"Art Is A Lie That Tells The Truth."

Picasso once said, "Art is a lie that tells the truth." The reason I like this quote was beside Picasso being one of my favorite painters, he is the creator of one of my favorite paintings. The painting is, "In Mandolin and Guitar". And the reason I like this painting is the mystery behind this creation . . .

Some people allude that in this painting Picasso honors his poet friend, Apollinaire as well as mocking his rival (Matisse) who was attempting his own attempt at Cubism. Let's check it out together . . . 

My Favorite National Parks

This list is mostly made up of personal reflection and memories of visits to my favorite National Parks. I would also be remiss if I didn't express my gratitude to my parents who made traveling a major priority during my childhood / teenage years. (With varying degrees of gratitude and appreciation depending on my age and mood at the time) So with no further ado, here is a list of my favorite National Parks. And yes, these are in a particular order - starting with my favorite park.

1) Great Smoky Mountains National Park - What can you say about a National Park that already has the name "Great" in the title? This is not only the most visited National Park in the United States, but in my opinion it is also the most awe-inspiring and interesting park. But the beautiful scenery, as breathtaking as it is, is not what makes this park so special to me. Picture a place in your mind that inspires countless memories and is a favorite go-to place in my mind where I can get lost for hours.

Some Facts About Chess Openings

Chess openings are broadly classified into six types. Open games, closed games, semi-open games, Indian defenses, semi-closed games, and flank openings.

Open games start with the moves 1.e4 e5, and usually lead to positions with open lines, and tons of tactical ideas.

Closed games start with the moves 1.d4 d5 and usually lead to slow, positional games where each player strives to gain a long-term advantage.

15 Ways To Make Your Life Simpler

"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." - Leonardo da Vinci

Simple can sometimes be a proven pathway to calmness and happiness, so I would like to share some habits that have helped me to live a simpler life. 

I would advise just picking one of these and incorporating it into your lifestyle before tackling another. 

Ready?

1) Breathe. It's impossible to overestimate the importance of proper breathing on your stress levels. Take a couple of minutes when facing a difficult challenge and practice deep breathing exercises to lower your heart rate and focus your thinking.

2) Focus on one challenge at a time. Multi-tasking is a wonderful gift but in times of mental and physical challenges it is far more efficient to tackle only one problem at a time.

3) Write it all down. When we are stressed our mind starts leaking information. You will be less likely, (and therefore less stressed) when you are not dropping projects and meeting deadlines. This especially applies to students who are usually learning to balance work, school and life as they navigate closer to adulthood.