The ordinary mind

Drinking matcha has plenty of benefits, according to the studies made on the topic:

• it provides beneficial antioxidants as well as polyphenols
• it has many active components that are good for your brain health
• it can reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• it cuts inflammation
• it slays viruses
• it can lower the risk of liver disease as well as the one of prostate cancer
• it reduces anxiety and improves focus
• it stimulates the memory
• it simulates and calms the nervous system at the same time.

Everybody who has ever tried matcha will agree on the following: its taste is hard to define.

And this is precisely what makes matcha so special. It is said to feel as a mix of wine, while at the same time tasting a bit floral and bitter.

One of the most well-known interior designs is the traditional one. The dark wooden furniture is often ornately detailed and usually includes crystal chandeliers. Furthermore, among the popular patterns are: damask, florals, strips and plaids.
Maybe the best sign that you might be into this kind of design is the fact that you have a thing for consistency: matching furniture sets is basically the main rule when it comes to this design style.

The modern design refers generally to a specific time period and it gets its features from the mix of Scandinavian, mid-century modern and post-modern design. Designers tend to prefer metal, chrome and glass integrated into a minimal decor.

It’s human nature to linger on feelings of regret. We look back and think that missed opportunities(real or not) could have set us on a different, possibly more rewarding path. Unchecked, these emotions become overwhelming sources of stress and anxiety.

• Acknowledge how you cope with regret: ignoring it makes it more present
• Stop the regrets spiral, until you are ready to face the situation with more clarity
• Revisit the story and identify practical lessons you can learn from it
• Treat yourself like your ideal mentor would
• Ask yourself why you feel regret and work backward to identify the values that are tied up in your feelings
• The cure for anticipating regret isn’t feeling lousy or overthinking, but pursuing solutions, using the wisdom gained through self-reflection.

Drawing doesn't have to be just about making art. Drawing is rather “a tool for learning above all else." (D.B. Dowd)

Drawing develops the capacity for close observation, introspection, patience, and humility.

Drawing is also an important problem-solving tool, because it helps you visualize ideas and concepts.

A few ways to rest that feel very replenishing:

• Closing your eyes, lying down, and doing nothing.
• Going outside without using a device.
• Relaxing with someone else. Feeling connection with them.
• Being fully present with a simple activity, like drinking coffee.
• Playing music, creating art, dancing etc.

You can relax while doing something (having a bath, a cup of coffee etc.) You don’t have to be lying down, with your eyes closed.

The key is to make this the one thing that you’re doing. Be all in with this task, instead of jumping around.

• From the 11th century until the end of the 17th century, the definition of art was anything that was done with expertise, with the result of knowledge and practice.
• The Romantic period of the 18th century, beauty became the main criteria for defining good art. Nature, spirituality and free expression were sought after and well received.
• The 19th Century started the Avant-garde art movement, with art becoming real, modern, futuristic and surreal. Whatever the definitions, the originality of art stands out as a time-tested measure, with new genres and manifestations like performance art, digital art, and electronic art.

• Art as Representation or Mimesis. Representation of art as an imitation or copying became the mainstream meaning of art in Greece. Plato first developed the idea of art as “mimesis,” which, in Greek, means copying or imitation. How immaculately it replicated the original subject became the measure of its value.
• Art as Expression of Emotional content. Dramatic, sublime and heartfelt art becomes a way to express oneself during the Romantic movement , with audience response becoming key to the valuation of the content. The emotions that were felt when the art was witnessed became its barometer for success.
• Art as Form. Formal qualities of art became influential in the 18th century, with the principles of art and design, like balance, rhythm, harmony and unity became as important as the content of the work of art.