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Why is it the closer you get to home, the more you have to pee?

The urge intensifies at the toilet, too.

via Canva/Photos

A woman has to go to the bathroom really badly.

Isn’t it a little strange that while driving home from work, you start feeling like you have to pee as you get about a mile from home? The closer you get to home, the greater the feeling intensifies until you do the pee-pee dance while trying to figure out which key opens the front door. The problem is, it doesn’t stop there. The feeling intensifies until you reach the toilet.

Why do you have to pee the closer you get to home?

If you know this feeling all too well, you should be happy to see that it isn’t a coincidence that the closer you get, the more you have to go; it’s science. “The closer you are to that access, the more you’re going to feel that sense of urgency and your body is going to say, ‘Oh, hey, we’re almost there, we have it,’” Jessica Stern, a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU Langone Health, told The Huffington Post.

You’ve probably heard of the mind-body connection, but did you know it also extends to the brain-bladder connection? According to Stren, there is an ongoing dialogue where the brain tells the bladder whether it’s okay to go to the bathroom. So, when you’re commuting home from work, your brain says, “Not now, bladder,” until you get closer to home, and then the brain gets less demanding, and the bladder takes over.

bladder, brain, pee, poop, use bathroom, restroom, urgency, dance, A man has to go to the bathroom really badly.via Canva/Photos

“As one gets closer to the bathroom, the inhibitory signals from the brain become less and less as the thought of urinating becomes stronger and stronger,” Dr. Victor W. Nitti, a professor of urology and obstetrics and gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, told The Huffington Post.

The more you wait to use the restroom until you get home, the more your mind will associate coming home with having to go to the bathroom until it becomes habitual. “The more you go to this place where you’re arriving at home and having to go to the bathroom immediately, the more that pattern is going to start to develop,” Stern said.

bladder, brain, pee, poop, use bathroom, restroom, urgency, dance, A woman on the toilet.via Canva/Photos

So, now that we know there’s a brain-bladder relationship happening, what about your bowels? Is there a brain-bowel relationship, too? Because it seems like the closer we get to home, the greater the utrge to poop as well.

Why is it the closer you get to home, the more you have to poop?

Jack Gilbert, a professor of surgery at the University of Chicago and the university's Microbiome Center director, says there is a similar effect on the bowels. Our body chemistry changes when we get home which makes us more comfortable going poop. Gibert says that coming home “triggers the relaxation response that allows you to release the inhibitions that led you to hold it in' while in unfamiliar surroundings.” That’s a big reason why people often suffer from constipation when they go on vacation, because the body isn’t sure where it’s safe to go. Remember, many of our systems are running on ancient evolutionary data that, thousands of years ago, meant that going to the bathroom in the wrong place could get you eaten by a wild animal.

Interestingly, our mind works overtime, communicating with our bladder and bowels without us knowing it, so we have a safe and comfortable place to go to the bathroom. Still, it would be cooler if the brain tols us we have to go pee or poop after we opened the front door instead of a mile from home.

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Woman on crutches performs epic 'Dirty Dancing' routine that leaves everyone in awe

"I love defying expectations, disabled people can do cool things."

Photo Via Canva/Wikipedia

Disabled dancer Sophia Adzoa-Moore (@sophh.a.m) performs epic dance on crutches to 'Dirty Dancing' song.

Watching people dance is totally magical and mesmerizing. With rhythm and charisma, an amazing dance performance can make you feel alive. And disabled dancer Sophia Adzoa-Moore (@sophh.a.m) is one of those dancers capturing audiences.

She brought her stunning talent in a recent performance during a dance class to the song "Yes" by Merry Clayton. It's a high-energy song that was featured in the iconic movie Dirty DancingDirty Dancing, and Sophia absolutely crushed her unique choreography with her crutches.

"Dancing in heels on crutches? it’s been a while!!!! i love defying expectations, disabled people can do cool things," she captioned the post. "Big day bc i rarely have my curly hair out bc i’ve never been able to style it well and so it doesn’t look great, AND i don’t have a long top on but i still had so much fun. it’s also the fullest class i’ve ever done, so space was limited, but again!!! coped!!! 🎷🫶🏽🩼👠🥰"

@sophh.a.m

dancing in heels on crutches? it’s been a while!!!! i love defying expectations, disabled people can do cool things. big day bc i rarely have my curly hair out bc i’ve never been able to style it well and so it doesn’t look great, AND i don’t have a long top on but i still had so much fun. it’s also the fullest class i’ve ever done, so space was limited, but again!!! coped!!! 🎷🫶🏽🩼👠🥰 🧠: laura hills 👠: @LaDuca Shoes 🏤: @Pineapple Dance #disabilitytiktok #fyp #viral #chronicillness #disableddancer #disabledperformer #diversity #mobilityaid #coolcrutches #laducashoes #disability #pineappledancestudios #jazz #musicaltheatre

In the video, Sophia takes hold of the moves, showing off her impressive strength and ingenuity as she dances in a packed dance class, hitting her marks and doing impressive spins and backbends. "Things that make me anxious: my natural hair, dancing in just a sports bra, wearing heels with crutches...big day for soph!!!" she shared in the video's caption. "The mechanics of getting the crutches out of the way for a backbend is A LOT!"

And viewers are totally mesmerized by her moves. "the way you modify the movement but still capture the same essence and energy of the original choreography is just incredible! (and your curly hair looks great)," one wrote. Another commented, "I mean this with all the respect, you dance like nothing is wrong & nothing hurts! The effort it must take to look effortless!! 🔥🔥🔥 To have to modify to keep the same pace as everyone. You are a marvel!! Just the best dancer!!" And another added, "Oh you DEVOURED this."

@sophh.a.m

musicals 🤝🏽 good disability rep? youve got me seated. love u @Wicked Movie 🫶🏽 can’t stop singing the it’s just liiiIIIiIiiiIfeee bit DC: christopher scott dreaming of being in a movie like this frrrrr #fyp #disabilitytiktok #viral #chronicillness #disableddancer #crutches #wickedmovie #wickeddance #dancingthroughlife

In an interview with Cool Crutches, Sophia shared, "I originally stopped being able to walk due to pain in my left hip when I was 13, and ended up on crutches. I had multiple hip operations which didn’t work long term. I was then diagnosed with Joint Hypermobility Syndrome at around 15 and continued having hip operations culminating in a PAO in 2020. With no long term relief, I ended up having a hip replacement at 21 (in a pandemic – was not fun!)."

She was recently diagnosed with Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), but is not letting it stop her. "It's doesn't change anything. There is no cure... I am OK with my life. Yes I'm in a bit of pain and life is very different to how one might have imagined it when I was five, and I'm OK with that," she told the BBC.

When it comes to dancing with crutches, she has figured out how to make choreography her own.

"Because I used to dance without crutches, my brain is learning choreography just like non-disabled dancers. It takes a minute for me to learn the choreography and then translate it into what my body needs to do now and sometimes that needs an extra minute," she shared with the BBC.

@sophh.a.m

decided to remake one of my old solos from when i was like 15 but now on crutches. that soph would be so shocked to see what i do now 😂 might do some more of these bc it’s so nice to look back on these old dancing videos 🤍 thought this would bring on body grief big time, but actually other than reminiscing on some moves i used to be able to do rlly well, i loved taking on the challenge and making a dance that i loved suit me now! 🩼: @coolcrutches amethyst sky #disabilitytiktok #fyp #viral #chronicillness #disableddancer #disabledperformer #musicaltheatre #crutches #invisibledisability #mobilityaid #coolcrutches #jazz #competitiondance #modern

Despite her diagnosis, her dance career is flourishing. In July 2024, she graduated from the musical theatre college, Performance Preparation Academy in Guildford, Surrey. And she has landed major dance performance opportunities in London, and continues to audition.

"Dancing still, as it has always done, brings me so much joy and the added bonus of the crutches really is just what makes me, me now," she shared.

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Humor

Grandchildren hilariously act out iconic real life photos for grandfather's 70th birthday

They've raised the bar for grandkids everywhere.

Image via Canva

Grandchildren surprise their grandpa for his 70th birthday by acting out his old photos.

You only turn 70 once--and the milestone birthday is a big one to celebrate. For grandparents, there is nothing better to commemorate the special day than with their kids and grandkids. And one family went above and beyond to make their grandpa feel special on his big day.

Aimee (@athomeiwthaimee), a stay-at-home mom and certified personal trainer, shared a hilarious video with her followers on Instagram of an epic birthday surprise her family pulled off for her dad, 'Papa'. At his 70th birthday, all of Papa's grandchildren dressed up and recreated old photos of him throughout the years. Each one came out individually to show him to roaring laughter that is contagious.

"Papa's 70th Birthday photo recreations 🤣❤️🤣," she captioned the post, adding, "We surprised our dad for his 70th birthday. All of his grandchildren recreated old photos of him."

In the video, it begins with Papa sitting in the family's living room in front of a mantle covered in 70th birthday cards. He is sitting in a chair, waiting for the first grandchild to come out in costume. And it did not disappoint--the first grandson is dressed in an altar boy outfit, recreating a photo of Papa standing in front of an altar at church as a young boy. "Oh my goodness," he says as his grandson walks out.

The second recreation is a vintage golf photo, and another grandson comes out wearing a red tank top and jean shorts rocking a fake mustache just like his Papa did back in the day. He's also holding a golf club. "That's awesome," he says laughing as he shakes his grandson's hand.


golfMoon Walk Dance GIFGiphy

A third grandson comes out dressed up as Papa posing pensively on a tree in a yellow button down, navy shorts and striped crew socks--with a fake mustache, of course. "I love the mustaches! Look at those socks, they're beautiful!" he says. "I made them," his grandson responds.

For the fourth look, his granddaughter comes out in a bathrobe and fake mustache to recreate a lazy morning photo. The sixth look is another grandson dressed as Papa in a previous Halloween costume--a poker dealer, complete with a see-through visor, bow tie, button-up white shirt and arm band. "I remember that!" Papa says.

And the looks just keep coming. For the seventh recreation, another granddaughter comes out in a midlife outfit of Papa wearing a checkered button-down, jeans and glasses with the mustache. She stands next to him to pose exactly as he did in the original photo, and the family laughs loudly.

snowmobileCriss Angel Snow GIF by DefyTVGiphy

The eighth look is Papa from an old photo on a snow mobile, rocking a retro snowsuit. His grandson comes out in a nearly identical one. "That is awesome," Papa says to him.

There is a ninth look, and for this one Papa was in baseball coach mode. Another grandson comes out in a red polo, red and white ball cap and fake mustache to recreate the photo, and Papa is loving every second.

California RaisinCalifornia Raisins GIFGiphy

For the grand finale and tenth look, another grandchild comes out dressed like a California Raisin to mimic a previous Halloween costume. The family's laughter is boisterous and from the gut, and viewers fully enjoyed watching the family come together to celebrate Papa. "People from background should be hired for sitcoms 😭," one commented. Another wrote, "The moustache was the main character in all this!!! 😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣" And another viewer added, "Now that is a life well lived and a family well adjusted ❤️."

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Pop Culture

Two brothers Irish jigify Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us' and somehow make it even better.

The infamous Drake diss gets the Riverdance treatment

gardinerbrothers/TikTok

You'd have to be living under a rock to not have heard of Kendrick Lamar and, specifically, the hit song "Not Like Us." Not only was the track the biggest song of the summer of 2024, it also won Lamar a ridiculous five Grammy awards (Song of the Year, Best Rap song, Best Rap Performance, Best Music Video, and even Record of the Year). It was also the lethal dagger in one of the biggest rap beefs in recent history, as the song is a "diss track" that ruthlessly eviscerates rival rapper Drake. Finally, Lamar performed the song in the front of the entire world at the Super Bowl LIX halftime show, cementing its place in the cultural zeitgeist. You can't really have a discussion about pop culture and goings on in 2025 without mentioning the rap.

Just when you thought there was nothing more that could possibly be said about the song, the famous Gardiner Brothers — world-champion Irish dancers and TikTok mega stars — decided to drop a little Riverdance-remix.

It started as a joke. The brothers posted a video on TikTok mashing up Kendrick Lamar's moves at the Super Bowl with a few of their own. It playfully poked fun at the light and airy music they often dance to, contrasting Lamar's now famous beat with their own heavy-on-the-fiddle jig tunes.

Then a commenter challenged them to dance to "Not Like Us" for real, and the boys did not disappoint.

@gardinerbrothers

Replying to @Codename:estibestie Just missing the flares 😅 👖 #kendricklamar #notlikeus

Viewers were obsessed with the unique mash up of styles. The footwork on display in the video is hypnotizing, with the clicks and clacks perfectly complimenting the beat of the song and Lamar's lyrics.

"Yeesss McKendrick Lamar," a commenter joked.

"Kendrick O'Lamar," said another.

"Brilliant! Kendrik bringing the whole world together."

"Someone has to send these boys some bootcut flares," one user joked, referencing Lamar's attention-grabbing jeans worn during the Super Bowl halftime show.

Others wished the Brothers could have been included in the Super Bowl performance. It would have made an amazing addition! Just imagine how much more confused America's grandparents would have been if Lamar's politically charged performance, suddenly and without warning, cut to an Irish jig.

Michael and Matthew Gardiner are Irish-American brothers from Denver with millions of followers on social media. These days, they live in Galway, Ireland where they choreograph dances, tour the world, and compete in competitive dance competitions in-between filming content. And yes, they have both performed in Riverdance.

Giphy

TikTok and Instagram reels have helped bring so much exposure to artists, particularly ones that work in a visual medium like dance. It has allowed artists who, before, never would have been able to make money with their craft to build an audience and even, in some cases, earn a living. Some people argue that TikTok is having a negative effect on dance, in the sense that routines are designed for the algorithm and for as much distribution as possible versus from a place of pure creativity. But what's really amazing is that the exposure extends far beyond just modern and street dances. Who would have thought that two guys who specialize in Irish stepdancing could have videos with tens of millions of views?!

"Our vision was just to show how modern, athletic, and versatile Irish dancing can be," Matthew told Dance Spirit. "We also drew inspiration from places like Riverdance, Gene Kelly, Fred Astaire, and other dancers online that are in a different genre, like hip hop. We just wanted to keep pushing the boundaries of Irish dance—hold on to the tradition from the past, but innovate it for the future and see where we can take it.

It says a lot about the beauty and skill of Irish dancing that it can be so flexibly applied across music genres, and to such viral appeal. But it also says a lot about the talent of Kendrick Lamar and how people from all walks of life can appreciate his lyricism and artistry. In other words, Kendrick Lamar and Irish dancing is a surprisingly perfect pairing.

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