A very significant Mindbender
June 17, 2025
It’s nice to recognize the teachers who had a positive impact on our lives.
But let’s not forget the fantastic school principals. At my high school, it was Mr. Bauernfeind, and he was terrific.
A principal at a high school in Arlington, Texas just made headlines after he wrote a personalized note to every single student in this year’s graduating class.
All 443 of them. And he included a $1 bill in each one.
He said it’s just his version of a random act of kindness. I think it’s really cool.
Let's get on with the countdown.
Along with today's Mindbender you get these bonus stories:
Working too much can break your brain
When people drain you
The most patriotic states
But first, today's Mindbender:
People were asked to use one word to describe their significant other, and the #1 answer was “stubborn.” What was #2?
I'll have a clue coming up.
Working too much can break your brain
Are you a workaholic? A new study might nudge you to back off just a bit.
Researchers scanned the brains of healthcare workers who were broken into two groups: overworked and not overworked.
They defined “overworked” as 52 hours a week or more.
They found working that much can cause “significant changes” in certain parts of your brain, and messes with your decision-making skills. It can also cause you to get emotional or get angry more often.
They haven’t discovered long-term effects yet, but they suspect over time it could damage your mental health.
Time to take a break.
When people drain you
As an introvert, I make it no secret that I can get “over-peopled.”
A new poll found certain interactions with other people can indeed drain your social battery. They say at some point you basically just get sick of other people.
And the little things that can push you over the edge? The poll included:
- Too much awkward small talk
- Dealing with customer service on the phone
- Group video calls, especially the ones at work
- When someone wants to show you something on their phone
Ha, I’m guilty of that last one. Oops.
The results also show that 11:54 AM is when the average person starts feeling drained for the day.
Here's a clue for the Mindbender:
Might as well call them sugar.
The most patriotic states
We’re just a few weeks away from Independence Day. So which states in the U.S. are the most patriotic?
First, you’d have to define the term.
An annual study used 13 different factors, including voting rates, the number of veterans and active military personnel who live there, participation in jury duty, and how many people volunteer.
Using this data, they claim the top five patriotic states are:
Virginia, Montana, Vermont, Colorado, and Oregon.
The least patriotic state? Arkansas.
For what it’s worth, the four largest states (population wise)—California, Texas, Florida, and New York—all finished in the bottom eleven.
And now, the answer to today's Mindbender:
What one word did they use to describe their S.O.?
Sweet.
See, it’s not ALL snarky.
Of course, the word they choose probably depends on what day they’re asked, right?
That'll do it for today's Mindbender. Thank you for being part of The Club.
Enjoy your day!
Dom
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