Why Is The Pumpkin So Closely Associated With The Fall Season?

The pumpkin is closely associated with fall for a few key reasons, many of which are rooted in history, culture, and agriculture:

1. Harvest Season

Pumpkins are harvested in the fall, typically in September and October, which aligns with the broader agricultural calendar of the season. Historically, people would celebrate harvest time with festivals, and pumpkins, being plentiful, became a natural symbol of abundance.

2. Halloween Tradition

Pumpkins are a central part of Halloween celebrations, especially in the form of jack-o’-lanterns. This tradition began in Ireland, where people originally carved turnips. When Irish immigrants came to the U.S., they found pumpkins, which were larger and easier to carve, making them the new choice for the spooky lanterns. Over time, this became a staple of Halloween, a major fall holiday.

3. Thanksgiving

Pumpkin pie is a traditional dish in North American Thanksgiving feasts. Since Thanksgiving takes place in late November, pumpkins are tied to this fall holiday as well. The abundance of pumpkins during the harvest season made them a common ingredient for early American settlers.

4. Fall Festivals and Decor

Pumpkins, with their bright orange color, visually represent the colors of autumn (orange, red, yellow). They are often used in decorations for fall festivals, homes, and storefronts. Their rustic, natural look is symbolic of the changing season, as people shift from summer activities to more indoor, cozy, autumnal traditions.

5. Cultural and Marketing Associations

In more recent years, pumpkins have been strongly linked to fall in popular culture and through marketing, especially with the rise of products like pumpkin spice lattes and other pumpkin-flavored foods and beverages. These items have become synonymous with the “cozy” fall feeling that many people look forward to, further cementing the pumpkin’s association with autumn.

These combined factors — agriculture, cultural traditions, and modern-day marketing — have made the pumpkin an iconic symbol of fall.

What Is Kielasa And What Are Some Facts About It?

Kielbasa is a type of sausage of Polish origin traditionally often made of pork. In the version most readily available in North American markets, it is smoked. In Polish, kie?basa is the generic word for “sausage,” and it is a staple of the national cuisine.

Sausage is a staple of Polish cuisine and comes in dozens of varieties, smoked or fresh, made with  pork, beef, turkey, lamb, chicken or veal with every region having its own speciality. There are official Polish government guides and classifications of sausages based on size, meat, ready-to-eat or uncooked varieties. Originally made at home in rural areas, there are a wide variety of recipes for kielbasa preparation at home and for holidays. Kielbasa is also one of the most traditional foods served at Polish weddings.

If you were to go to Poland today, you cannot simply ask for kielbasa or polish sausage. There are more than 100 types of kielbasa available today so you have to know what you are looking for. Basically, meat is ground with fat and then spices are added. The mixture is then stuffed into hog casings and then smoked. The result is a flavorful meat sausage that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Many people like to grill their kielbasa while others enjoy slicing the sausage and cooking with cabbage or sauerkraut. Today, there are machines that can be purchased so you can make your own kielbasa or you can simply visit your favorite grocery store to purchase. Many restaurants also feature the sausage on the menu so you can try different flavors and varieties.

If you enjoy eating kielbasa, then you are sure to enjoy these unique facts about the unique sausage. For many centuries, kielbasa consisted of pork, pepper, salt, marjoram, and garlic. In 1964, the government of Poland decided to introduce a new variety which contained 80% pork and 20% beef. The other ingredients remained the same.  The meat used in polish sausage is cured before it is mixed with the spices.

5 Real Benefits Of Work From Home

1. Better Work-Life Balance

Many remote jobs also come with flexible schedules, which means that workers can start and end their day as they choose, as long as their work is complete and leads to strong outcomes. This control over your work schedule can be invaluable when it comes to attending to the needs of your personal life. Whether it’s dropping kids off at school, running some errands, attending an online fitness class in the morning, or being home for a contractor, these tasks (and more!) are all easier to balance when you work from home. Flexible schedules aren’t the only options, however. You can also explore part-time remote jobs, evening jobs, jobs with four-day work weeks, and weekend job schedules to find your ideal fit.

2. Less Commute Stress

The average one-way commuting time in the U.S. is 27.1 minutes—that’s nearly an hour each day spent getting to and from work, and it really adds up. According to the Auto Insurance Center, commuters spend about 100 hours commuting and 41 hours stuck in traffic each year. Some “extreme” commuters face much longer commute times of 90 minutes or more each way. But wasting time commuting is just one of the downsides of getting to and from work. More than 30 minutes of daily one-way commuting is associated with increased levels of stress and anxiety, and research shows that commuting 10 miles to work each day is associated with health issues like:

  • Higher cholesterol
  • Elevated blood sugar
  • Increased risk of depression

Ditching the commute helps you support your mental and physical health. The time savings can allow you to focus on priorities outside of work, like getting extra sleep in the morning, spending more time with family, getting in a workout, or eating a healthy breakfast.

3. Improved Inclusivity

Remote work enables companies to embrace diversity and inclusion by hiring people from different socioeconomic, geographic, and cultural backgrounds and with different perspectives—which can be challenging to accomplish when recruiting is restricted to a specific locale that not everyone wants, or can afford, to live near. And by hiring employees who can work from home in the communities where they feel the most comfortable and supported, companies choose to support diversity, community, and family.

Telecommute jobs give people who may have a hard time finding steady employment at an onsite job, like those with disabilities or caregivers who need a flexible schedule, the opportunity to follow their career goals without having to worry about commuting back and forth to an office. It also gives workers the flexibility to get to doctor’s and other healthcare appointments when needed.

4. Positive Environmental Impact

The 3.9 million employees who worked from home at least half time before the pandemic reduced greenhouse gas emissions by the equivalent of taking more than 600,000 cars off the road for an entire year. A whopping 7.8 billion vehicle miles aren’t traveled each year for those who work at least part-time from home, 3 million tons of greenhouse gases (GHG) are avoided, and oil savings reach $980 million. And by making environmentally sound choices—like opting to use less paper and monitoring their air conditioning, heating, and lighting—telecommuters have the same potential impact on air quality as planting an entire forest of 91 million trees.

5. Impact on Sustainability

Remote work supports a variety of sustainability initiatives, from economic growth and reduced inequalities, to sustainable cities, climate change, and responsible consumption. One of the fastest, cheapest ways for employers and employees to reduce their carbon footprint and affect climate change is by reducing commuter travel. In fact, the world is already seeing markedly reduced pollution, congestion, and traffic during the pandemic response, and being able to experience the results firsthand may be a driver of remote work for everyone involved.

Five Scary Movie Set On Halloween To Watch This Halloween

André Øvredal’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark is based on the book series written by Alvin Schwartz. Set on Halloween in 1968, a group of teenage friends find the book written by the daughter of Bellows family, Sarah, in a secret room. One of the children, Stella, takes the book home, and as she reads the book, new stories appear and play out on the screen. Sarah is sending a message, but what is it? You have to watch the movie to find out. The film stars Zoe Colletti, Michael Garza, Gabriel Rush, Gil Bellows, and Dean Norris.

Kevin S. Tenney’s Night of the Demons is a fun 80s horror comedy movie set on Halloween night when friends go to a party in an abandoned mortuary. Why? Because it’s spookier, that’s why. It stars Cathy Powell as goth queen Amelia Kinkade, horror darling Linnea Quigley, and Hal Havins. The film is perhaps most famous for Angela Franklin’s seductive dance to Bauhaus’s song Stigmata Martyr as she turns into a demon. Angela is the only character appearing in the entire series; the second film is also set on Halloween.

Trick ‘r Treat is a 2007 American anthology horror film written and directed by Michael Dougherty (in his directorial debut) and produced by Bryan Singer. The film stars Dylan Baker, Rochelle Aytes, Anna Paquin, and Brian Cox. It relates four Halloween horror stories with a common element in them: Sam, a trick-or-treating demon wearing orange footie pajamas with a burlap sack over his head. The character appears in each story whenever one of the other characters breaks a Halloween tradition. Despite being delayed for two years and having only a limited number of screenings at film festivals, the film received positive reviews and has since garnered a cult following.

The Coven is a 2015 United Kingdom fantasy horror feature film directed by John Mackie (director) and starring Dexter Fletcher. It is stated that the film is based upon actual events. The plot revolves around a Wiccan group, whose leader Uri Clef, and seven followers disappear. They were last seen at The Coven, a ring of trees in Queens Wood once used as a meeting place by practitioners of Cochrane’s Craft. Some schoolkids are drawn to visit Queen’s Wood in Highgate on Halloween.

Ginger Snaps is a 2000 Canadian supernatural horror film directed by John Fawcett and written by Karen Walton, from a story they jointly developed. The film stars Emily Perkins and Katharine Isabelle  as Brigitte and Ginger Fitzgerald, two morbid teenage sisters whose relationship is tested when Ginger (who has started her period for the first time) is attacked and bitten by an unknown animal, and then later, during the next full moon, slowly starts to transform into a werewolf. The supporting cast features Kris Lemche, Jesse Moss, Danielle Hampton, John Bourgeois, Peter Keleghan, and Mimi Rogers.

The 5 Largest Pyramids In The World

The biggest pyramids in the world are found in different regions, showcasing various ancient civilizations. Here are some of the largest by volume and height:

1. The Great Pyramid of Giza (Egypt)

  • Height: Originally 146.6 meters (481 feet), now about 138.8 meters (455 feet) due to erosion.
  • Volume: 2.58 million cubic meters.
  • Facts: Built around 2560 BC for Pharaoh Khufu, it’s part of the Giza pyramid complex and is one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

2. Pyramid of Cholula (Mexico)

  • Height: 55 meters (180 feet).
  • Volume: 4.45 million cubic meters.
  • Facts: Also known as the Great Pyramid of Cholula, this is the largest pyramid by volume. It’s located in Cholula, Mexico, and was built by the pre-Columbian civilizations. Though shorter in height, it covers a massive area, with a base four times the size of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

3. Pyramid of Khafre (Egypt)

  • Height: 136.4 meters (448 feet).
  • Volume: 2.21 million cubic meters.
  • Facts: This pyramid is part of the Giza complex and appears taller than Khufu’s pyramid because it’s built on higher ground. It was constructed for Pharaoh Khafre.

4. Red Pyramid (Egypt)

  • Height: 105 meters (344 feet).
  • Volume: 1.69 million cubic meters.
  • Facts: Built by Pharaoh Sneferu, the Red Pyramid is the largest of the three pyramids located at the Dahshur necropolis and is Egypt’s third-largest pyramid by volume.

5. Pyramid of the Sun (Mexico)

  • Height: 65 meters (213 feet).
  • Volume: 1.18 million cubic meters.
  • Facts: Located in Teotihuacan, Mexico, this pyramid was built by the ancient Mesoamerican civilization around 100 AD. It was a major ceremonial site.

These pyramids reflect the architectural prowess of ancient cultures across different continents, from Egypt to Mesoamerica.

Arsenal 2 Paris St-Germain 0

Arsenal secured their first win in the new Champions League format as they overcame Paris St-Germain at Emirates Stadium. Mikel Arteta’s side followed an opening draw with Atalanta by taking control with two first-half goals from Kai Havertz’s header and a free-kick from Bukayo Saka that drifted in past PSG goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. PSG had their moments, especially when Nuno Mendes and Joao Neves hit the woodwork either side of the break, but the platform for victory was established by a dominant first-half display from Arsenal. Havertz put them ahead after 20 minutes when he beat Donnarumma to Leandro Trossard’s inviting cross to head home, before the keeper was deceived by Saka’s set-piece from near the touchline as he was unsighted in a packed penalty area.

PSG, stripped of the old superstars such as Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar, mounted periods of pressure after the break as Arsenal struggled to retain possession, but Arteta felt confident enough to give a debut to Mikel Merino, a £31m signing from Real Sociedad, on another satisfactory night for Arsenal. Arsenal’s victory was built on a fine opening 45 minutes which brought them a deserved two-goal advantage and gave them the cushion to come through moments of pressure in the second half for a deserved win. This is a PSG team in major transition after the decision to move on from the era of the acquisition of superstars, but the manner in which Arsenal controlled the first 45 minutes was another sign of the growth of the Gunners under Arteta.

As they took a stranglehold on affairs through Havertz, who showed bravery and commitment to reach Trossard’s delivery ahead of the onrushing Donnarumma, and Saka’s somewhat freakish strike from a free-kick, Arsenal played in a fashion which would have delighted their manager. It was a more difficult second half as PSG responded, although Gabriel Martinelli should have added a third when he volleyed straight at Donnarumma, but Arsenal kept Luis Enrique’s side at arm’s length and the win was concluded in comfort. Arteta will also have been delighted to give Merino some minutes, the Spain midfielder being unfortunate to suffer a shoulder injury in his first training session after an accidental tangle with Gabriel.

Eight Fascinating Facts You May Not Know About October

Here are some interesting facts about October:

  1. Name Origin: October comes from the Latin word “octo”, meaning eight. It was the eighth month in the ancient Roman calendar, which began in March, before January and February were added.
  2. October Birthstone: The traditional birthstone of October is the opal, symbolizing hope, creativity, and innocence. Tourmaline is also an October birthstone, representing balance and healing.
  3. Zodiac Signs: October starts with Libra (up to October 22), symbolizing balance, harmony, and fairness, and ends with Scorpio (from October 23), representing passion, resourcefulness, and determination.
  4. National Observances:
    • In the U.S., October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research.
    • It’s also National Hispanic Heritage Month (from September 15 to October 15), celebrating the culture, history, and contributions of Hispanic and Latinx Americans.
    • October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, promoting safe practices online.
  5. Halloween: October 31 is Halloween, a celebration of all things spooky and supernatural, with traditions of dressing up in costumes, trick-or-treating, and carving pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns.
  6. Full Moon: The full moon in October is traditionally called the Hunter’s Moon. It follows the Harvest Moon and historically signaled a time for hunting ahead of winter.
  7. Fall Foliage: October is known for its spectacular autumn foliage in the Northern Hemisphere, as leaves turn vibrant shades of red, orange, and yellow.
  8. October Festivals: Oktoberfest, a major festival originating in Germany, often continues into the early part of October, known for beer, Bavarian culture, and lively celebrations.

A Look Back At 2024 As We Enter The 10th Month Of The Year

We are in the last 3 months of the year, how do you feel about the actions you’ve taken?

This year was supposed to be better for me. I was happy with the way that we started. But I would have two major incidents of the cramps issue that I have been suffering from since October 2021 and I was hospitalized twice this year. On top of that my dad and I both contracted Dengue Fever, which meant an 8 day rest for me, luckily at home since I didn’t need to be hospitalize but he had an extended stay in the ICU and then in a room. That has been terrible for him.

The good thing is that I was finally able to move to a different process at work, one which is a permanent work at home option. I broached about an option to get a regular shift at work and not have to work night shifts. It was being discussed when I got hospitalized due to the non-stop cramps. That was in May and then I was offered a process change which is perfect for me. Unfortunately 3 weeks into the new process I got hospitalized again and I need a break. 2 weeks later, was when we got Dengue. Another 8 days resting, mostly spending it in bed and resting.

But yes we finally got work from home. After a little over 3 months of me moving to the new process, we finally all moved to home. We did it in batches and finally all of us are now at home, connecting using our broadband connections and the office VPNs. Work is 12:30 pm till 9:30 pm which is great for me.

Prompt from October Writing & Blogging Prompts at Soul Fueled Life

Are Self-Driving Vehicles the Wave of the Future?

Are Self-Driving Vehicles the Wave of the Future?

Yes I think so. Or atleas a kind of robot driving the car for us. A self-driving car make sense and I do this as something that could be the norm in 50 years time or so. It’s been getting in the development with Tesla and a couple of others. It’s gonna happen. Taxis will show up at your door, you get in and they will take you to the destination point without having a driver in them

If properly secured you can send older people and small kids in these cars and have them safely reach point A to point B and you have some peace of mind. You can do other things while they ride safely to their destination and then can come back home the same way as well. That will give you some peace of mind

I do think that we can make it safer to travel in these self driving cars that will avoid crashes and road rage and other such issues. I would like to have them now in our time.

Prompt from The Learning Network at The New York Times at The New York Times

RIP Kris Kristofferson

Kris Kristofferson, the renowned award winning actor and country singer-songwriter, has died. He was 88. He was surrounded by family when he died “peacefully” at his home in Maui on Saturday, Sept. 28. Kristoffer Kristofferson was born in Brownsville, Texas, to Mary Ann (née Ashbrook) and Lars Henry Kristofferson, a U.S. Army Air Corps officer (later a U.S. Air Force major general). Although his father tried to push Kris into the military, Kristofferson attended Pomona College and experienced his first national exposure in 1958, appearing in the March 31 issue of Sports Illustrated for his achievements in collegiate rugby union, American football, and track and field. In 1960, Kristofferson graduated with a B.Phil. degree in English literature from Oxford.

Though he wanted to be a writer under pressure from his family, joined the U.S. Army and was commissioned as a second lieutenant, attaining the rank of captain. He became a helicopter pilot after receiving flight training. During the early 1960s, he was stationed in West Germany as a member of the 8th Infantry Division. During this time, he resumed his music career and formed a band. After leaving the army in 1965, Kristofferson moved to Nashville. Struggling for success in music, he worked at odd jobs in the meantime while burdened with medical expenses resulting from his son’s defective esophagus. He and his wife divorced in 1968.

Among his songwriting credits are “Me and Bobby McGee”, “For the Good Times”, “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down”, and “Help Me Make It Through the Night”, all of which were hits for other artists. He release 21 solo albums and won several Grammy’s. In 1985, Kristofferson joined fellow country artists Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash in the country music supergroup the Highwaymen, which was a key creative force in the outlaw country music movement that eschewed the traditional Nashville country music machine in favor of independent songwriting and producing.

As an actor, Kristofferson was known for his roles in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (1973), Blume in Love (1973), Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974), A Star Is Born (1976) (which earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor), Convoy (1978), Heaven’s Gate (1980), Stagecoach (1986), Millenium (1989), Lone Star (1996), and the Blade film trilogy (1998–2004). Kristofferson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004 and received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014. Following the release of his final studio album, The Cedar Creek Sessions, in 2016, the country icon formally announced his retirement from music in 2021 and shared that Morris Higham Management was representing his estate.

Married 3 times, he also dated Janis Joplin for a while. His second marriage was to singer Rita Coolidge in 1973, ending in divorce by 1980. Kristofferson married Lisa Meyers in 1983. Kristofferson and Meyers owned a home in Las Flores Canyon in Malibu, California,[31] and maintained a residence in Hana, Hawaii, on the island of Maui. Kristofferson had eight children from his three marriages: two from his first marriage to Fran Beer; one from his second marriage to Rita Coolidge and five from his marriage to his third wife, Lisa (née Meyers) Kristofferson.

The Chocolate Overload Frappe From Costa Coffee

The Chocolate Overload Frappe is a coffee frappe made with dark Belgian chocolate sauce. Costa is the coffee chain that I have had the least coffees from. Cafe Coffee Day is the only Indian chain and I have had more coffee from them – lattes, cappuccinos but mostly frappes – than any others.

Next up is Starbucks and they are my current preferred coffee chain, even though they are the most expensive of the 3 (as of this time Tim Horton’s hasn’t launch in my state yet but they too are expected to be cheaper than Starbucks). The last time I ordered from Costa Coffee it was a disappointing watered down mess. This one though was not in the same vein.

The Chocolate Overload has lots of cream, a whole lot of coffee and Belgian chocolate. What is not to love in that! And they have cookie crumbles on top! Thick and delicious, it’s best if you mixed it up a lot before you start to sip. So good! My only complaint is that it wasn’t really cold; it’s just 1.5 kms away from me and shouldn’t have been affected by the trip to my apartment. I give it a 9 outta 10!

Arsenal 4 Leicester City 2

Arsenal scored twice in stoppage time to earn a dramatic victory over Leicester at Emirates Stadium. A Wilfred Ndidi own goal in the 94th minute and a close-range Kai Havertz strike in the ninth minute of stoppage time denied a Foxes side who were within reach of an unlikely point after clawing back a two-goal deficit in the second half. Gabriel Martinelli had given the dominant Gunners a deserved first-half lead when he steered home Jurrien Timber’s cross, before providing the pass for the second, converted by Leandro Trossard, on the stroke of half-time.

Leicester had managed only one touch in the Arsenal area before the break, but they reduced the arrears a little over a minute into the second half when James Justin’s header from Facundo Buonanotte’s free-kick struck Havertz on its way in. Justin doubled his personal tally in spectacular fashion shortly after the hour mark, meeting Ndidi’s left-wing delivery with a swerving volley that beat David Raya via the inside of the post. If Arsenal were momentarily stunned by Leicester’s recovery, they soon recovered their poise and Mads Hermansen produced two superb saves to keep the Foxes level, denying Havertz with a point-blank stop before keeping out Trossard’s shot – moments after giving the ball away inside his own area.

But Trossard’s late effort was deflected past the Danish goalkeeper by Ndidi before Havertz struck from point-blank range to complete the scoring. Arsenal stay one point behind leaders Liverpool but move level on points with Manchester City, who were held by Newcastle earlier on Saturday. Arsenal fans must have been scratching their heads as the game entered second-half stoppage time, as Leicester closed in on a draw that had barely seemed possible at the interval. Arsenal fans must have been scratching their heads as the game entered second-half stoppage time, as Leicester closed in on a draw that had barely seemed possible at the interval.

Some Facts About Wimpy Burger Franchise

Wimpy is a fast-food chain that was founded in the United States. It found its success internationally, mainly in the United Kingdom and South Africa. The chain was founded in Bloomington, Indiana, by Edward Gold in 1934 as Wimpy Grills, with the chain in the United States hitting its peak with 26 locations in 1947.

The fast food chain coined its name from J. Wellington Wimpy in the Popeye cartoon strip, so used Mr Wimpy, an exaggerated beefeater figure, to advertise and promote their product, including employing people to wear Mr Wimpy suits outside the restaurants.

In 1954, Gold signed a license with J. Lyons and Co. for them to operate Wimpy Bar across the United Kingdom, with further international agreements a few years later through its subsidiary company, Wimpy International. By 1977, there were only seven Wimpy locations in the United States, which all folded following Gold’s death in that year. Despite the brand’s demise domestically, the chain would peak at 1,500 international locations the following year.

Grand Metropolitan began to phase out the Wimpy Bar in the United Kingdom, rebranding many of them as Burger King (which it also owned) because Burger King had the greater brand recognition amongst consumers, and to aid market competition against McDonald’s. Wimpy became known for its burgers, breakfasts, and classic British diner-style meals. Popular menu items include the Wimpy Burger, Bender in a Bun, and all-day breakfast platters.

As of June 2023, the company remains headquartered in Johannesburg, South Africa, where it has 453 outlets; this is followed by the United Kingdom with 62 outlets. In 2017 and 2020, the company announced plans for nationwide expansion in the United Kingdom. There are also outlets in  Kuwait,  Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Lesotho.

Wimpy was one of the first fast food restaurant chains to open in India’s free market economy. With a run of initial success, Wimpy was often touted as the first icon of ‘Westernization’ in India. They had an outlet in Bangalore which I have visited twice.

Should Your Significant Other Be Your Best Friend?

I think it’s been said quite often : if you want a good relationship, your partner should be your best friend. You will see similar sentiments on greeting cards, on little gifts especially during Valentine’s Day) and you will see it splattered all over social media images, posts and clips with the lines “I married my best friend”. It gives off the impression that their love is also based on friendship and not just physical and mental attraction.

After the heady, passionate days of falling head-over-heels for a partner, the magic of romantic love can start to wane. It takes a lot to work at keeping the romance alive and in the meantime, having your best friend being the one you live with and you are married too is a huge plus. It means a lot if you both can share interests and hobbies and enjoy doing them together.

It is said that in in contrast to romantic love, which even philosophers characterized as a desire to possess the other person, a friendship-based relationship can have many advantages, namely respecting the other person’s freedom and interest in activities outside of the relationship. I wouldn’t say that it is necessary for your spouse to be your best friend but it does have a lot of advantages if they are.

Prompt from The Learning Network at The New York Times at The New York Times

Do You Have ‘Instagram Envy’?

“Instagram envy” is a term used to describe the feelings of jealousy, inadequacy, or dissatisfaction that can arise when comparing oneself to others on social media, especially on platforms like Instagram. People often share the highlights of their lives—vacations, fancy meals, accomplishments, or idealized images of themselves—which can make viewers feel like their own lives are less exciting or successful by comparison.

This phenomenon can be exacerbated by the fact that Instagram promotes visual content, which often involves carefully curated or edited photos designed to showcase a certain lifestyle. Seeing these “perfect” moments can create unrealistic expectations, making people feel like they are missing out or not measuring up.

Do you ever feel affected by social media in this way, or are you simply curious about the concept?