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A viral TikTok argues that women don't want to give up the joy of their own personal peace and freedom for anyone.
There's been a lot of discourse on the state of modern dating and a lot of theories on why it seems harder than ever for people to find connection with romantic partners. Could it be that the achievement and education gaps between men and women are altering the dynamics? Have social media and dating apps broken our brains and hearts? Do we all have unrealistic expectations and unlimited options, leading to never feeling satisfied with anything or anyone?
Those are all intriguing options, but an alternate theory has recently arisen that's quickly gaining steam: Maybe being single isn't as lonely as we think. Maybe being single is actually freaking awesome.
A guy on TikTok who goes by Get To the Point Bro shared a hilarious monologue on why women who have been single for a long time "don't want to date anymore." Women say he absolutely nailed it.
The Frenchman's monologue was absolutely spot onGiphy
At first, it might seem like he's poking fun, either at single women or at the men who can't seem to win them over. But not so! What he's done is perfectly captured the joy many people find in being single and, frankly, able to do whatever the hell they want.
"Some women have been single for so long they don't date anymore, they grant you access to their peaceful little empire like a reluctant queen handing you a visitor's badge," he says. "You text her good morning and she's already annoyed, like 'Why are you disturbing the sacred silence of my personal growth journey?'"
He goes on, "Bro she's been sleeping diagonally in her bed for three years, she's not giving up that territory because you opened the door and paid for coffee."
"You plan a cute date, she's thinking 'That sounds nice but also I could stay home, deep clean my apartment, do a 12 steps skincare routine, order sushi and not have to listen to a man breathe.'"
"You try to check in emotionally, 'How are you feeling?' She's feeling fantastic because you're not here."
"You're not competing with other guys. There are no other guys. You're competing with her weighted blanket, her peace, her cat named Chairman Meow, and the simple joy of not having to share her fries."
These are just a few of the best lines from the nearly 2-minute rant, all delivered in the most amazing French accent you can imagine. Please, enjoy:
@gettothepointbro DATING A GIRL WHO IS USED TO BE ALONE CAN BE VERY HARD .
The best thing about the video is the discussion in the comments. Women want to know how this man got access to this top-secret information. The rant is so eerily, frighteningly accurate that women are convinced this French guy is living in their heads. That, or someone's secretly leaking intel.
"dammit. somebody call a meeting of the council. he knows too much."
"I dont often offer this compliment to the male species but you explained it better than I ever could."
"Alright, who’s told him this info??? So exposed right now"
"The joy of sleeping diagonally across my bed cannot be fully explained."
"This is the most accurate profiling I’ve ever heard. You absolutely ailed it."
Clearly, we've tapped into a real phenomenon here.
@gettothepointbro CAN YOU RELATE LADIES ? THAT’S WHY WE LOVE YOU ❤️
The truth is that many people—both men and women—are disillusioned with the sad state of the dating scene these days. App burnout is a real thing, and meeting new people in real life is a ton of work. So, it's no surprise that more and more people are just choosing to stay single and enjoy all the perks that come along with it. This is a stark change, especially for women.
According to FiveThirtyEight, "Women were also more likely than men to say that they weren’t dating because they have other priorities right now." Priorities like travel, career, friendship, and even just self-care—all things that wind up taking a backseat when people get involved in relationships. It wasn't too long ago that women of a certain age that were still single were called "spinsters," but that word has lost a significant amount of power. This new generation of women aren't embarrassed or ashamed to be single; they're loving it for exactly all the reasons this video describes.
This article originally appeared in April.
Photo by Howard R Wheeler on Unsplash
A young child wearing a cowboy hat and scarf.
We knew this time would come. The time when baby names would be off-the-charts cool and brilliantly unique. Sure, this might be said of every generation, but this time, it's really true. And it's awesome.
Of course, Gen Beta babies have already been born. That generational clock reset on January 1st, 2025. So, any child born on or after that date until 2039 is full Beta all the way. Millennials and Gen Z-ers have gotten off to a fun start on naming the newest generation, and their inspiration is unlike anything most of us have seen before.
A scene from the film Raising Arizona.Giphy 20th Century Fox
On ABC News, writer Bethany Braun-Silva notes, "Popular baby names today are a mosaic of smaller, hyper-localized trends rather than a set of universal favorites." She cites editor-in-chief of Nameberry, Sophie Kihm, who claims, "Names are deeply tied to identity. The most important thing is choosing a name that feels meaningful to you."
Braun-Silva shares, "Current trends include neo-cowboy names (like Rhodes and Dutton), adult-sounding names such as Lionel or Georgina—girl names for boys like June or Willow, and 'atmospheric' names like Clover or Solana."
But what's most exciting is what's on the horizon ("Horizon" being one of the names you might actually see soon.) As Gen Alpha ages, they'll be naming the new gen in as early as a few years. It's expected that they (along with current new parents) are taking inspiration from more localized, niche identities. Think Japanese, Turkish, Spanish, and Indian influences, Braun-Silva suggests.
Also, names based on video games and hobbies are coming quickly. (I really hope that means "Grand Theft Auto" and "Pickleball" will be the most popular names in nursey schools soon.) It's also reported that "Among the names expected to rise in popularity for girls are Scottie, Elowyn, Lenora, and Murphy, while for boys, names like Matheo, Elio, Chosen, and Caspian are predicted to trend."
A clip from the video game Grand Theft AutoGiphy GTA
According to author Delilah Gray for a piece on Yahoo! Life, bird names are about to take flight. (Sorry.) She writes, "You may be like, 'Bird names? Seriously?' But hear us out: there are so many bird baby names, and they’re all so unique and beautiful." She cites Baby Center, who report that Robin, Cardinal, Mavis, Raven, Dove, and Callum are definitely becoming popular for our little Gen Beta friends.
A white dove flying during daytime. Photo by Shubhankar Bhowmick on Unsplash
Furthermore, Baby Center claims that new parents are naming babies after traits they wish for them. "For boys, Wisdom is up 868 spots to No. 1,340, Loyal (up 225 spots to No. 829), Sincere (up 160 spots to No. 534), and Knowledge (up 83 spots to No. 1,054) are also climbing the baby name ranks."
For girls, trends include "Praise, which has risen 489 spots to No. 1,156; Divine, which has risen 145 spots to No. 1,175; Adore, which at No. 1,365 is up 106 spots; Queen, which is up 75 spots to No. 940; Miracle, which is up 69 spots to No. 181; and Hope, which at No. 217 has risen 40 spots."
A scary scene from the film Jaws.Giphy Shark Week GIF, Universal Pictures
Lastly, expect to meet more babies named after movies. Baby Center notes, "The name Anora has jumped up 1,105 spots for girls so far this year, ranking No. 2,291." Not to mention a rise in popularity for recent Oscar winners, like Kieran, Cynthia and Adrian. It's all an exciting trend and could lead to that exciting day when we meet babies named "Jaws" or "Scream Three." Here's hoping!
"Horse horse, tiger tiger." What does that mean?
You probably know what it means to hit the hay, tie the knot or buy a lemon. Maybe you’ve already killed two birds with one stone today, so effortlessly that it was a piece of cake. But to a non-English speaker, using these phrases would probably make you sound crazy … or should I say gone crackers?
That’s the fun thing about idioms. They change depending on the time, place and culture creating them. In other words, they usually sound ridiculous to anyone except those who normally use them. Looking at turns of phrase in different languages helps us see the world through different eyes. And man does it seem impressive at a party.
Just think, instead of saying “it’s raining cats and dogs,” next time you could incorporate a more Lithuanian take, and say “it’s raining axes.” How metal is that?
It can also be raining old women, barrels, buckets, pipe stems, frogs, female trolls, fire and brimstone … depending on where you’re from.
Some of these idioms from around the world make a lot of sense. Others get so lost in translation, you can’t help but get tickled pink.
"Now your fishes will be warmed."Photo credit: Canva
Swedish
”Nu ska du få dina fiskar värmda.”
Literal translation: Now your fishes will be warmed.
It's another way of saying someone’s in trouble, or their “goose is cooked.”
The Swedish language is definitely not lacking in the threats department. They also have a saying, “nu har du satt din sista potatis,” which translates to “now you have planted your last potato.”
Imagine hearing Batman say “You’ve planted your last potato, Joker.” Doesn't have quite the intended effect.
"To have one’s eyes lined with ham."Photo credit: Canva
Italian
“Avere gli occhi foderati di prosciutto.”
Literal translation: To have one’s eyes lined with ham.
Leave it to the Italians to have food-related phrases. You can use this when someone can’t see what’s right in front of them. It can also be used when someone is blinded by love. Sadly, there is no “ham-colored glasses” idiom.
"To lay your head in water."Photo credit: Canva
Icelandic
“Að leggja höfuðið í bleyti.”
Literal translation: To lay your head in water.
You say this when you “need to sleep on something,” or “put your thinking cap on.” This one is hilarious because I cannot fathom getting any mental clarity from holding my head in the water.
"Repetition teaches the donkey."Photo credit: Canva
Arabic
"At-Tikraar yu’allem al-Himaar.”
Literal translation: Repetition teaches the donkey.
Practice makes perfect, but it especially does for donkeys. Animal-themed wisdom at its finest.
"I only understand train station."Photo credit: Canva
German
"Ich verstehe nur Bahnhof."
Literal translation: I only understand train station.
It's another way of saying “it’s all Greek to me.”
The history of this one is a bit mysterious. One theory is that it originated from WWI soldiers who had only one thing on their mind after getting discharged: returning home. Meaning, they could only comprehend the train station that would lead them there. Others say it refers to tourists new to Germany who have really only learned the German word for “train station.” Which would indicate that everything else is foreign to them.
And let’s not forget “nicht mein bier, nicht meine sorgen,” translating to “not my beer, not my worries.”
(Fun fact: The term “not my circus, not my monkeys” actually stems from a Polish proverb, not an English saying at all.)
"To speak directly from the liver."Photo credit: Canva
Norwegian
“Å snakke rett fra leveren.”
Literal translation: To speak directly from the liver.
When you say something without sugar-coating it, you are speaking directly from the liver. This dates back to a time when the liver was thought to be the magical organ that produced courage. So speaking from the liver is just like speaking from the heart, only down and to the right a little.
"Horse horse, tiger tiger."Photo credit: Canva
Chinese
“Mama huhu.”
Literal translation: Horse horse, tiger tiger.
You can use it to say something is just okay. Not good, not bad, just … meh.
As the story goes, a Chinese painter who, not very good at his craft, created a drawing of an animal that looked sort of like a tiger, and sort of like, you guessed it, a horse. That story actually has a tragic ending that serves as a cautionary tale against carelessness. But nowadays it takes on a lighter connotation.
And like “comme ci, comme ca” in French, “horse horse, tiger tiger” isn’t quite as commonly spoken as non-native speakers would assume.
Language continues to be an ever-evolving and always entertaining way to not only appreciate other cultures, but also note the similarities. Words might change slightly, but ultimately we're all expressing the same things.
This article originally appeared three years ago.
As non-alcoholic socializing grows, people are increasingly seeking non-booze options to unwind.
Science confirms what many of us already feel—we're stressed. The eighth edition of the Censis-Eudaimon report, which analyzes the relationship between work, companies, and employee well-being, revealed that 31.8% of people feel “close to burnout” due to workplace stress. Meanwhile, as non-alcoholic socializing continues to grow, with sober bars and events gaining popularity, people are seeking booze-free options to help them unwind. Enter the latest trend promising relaxation without the hangover: Cortisol Cocktails.
These viral drinks—available in various flavors and colors—are alcohol-free beverages made with ingredients that purportedly lower cortisol, restore energy, relieve tension, and balance hormones. But is this just a catchy, alliterative name? Or could cortisol cocktails actually deliver on their promises? Let's dive in.
Cortisol prepares your body for “fight or flight” situations, but shouldn't produce too much of it. Photo credit: Canva
So, what is cortisol?
First things first: Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced in the adrenal glands (which sit atop the kidneys), often called the “stress hormone” because your body releases more of it when facing physical or emotional stress. By regulating the body's stress response, cortisol prepares you for “fight or flight” situations. This isn't necessarily bad—producing cortisol is valuable for the body, as it plays a vital role in regulating metabolism, inflammation, and blood sugar levels, while helping to balance our circadian rhythm. However, like everything in life, beware of excess cortisol. While temporary increases are healthy and normal, chronically elevated cortisol keeps you in a constant state of stress and can lead to harmful long-term effects, including anxiety, depression, irritability, fatigue and sleep problems, increased weight gain (especially around the abdomen), and memory problems or brain fog.
The science behind cortisol mocktails
While there are plenty of ways to lower cortisol, like spending time in nature and maintaining positive social interactions, these solutions lack one thing: deliciousness. (Another non-delicious yet interesting cortisol fact: a 2023 study found that laughter is a great way to lower cortisol levels, noting that “spontaneous laughter is associated with greater reduction in cortisol levels as compared with usual activities, suggesting laughter as a potential adjunctive medical therapy to improve well-being.”)
Cortisol mocktails—also called “adrenal cocktails”—are alcohol-free beverages concocted with a medley of ingredients that purportedly support relaxation, stress reduction, and healthy adrenal function. While no drink can “cure” stress, these beverages contain ingredients that are associated with managing cortisol and offer other beneficial qualities.
Research shows that adaptogens like ashwagandha, rhodiola, and holy basil help the body adapt to stress and may lower cortisol levels. The same goes for foods rich in vitamin C—think bright citrus fruits, berries, and pineapple. Meanwhile, a dash of magnesium can support muscle relaxation and stress response, and L-theanine (an amino acid found in green tea) promotes relaxation without causing drowsiness.
Three cortisol mocktail recipes to try this summer
(1) Tropical pineapple coconut mocktail
This refreshing drink combines pineapple and coconut water, creating a dynamic combo for supporting adrenal health. Pineapple is sweet and loaded with vitamin C, which is especially essential for adrenal function, as the glands use large amounts of it to produce stress hormones and combat oxidative stress. Coconut water, on the other hand, is naturally high in potassium, magnesium, and sodium: three electrolytes essential for maintaining fluid balance and proper adrenal gland activity.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup cubed pineapple
- ¾ cup coconut water
- 1 lime, juiced
- ½ tsp monk fruit sweetener (or honey)
- ¼ tsp sea salt
Instructions:
Blend all ingredients for 20–30 seconds until smooth. Pour over ice and enjoy. This tropical treat provides vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and vitamin B6—all while making you feel like you’re getting ready for a vacation.
Green tea, pineapple, and coconut water are all associated with lowered cortisol levels. Photo credit: Canva
Calming matcha lemon balm mocktail
Green tea is a natural wonder, offering a ton of health benefits and bringing even energy without any jitters, spikes, or crashes. That’s because of its natural contents: caffeine and L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation and supports healthy sleep and stress levels. A 2022 study found that increased consumption of green tea led to significantly reduced levels of elevated stress hormones like cortisol in teenagers.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup sparkling water
- ⅓ tsp matcha green tea powder
- 1 inch cucumber, sliced
- 2-3 fresh lemon balm leaves (or 1 lemon balm tea bag, brewed and cooled)
- Juice of ½ lime
- Natural sweetener to taste
- Ice
Instructions:
Muddle cucumber and lemon balm in a shaker. Add matcha, lime juice, sweetener, and ice. Shake well, strain into a glass, and top with sparkling water. Garnish with lime and cucumber slices.
Keep in mind, cortisol mocktails are not magic potions. Photo credit: Canva
Sleepy girl mocktail
Ideal for winding down, this delicious nightcap combines magnesium with the naturally occurring melatonin present in cherry juice that supports sleep and relaxation.
Ingredients:
- 1 tsp magnesium powder (berry-flavored works great)
- 2 oz organic tart cherry juice
- 10 oz sparkling water
- Ice
Instructions:
Combine magnesium powder and tart cherry juice in a glass. Top with sparkling water and ice. Sip in bliss as you prepare for a restful night.
The bottom line
It’s important to keep in mind that cortisol mocktails aren’t magic potions. Don’t look to social media for cure-alls or for alternatives to medicine or a doctor’s advice, either.
“If you think there’s something wrong with your hormone levels, it’s so, so critical to seek the help of an endocrinologist instead of trying to do your own research to diagnose and treat yourself,” says Christine Byrne, dietitian and owner of Ruby Oak Nutrition, to CBS News. “Lots of influencers and wellness companies prey off people with difficult-to-diagnose symptoms by blaming these symptoms on vague problems like hormone imbalance or adrenal fatigue, then selling a supposed solution. But most of this stuff isn’t evidence-based or thoroughly tested.”
While these mocktails aren't substitutes for medical treatment of chronic stress, they offer a delicious and supportive addition to your stress-management routine. (Be sure to incorporate other essential lifestyle factors like adequate sleep, regular exercise, and stress management techniques like yoga and meditation.) The next time stress weighs heavily on you, remember that relief might be just a sip away. Cheers!
There's a reason why some people can perfectly copy accents, and others can't