I can't believe we're already here...
It's officially December, and I'm having mixed feelings.
It seems like November just started and now it's already over and we're on to the last month of the year.
It's crazy to think that this time last year many of us looked forward to 2021 as the comeback year after the challenges brought on in 2020. But, despite great progress thanks to COVID-19 vaccines, we're still not back to normal yet even though this year is almost up.
Still, there are great things to look forward to this month and into the coming year.
People definitely haven't stopped themselves from getting in the holiday spirit as soon as Thanksgiving wrapped up, from the White House decorations being revealed to the Rockefeller Center tree lighting in New York.
Even walking through my neighborhood there are already homes adorned with wreaths and twinkling lights, which definitely adds some welcome holiday cheer.
What is 'negging'? All about the viral toxic dating trend.
"You look good for your age." "You look way better than your Instagram pictures."
Comments like these may seem like cheeky banter or playful teasing, but experts told my colleague Jenna Ryu that this flirting method isn't as harmless as it seems. It's called negging: The viral dating strategy when someone "deliberately insults you and undermines you as a form of flirting," according to Ali Jackson, a dating and relationship coach.
It was first popularized by pick-up artists in the early 2000s but gained recent attention on TikTok, where mostly women have been sharing their Tinder horror stories with men who make these confusing advances. The hashtag #negging currently has over 2.9 million views on the platform.
"It's a form of emotional manipulation disguised as a backhanded compliment or 'constructive' criticism," says Ernesto Lira de la Rosa, a licensed clinical psychologist. "It's meant to leave you questioning if you were insulted or complimented, and it disarms the person to being seduced."
Both men and women can neg. Negging may include providing backhanded compliments ("You're actually smart") or comparing their partner to others ("You're not like other girls"). They may even dish out insults under the guise of "constructive criticism" ("You'd look so much better if you lost five pounds").
Overall, the goal is to break down a love interest's confidence so they depend on the manipulator's approval.
Read more of Jenna's story here.
Today's reads
Here's why we're so obsessed with tracking our holiday purchases
Speaking of spending... Here's how to keep your holiday spending under control
'You're so mature for your age' isn't always a compliment. Sometimes it's from trauma.
Already getting prepped for holiday baking? This buttery, vanilla dough is the only cookie recipe you need
Spotify Wrapped 2021 has arrived! Here's how to find your top artists and song
Today's pet
Meet Duchess.
It may be December, but it's technically still fall. So before winter hits, I wanted to share an adorable pet submission with a fall-themed scarf.
"This is my pet Boston Terrier Duchess wearing her favorite Halloween scarf and she says 'Boo-wow' to all of you!" writes Lita Delahunty from Ewa Beach, Hawaii.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: I can't believe we're already here...
