of the DAP may have been lost, the gesture itself is still alive and well.