Inhale the future, exhale the past.

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We have an astounding 7.29 billion people populating our little blue planet at the moment, and while this means that we have pretty much developed to a point where no natural predators or disasters can truly threaten our society, it also means that we have to start developing into a global civilization. To achieve this, we must first work on improving communication across continents and nations. Skype has proven to be an excellent tool for connecting people from across the globe, allowing free sharing of information on a very personal level.

It is a very secure and reliable platform that has given many of us some unique opportunities in both our professional and our personal lives, but Skype is now coming out with some truly revolutionary tools. The new Skype Translator will allow direct translation between different languages. The idea is to allow two people to speak or type in their native language and have it automatically translated to the other person’s language.

Now, this isn’t just talk or a cool idea to look forward to – the Skype Translator preview will launch later this year and will only initially offer Spanish and English, with other options quickly following. You can register here to give it a shot, and become a part of the cultural renaissance. Skype will invite a limited amount of people to use this preview and help them put the polishing touches on their Skype Translator.

So, how does it work?

It is actually quite simple. Everything you say is translated into another language (currently only available between English and Spanish), and the person you are talking to hears everything in their own language, spoken by the characteristic computer generated voice. There is also a transcription of everything that is said, in both languages. You can also use this option for sending instant messages in over 40 different languages. The software used can actually learn to provide better translations through use, so with time we can expect some very accurate translating with minimal processing time.

The setup is quick and easy – you just chose your friend’s spoken and written language, and you can start chatting – and the Skype Translator has already been tested by schoolchildren form the US and Mexico, who have had a great time making friends and learning about another culture.

The implications of this technology and what we can expect in the future

With near instant translation at our disposal, and with advanced computer learning software that can pick up on subtleties related to meaning with extended use, it will be easier than ever for people from different cultures to exchange experiences, learn together and develop emotional connections. It will certainly make a huge impact on the business world, improving the communication between the business representative and an overseas client or between company branches form different parts of the world.

However, the most important benefit will be that we will be able to learn more about other cultures. As information on how people live across the world becomes more accessible, through firsthand accounts no less, we will develop a much more realistic picture on the state the world is in.

Not merely relying on news and mostly erroneous claims found on the internet, will help us open up to different cultures. While we can’t change human nature, and there will always be some bad people around, studies have shown that people growing up in racially diverse communities are much more comfortable dealing with people from different cultural backgrounds – which means that children growing up in a world where you can freely communicate face-to-face with other children from all over the globe will be able to work towards creating a true global civilization, where notions of racism and xenophobia won’t have much of an impact on society.

Of course, we will have to wait and see how this technology develops, but it is a very big step forward that can lead us to great things.

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Because higher education doesn’t bridge the gap between curriculum and real world demands, many millennials are drowning in student-loan debt or being under-utilized in the workforce. In order to combat the famous catch-22, “you can’t get experience without having experience,” fresh graduates are investing in more higher education in hopes that another degree will provide answers to the age-old question, “What do I want to be when I grow up?”

So, how do you get experience without having any? The first step is to identify the most strategic first job available – one that sets the foundation for a sustainable career and gives you the tools you need to reach that next step. Easier said than done, right? With employers who are sometimes hesitant to hire new grads, and no real direction, getting that first gig requires new graduates to get creative. My advice? Take control of your career by getting a variety of experiences early on – even if it’s unpaid internships or volunteer positions, seek out help – such as a mentor in your desired field – to guide you through the process.

Here are some tips for starting your career that they didn’t teach you in school!

1. Be strategic about your first job.

View your first job as a means to accomplishing a specific goal. If you graduated with a general degree and aren’t sure how it relates, no problem. Approach this first job through a self-exploratory lens to help you better understand your likes and dislikes. Find out what duties and responsibilities you gravitate towards. Working on short-term assignments is a great way to get a variety of experiences, and once you’ve figured out your niche, you can use this knowledge to assure employers that you know what you’re looking for. Employers are much more interested in real-world applications versus theories, so if your goal is to get as much experience in your field as possible, find a role that gives you a wide range of exposure.

2. Don’t commit to more education before mapping out a career plan.

Hold off an investing in more higher education until you’ve done your vetting. Believe it or not, your major doesn’t always translate into the dream job you envisioned in college, so it’s best to clock some time in before committing to more years of school. Once you’ve done that, write down your goals, and be honest: is a higher degree required in order to take you to your final destination or could you get there sooner with online courses, night classes, or specialized certifications? Then and only then does the university of your choice deserve your money.

3. Seek out experts to guide your career journey, not mom and dad.

Despite their best intentions, family and friends make bad career counselors. Forget the fact that most people are unaware of the vast movement in job creation today. Your parents are most likely traditionalists who are still driving “doctor,” “lawyer,” or “teacher” into your mind. And because they want what’s best for you, their advice comes from a place of emotion rather than logic, which means it’s completely biased. Do some research, get on LinkedIn, and start networking. Find experts and thought leaders in your field, and ask how they achieved their success. They’ll guide you through the process and help you grow your professional network. Get your resume out to various employment agencies in your area, and, if you’re eager to see some results, try a career coach for a more personal, hands-on experience.

4. Rely on science rather than intuition.

Career assessments are incredible tools for answering the “I don’t know how my skills, experiences, and behaviors are relevant in the business world” problem. I know what you’re probably thinking – “Isn’t that the stupid questionnaire I took in high school that told me I’d be a great mechanical engineer or bus driver?” There are some incredible behavioral assessments out their backed by researched-to-death data that employers use on their candidates in order to make better hiring decisions. Our favorite is made by TTI Success Insights. It uses your basic human tendencies, such as how you communicate with others and what motivates you in life to tell you which work environments and occupations you’re best suited for. These underrated tools have been instrumental in my success in helping new grads find their career passions and land entry-level positions they love.

5. Think “specialty.”

The more you can acquire in-demand skills, the more marketable you become in the talent world. Go on Indeed.com to find out what specialty jobs are related to your desired field and are located in your area. Take note of the amount of entry-level positions available. You’ll want to see a high number since that signifies a talent shortage. Look at the job descriptions, and build the skills you need for that level. My daughter did this by working in one department of human resources while volunteering in another. This catapulted her career by an entire workforce level because of her diverse experience at such a young age.

6. Consider these in-demand occupations.

Forbes just released The 10 Most Promising Jobs of 2015, based on stats courtesy of Glassdoor, and none of them include doctor, lawyer, and teacher. Instead, Physician’s Assistant, Software Engineer, and Marketing Manager were some of the highly-touted roles. Be open-minded to new opportunities, research all the new and exciting jobs out there, and talk to people on the front lines. Believe me, your background is much more pliable than you think.

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We are all seeking that one true love, the soulmate who we will spend the rest of our lives with. But, this is something that can leave one searching for their entire life, and they will never know true love. In fact, many people end up marrying someone that they aren’t completely in love with, in order to feel like they are accomplishing what they should in life. Sadly, these are often the marriages that end up in divorce. It doesn’t have to be like this. At least, not if you understand the difference between a soulmate and someone you want to have a great relationship with.

American writer Richard Bach said, “A soulmate is someone who has locks that fit our keys, and keys to fit our locks. When we feel safe enough to open the locks, our truest selves step out and we can be completely and honestly who we are; we can be loved for who we are and not for who we’re pretending to be. Each unveils the best part of the other. No matter what else goes wrong around us, with that one person we’re safe in our own paradise.”

One Person’s Story

I met and married my first husband, thinking that I had found my soulmate, and that “until death do us part” was something we both believed in. At least I thought we did, until he decided that he wanted a divorce. So much for being soulmates. Then, after several years of being single, I met another man who I decided to marry. Everyone kept asking if he was “the one”, the person who would be my soulmate. At this point, I wasn’t looking for a soulmate. I was looking for someone would love me and care for me. Eight years later, we are still in that same loving relationship, and we continue to grow together. I may not have considered him a soulmate, but he is someone who I plan on spending the rest of my life with.

Who is Your Soulmate?

Your romantic partner doesn’t necessarily have to be your soulmate. In fact, it could be one of your best friends who is actually your soulmate or soul companion. For instance, you may have a friend who you confide all of your deepest secrets to, someone that you can’t live without in your life. You may not necessarily have a romantic interest in this person, but you do have a deep connection that is going to stay with you for life. Your soulmate is someone who you can relate to, who you care for and want the best for, and they feel the same for you. But, your soulmate is not a person who contributes to your sadness. This is not someone who is going to be your lifelong companion.

Marriage = Work

Just because you haven’t married your soulmate, it doesn’t mean that your marriage isn’t worth working on. You can have a perfectly wonderful marriage without being with that one soul companion you think you are supposed to be with. But, a great marriage isn’t something that just happens. Both of you need to continuously work at it. You also need time apart, to do your own things. You don’t have to be glued together at the hips in order to make your marriage work. In fact, having your own separate activities can help to bring you closer together, because you are able to see that you work as a couple no matter what activities you love. In fact, when you do things separately, you are able to see things more clearly, and your time together is that much more wonderful.

Featured photo credit: Spenser via flickr.com

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I cannot imagine my life without music. I wake up to the sounds of my favorite tunes each morning, work out, travel my commute listening to music and work with my headphones on most of the time, and I just can’t count how many significant moments in my life are deeply connected with a certain song.

If you are, at the very least, even a tiny bit passionate about music, I bet the next 15 music apps will instantly become your favorites!

1. Musicovery

Musicovery is an awesome app that enables you to personalize and adjust your playlists according to your mood with just a few clicks. After synchronizing the app for the first time, you’ll constantly have offline access to top recommended songs from the website, along with your phone library.

Open the mood pad and roll your finger to start playing the samples. If you are satisfied, just lift your finger and a playlist will be generated from the last song rolled over. Also, the app automatically adjusts your playlist by analyzing genres, decades, moods you’ve chosen and your interactions with the app – e.g. “I like/I don’t like” ratings and skipped songs.

So far, Musicovery proved to give the best customized playlist for me.

iOS (free) and Android (free)

2. MP3 Downloader for SoundCloud

This nifty app developed by Freemake lets you download tunes from SoundCloud onto your device without any copyright breaches. You can browse through numerous lists, search your favorite beats and singers offline and have the music steaming without wi-fi.

Plus, the app has lovely visual design with big album covers on display and easy navigation with loads of filters to apply when searching for a particular song.

Android version is planned to be released later this year.

iOS (free)

3. Top 100 Best Songs by Year

Get a musical time machine installed on your iPhone! This app has a huge database of some 1000 best songs from 1960 till the present days, so you could mix up your playlists with good old-time favorites and trendy new tunes.

All of the collections are easy-to-navigate with numerous filters available. Besides, the built-in search will help you find top songs from a specific year, decade or genre. This app is my go-to for planning themed music parties!

Available both for the iPhone and iPad, but for now, not Android.

iOS (free)

4. Autovolume

All running enthusiasts know how inconvenient it is to be tapping the volume key all the time, according to your listening environment. It gets even more annoying while driving, as your hands are busy.

The Autovolume app solves this problem by automatically correcting the volume based on the data from built-in speed and motion sensors.

Also, this app features a number of pre-set sound adaptation modes based on the activities you do – skiing, working out, driving, jogging etc making it my go-to app for sports!

Available for Iphone only as of now.

iOS ($1.99)

5. Relax Melodies

Have you been felling stressed lately? Trouble sleeping? Use this handy app by Ipnos Soft to create unique relaxing tunes from a set of beautiful and tranquil Zen sounds like rain drops, ocean waves, nature ambient sounds and more.

Also, you can take your favorite tunes from the library and blend them up with the in-app sounds to create highly-personalized unwinding melodies. Compile them into easy-to-search lists like “songs to fall asleep to” or “the calm down playlist,” filled with your personal sounds or those made by other users from the community.

Currently there are some 100.000 sounds to choose from, and like me, I bet you will find (or create) the perfect tune to make you fall asleep instantly!

iOS (free) and Android (free)

6. sir Sampleton

At first glance, it may seem like a simple kids’ app with a keyboard, but sir Sampleton is way more sophisticated than that! The app has numerous cool features to record and twist the melodies you’ve just tapped, including adding vibrato, professional mixing beats and saving your songs.

Equally fun to use for both novice musicians, and for more professional beat makers to get their groove on!

Currently not available on the Android market.

iOS ($2.99)

7. TuneWiki

Have you ever misheard some weird phrases in songs and couldn’t figure out what the hack was being said? With TuneWiki, you’ll never find yourself off base again when mumbling your favorite song! The app features both a radio player and lyrics decoder, along with a huge array of music to pick from.

And with one click, it syncs with your iTunes library. Yet the best feature is that you can launch a song search based on just one line you know!

iOS (free) and Android (free)

8. Nowplaying

This is a cool social music app that identifies tunes playing on your phone or a nearby device and auto-shares them on Twitter, Facebook or Foursquare along with your location, picture or a Youtube video. With the main principle of this app being “sharing is caring”, you’ll get special badges and rewards each time you share anything with the official hashtag #nwplyng!

Arguably the best music app to exchange songs and moods with your friends, as it’s very simple to use and has a great collection of free songs and numerous subscription options available. It also allows you to categorize your favorites into separate lists and discover new artists from the huge database available.

iOS (free) and Android (free)

9. 8Tracks

This is yet another amazing social music app that you can use to create, curate and discover playlists for each mood and occasion – energetic morning workout, romantic dinner date or just a relaxing tune for your bedroom. The pleasant design with huge album covers, a list of featured playlists and numerous search options, including search by mood, make this app particularly stand out from the crowd.

8Tracks currently has over 2 million playlists created by the community, so no matter how elaborate your preferences are – cape-jazz, k-pop, opera or new age – you’ll still be able to connect with folks who have similarly awesome tastes and grab their playlists!

iOS (free) and Android (free)

10. iHeartRadio

Sleek minimalist design, a huge variety of stations from college rock to reggae and great customization options make IHeartRadio worth a download. Absolutely free of charge, you can live steam any given radio station (of more than 750) or make a personalized play list of some 18.000 songs listed in the library.

Also, you can listen to the latest news feeds, educational and scientific programs and much more content you wouldn’t find in any other app.

Not sure which song to pick today? The app can pre-suggest to you a station based on your activity, like driving, working out in the gym or jogging. Currently available for numerous platforms including Windows Phone, Blackberry and Kindle Fire, plus as a browser app.

IOS (free) and Android (free).

11. DjRun

This is another amazing app that all jogging geeks will love! DjRun will analyze all the songs from your library and match their beats per minute rate with your stride, or even adapt the playback tempo like a real DJ.

As the app uses your phone’s accelerometer, it can instantly adapt to your pace to matter which activity you are now into – skating, hiking, skiing or even gliding.

Currently the app supports three modes:

1. Auto – picks a song based on your current stride rate.

2. Pin – fixes your stride rate at the number you want.

3. Training mode – the stride rate will follow a predefined profile set by the user or taken from the app.

Android (free)

12. Karaoke Anywhere

Ok, admit it, even if you don’t have a sweet voice, you still love singing out loud your favorite songs. At least, at home anyway. Karaoke Anywhere lets you choose your tune of today from a free library of 10,000 songs.

Plus, if that’s not enough, you can purchase an extra 40,000 songs. Lovely design, huge beautiful lyrics and high-quality background music – what else would you wish for in a karaoke app?

iOS (free) and Android (free)

13. Mono

Mono is an amazing new music discovery app merging together an artist browser, music discovery engine, concert finder and playlist engine with friend sharing and much more! I love the clean simple designs and the ability to sync my music from various channels including SoundCloud, YouTube music files and Subsonic.

For now, available on Android only.

Android (free, but with a yearly subscription of $0.99 to get unlimited access to all features)

14. Chordmaster

Everyone who love playing the guitar (or just learning) should have this app on their phone. For $.99, you get unlimited access to some 7,800 guitar chords, along with a beautiful visualization of all notes and fingerings on a virtual fretboard.

By merely tapping the screen, you can view the selected chord at any position up and down the guitar neck – a handy feature for beginners. Also, you can strum the virtual strings to play and hear each chord and compare with your own results.

All the chords are neatly categorized in Root, Chord Type and Chord Variants, making them easy to search and save. However, the best feature Chordmaster introduced is  the “lefty mode” that displays left-handed guitar diagrams that rarerly could be wound elsewhere.

Currently available for Iphone, Ipad and Ipod touch only.

iOS ($.99)

15. Musyc

A gorgeous, graphical musical app, crafted by Fingerlab, where you can create music with your own touch. Get into your zen state by bouncing peculiar colorful shapes around the screen and producing the sounds of 88 instruments!

It’s a harmonious and tranquil game you would likely love playing more than the highly-addictive and seemingly never ending Candy Crush. Currently, Iphone only with an Android version soon to be launched.

iOS (free)

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I grew up in a household where people held their emotions in. I felt ashamed to be such a highly sensitive person but have learnt through the years that there are some incredible traits that go along with it. Maybe as highly sensitive people, we easily feel pain but we also feel a heightened sense of joy and pleasure. We let it all into us and absorb the good, the bad and the ugly. It takes courage to stay sensitive and serves others much more than you’d probably even realize. There are a lot of us out there too: between 15-20% of the population shares this trait. Embrace everything that it is to be a highly sensitive person because it goes deeper than crying at a sad commercial!

1. You Are Highly Sensitive to Other’s Emotions

You are easily able to tell if something is wrong with someone else even if they try to hide it. It’s almost like a super hero power. You have the opportunity to help people open up by bringing what is obvious to you out into the open. This is something people that are less sensitive can’t do. This makes you one of the best kind of friends to have.

2. You Are Highly Sensitive to Your Surroundings

If there were any danger around, you would likely be the first to know. You can sense what is around you at all times and while this may be overwhelming, you are always in tune with what’s happening around you. You notice things that others may not, such as a lady bug climbing up a flower stem or a special moment between two random people. You see many beautiful things as you observe the world in all of its detail.

3. Criticism Pushes You to Improve

Often highly sensitive people are natural people-pleasers which means any criticism thrown at you could becomes fuel to really change. It’s not easy for a sensitive person to hear that they aren’t doing something correct. This often motivates you to stop doing that action that may be offending someone. You are flexible and it’s easy for you to evolve with whatever negative feedback you receive.

4. You Have Deeply Felt Emotions

While a highly sensitive person may feel badly much more easily than others, you also have the capacity to feel wonderful. I always equate the opposite of this to a turtle and his shell. He keeps danger out but he also hides himself from the good stuff. You, on the other hand, feel ultimate joy, bliss and peace. You can’t help but feel so you don’t ignore your emotions. If you’re sad, you let it out. If you’re happy, you laugh until your stomach hurts. You don’t suffer from illness or the bad side effects of holding emotions in all the time.

5. You Have Good Manners

A highly sensitive person remembers their please and thank you’s because it means so much to you. It’s a naturally wonderful trait that you have as a sensitive person, to be sensitive to others around them.

6. You Have a Creative Mind

A highly sensitive person has highly developed senses which often result in an ability to appreciate art, music and culture. You are easily moved and emotionally touched by creative messages, and are often creative yourself in some way.

7. You Are In Touch With Your Emotions

As a highly sensitive person, you let your emotions show as they arrive within. Perhaps on a deeper level, this alleviates stress and anxiety within the body as you release your emotions. This should never be considered a weakness as it takes courage to look at your feelings and deal with them. There may be some that judge you for crying in public. It may make them uncomfortable because it’s something they are unable to do and probably wish they could.

In conclusion, embrace your sensitive self because it really does take courage and it’s a natural trait, there is no weakness in it. Denying yourself of the true person you are only makes life more difficult and holding things in is almost impossible anyway. Cry when you need to and laugh just as much – be who you are!

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Most introverts have no intention to lead. But if they are put in the role to lead, they can step up and be great leaders too. Successful leaders such as Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Barack Obama, Larry Page, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, J.K. Rowling, and Marissa Mayer are all introverts.

They show that great leaders don’t have to be outspoken or outgoing. They can be quiet and reserved too.

As an introvert, I used to not want to be in the spotlight and used to think that I couldn’t lead others well. But after given opportunities to lead others at work and in college, I realized that I can be a great leader too. Just that I have to lead differently from my extroverted peers and use my quiet personality to my advantage.

Here are seven reasons why introverts can be great leaders too.

1. They listen more than they speak.

Great leaders listen. They listen to what their team and customers have to say. They find out the problems their team and customers are facing and create solutions to help them. Introverts can be great leaders because they listen more than they speak. They have the patience to listen and collect valuable information from other speakers while they are waiting for their turn to speak.

Introverts also love meaningful conversations. They are more likely to find out underlying problems and important feedback from their team and customers when they communicate with them.

2. They are great followers.

Great leaders are great followers too. They have empathy towards their followers and understand what their followers are going through. They know what is important to their followers and understand how to serve them. Introverts can be great leaders because they don’t mind taking a step back and let their followers lead. Instead of telling their followers what to do and controlling what they do, they let their followers suggest ideas and engage in the decision-making process. This is crucial because someone working at the ground level may have more detailed knowledge than someone looking from the top level at the big picture.

Plus, most introverts have a lot of experience following. They know what makes a good leader or not. When it is their time to lead, they know what to do and what not to do to be effective leaders.

3. They influence people through action.

Great leaders are good at influencing and persuading others. To get support, they have to sell their vision and make others believe their vision is possible. Some introverts think that they can’t be great leaders because they aren’t good at garnering support and persuading others with words. The truth is introverts don’t have to persuade others with words. They can influence others through their action.

Introverts may not talk much but when they do talk, their words count. Introverts don’t think out loud. They think carefully before they speak. When they say they want to do something, they have already thought it through and are committed to taking action. Being consistent in their words and action helps them gain respect and trust from their peers and supporters. Therefore, they are more likely to have influence over other people.

4. They make time to think.

Great leaders make good decisions and delegate well. They think long-term and outline a clear path for their people to follow.

Introverts can be great leaders because they make time to think. They are mostly independent and not afraid of solitude. Being alone gives introverts a lot of time to reflect deeply, formulate plans and generate creative ideas. They provide clear, strategic direction for their followers and delegate work according to their strengths.

5. They make followers feel safe.

Great leaders make their followers feel safe and secure. They remove any doubts their followers have and align everyone to a shared purpose. Followers believe and trust their vision.

Introverts can be great leaders because their plans are well thought of. They are well prepared and they process information well. They go deep to the core of the issue and look at different angles to a problem. Followers are most likely to feel safe acting accordingly to their plans.

6. They are less reactive.

Great leaders exude confidence. They aren’t impulsive in taking action. They focus on their overall goals and people.

Introverts can be great leaders because they don’t response immediately. They reflect on what other people say before they react. They keep their cool during high-stress moments. So they are less likely to make impulsive and risky action that will harm their people or organization.

7. They are strong and resilient.

Great leaders have resilience. When challenges arise, they are able to bounce back quickly and resolve the crises.

Introverts can be great leaders because they are used to being misunderstood. Due to their quiet nature and their need for time alone, most introverts grew up being misunderstood as anti-social or don’t like people. Being misunderstood from a young age helps them develop resilience. So they are not easily discouraged or swayed by naysayers. And they are able to handle challenging situations with persistence.

A Note to All Introverts Who Doubt They Can Be Great Leaders

Be yourself. Be proud of your personality. Being introverted is one of the best gifts you can have. Use it well and be the great leader you can become!

Featured photo credit: Bill Gates / Thomas Hawk via flickr.com

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In his 1906 essay The Book of Tea, Kakuzo Okakura laid bare to Westerners the social, cultural, and spiritual essence of tea drinking. He dubbed the experience Teaism, and his work has become a minor classic. During an age when coffee consumption has become the cultural mainstay of society, Okakura’s writing is a vibrant reminder of the deeply ingrained history humans have with the other popular beverage – tea.

The health benefits of green tea have been repeated in many articles across the internet, but there is much more to this ancient drink than a significant health boost. The benefits of green tea have been exploited by humans for thousands of years, with a lengthy history in China and Japan standing testament to its incredible attributes. It remains a social and cultural exercise which can unite people, boost morale, promote inner harmony, and introduce fans to a new world of tastes and sensations. Read on to find out the wonderful world of green tea.

                              The Book of Tea

“Teasim is a cult founded on the adoration of the beautiful among the sordid facts of everyday existence. It inculcates purity and harmony, the mystery of mutual charity, the romanticism of the social order. It is essentially a worship of the Imperfect, as it is a tender attempt to accomplish something possible in this impossible thing we know as life.”

The now rather legendary The Book of Tea details the extensive role of tea in Japanese culture, which can be considered as Teaism. Kakuzo Okakura essentially wrote it as an emphatic love letter to Western audiences, explaining the joys and intricacies of tea drinking. It was originally written in English to promote the values Okakura saw in tea consumption, but has since been translated into many languages.

Along with tea, Okakura promoted Buddhist ideals which, when merged with Teaism, the author believed could teach practitioners the joy of simplicity. This is the predominant benefit of tea – it removes the complexities of life and replaces them with a moment of untroubled perfection. Reading The Book of Tea would offer an introduction to this frame of mind, along with purchasing a brand of your choice to join this ancient and intriguing tradition. Green tea is easily accessible, readily available, and provides a multitude of benefits which can be enjoyed by everyone. Below are 9 examples of its far reaching influence, and how you can take advantage of it.

1. It provides a positive social experience

Tea drinking isn’t a solitary practice, it can be the basis of social events and a reason to get together. It can be even taken to a grander scale, such as in Japan where tea ceremonies are social exercises. “Ritual, grace, and protocol infuse many actions in Japanese culture, and none are more poetic in in chanoyu, the Japanese tea ceremony,” explains TeaClass. They add, “Patience, a difficult virtue in the western world, is essential for the conducting of chanoyu and even for an appreciation, yet the reward is tranquillity achieved through shared community between host and guests.”

Googling your local town or city will no doubt unearth some tea ceremonies, or you can hold one at your home. Invite friends around and catch up, making an unique change to the more popular western option of heading to a bar.

2. It can boost your health

Green tea has been used as a health boost for thousands of years, and in the modern era its benefits have now been backed up by scientific research. As noted by New York Times Best Selling author Dr. Mercola, tea can be a valuable part of a healthy diet. “If you enjoy green tea, by all means add a few cups to your day. Just be sure to drink your green tea ‘straight’. Adding sugar, milk, or other ‘embellishments’ (one exception being some citrus juice), will counter many of the benefits of tea.” Keeping to these requirements can help tea boost your memory, lower your blood pressure, and alleviate stress.

It’s worth noting it would be wise to choose organic varieties of tea from reputable brands, reducing the amount of preservatives and pollutants on your tea. Organic food and drink gets a bad reputation as expensive, but a box of organic tea will only set you back a few dollars.

3. It provides inner harmony

The consumption of tea makes for a relaxing experience. It contains amino acids which are part of an amine group and a carboxylic acid group. When the tea is brewed the water soluble amino acids, of which L-theanine is 60%, release the “umami” flavour (which attributes to the distinctive taste). L-theanine, other than adding green tea’s palatability, “increases alpha brain wave activity, which induces relaxation. By relaxing you are effectively able to reduce stress!” Added to this, “it combines caffeine in a matter that produces relaxed alertness. L-theanine lets you enjoy the increased-concentration effect from caffeine (also found in green tea) without the associated anxiety and restlessness.”

Additionally, as described by Natural News, you can try other herbs such as valerian, chamomile, kava, lemon balm, oat flower, and lavender as natural alleviators of anxiety and stress.

4. Tea brands often promote green practices

Many organic tea brands, such as Pukka (a particular favourite of mine), are environmentally conscious. As stated on Pukka’s official packaging, their designs are “printed with vegetable ink on card from renewable sources and is recyclable”. As for the tea bags, “the string on each bag is organic; and because we don’t staple our bags, they’re wildlife friendly to compost. Add to that 100% non-BM ingredients, and you have an incredibly tasting tea that’s good for you, as well as the planet”.

Other brands, such as Clipper, use unbleached tea bags alongside their organic ingredient commitment. This does highlight the importance of choosing organic tea; this will limit pesticide intake and help protect the environment. Once the tea bag has been used you can also add it to your compost heap (if you have one!), or bin it in the knowledge it will biodegrade.

5. It helps promote Fair Trade practices

Many organic tea brands, such as Yogi Tea and Clipper, promote Fair Trade practices. As Clipper confirm, “We use only the highest-quality sources, add nothing artificial, and strive to improve the welfare of the workers.” There you have it, drinking tea is good for you and the economy.

6. It has unusual household benefits

Aylin Erman, in his article from Eco Salon, records many of the unusual benefits of tea. Once you’re finished with a bag, it would be wise not to bin it. You can use the tea bags to feed plants (adding the tea under the soil “infuses the roots with nutrients”), prevent odors (“tea bags are highly absorbent and will take in both liquids and odors”), clean pots and pans (adding green tea bags to messy pots/pans filled with water allows the tannins in the tea t remove grease), and flavor meat as a marinade.

7. It can be used for cosmetic beauty purposes

Thanks to Eco Salon, it’s also apparent green tea can be used for cosmetic purposes. Due to its antioxidant properties, green tea can be used to treat acne and help alleviate eye puffiness. “The tannins found in green tea constrict blood vessels and tame under eye bags,” the site claims. Just be sure to use tea bags which have cooled, rather than one straight from boiling water.

8. It can help you buy unique gifts

Catering for tea fans is straight forward as there are a myriad of unique tea based gifts. The variety available is impressive and takes in the likes of unusual teapots, wine inspired tea, monkey picked tea, tea kits, and eco cups. You can find a full list for inspiration here and surprise your friends and family in the near future.

9. It will introduce you to the fantastical world of tea

The world of tea is far more varied than you can imagine. There are the familiar names you may have heard of already, such as green, white, black, Earl Grey, and assam. Herbal teas aren’t to be forgotten, however, as they provide a remarkable variety of flavours which can assist with overall health. The likes of mint, ginger, nettle, and jasmine are often even merged with green tea to provide new flavours. You can find a detailed selection here.

For other information sources try sites such as Learn About Tea and Tea USA, or gain a tea education from award winning tea historian Jane Pettigrew!

Featured photo credit: Pixabay.com via pixabay.com

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Everyone would have chances to work in teams. Have you ever thought what role do you usually take? A leader? An implementer? A supporter? Or what else? Inspired by the infographic Famous Personality Types, I’ve simplified the model and categorized them into 6 groups. Try the following quiz to identify you strengths and potentials!

Featured photo credit: clement127 via flickr.com

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Imagine parents bringing up their boy as a boy and a girl! One British couple has decided that all the gender stereotyping has gone far enough. They will let their boy play with dolls, play rugby or do whatever he wants. He can also wear a pink tutu, if he so wishes. The only problem here is that this boy will go through hell at school as he will be mocked and bullied when he does not fit in with boy stereotypes.

Now this is one extreme view of gender stereotyping. It’s also a selfish one as the parents are putting their political and social beliefs at the top of their agenda, rather than the boy’s welfare. But what can parents do to raise boys so that they have a more balanced and tolerant view of their own sex and their female counterparts? They should also be made aware that there are alternatives to the classic negative stereotypes. In this way they will not grow up sexist. They will make better partners and fathers. Here are 10 things parents should remember to tell their boys.

1. What a great boy you are

There is some very good advice in the book by Christia Spears Brown called Parenting Beyond Pink and Blue: How to Raise Your Kids Free of Gender Stereotypes. She recommends that parents should avoid always pointing out the gender differences, rather than the similarities. The problem here is that if parents always refer to their sons as boys, they are laying the seeds for gender stereotyping at a very early age. It is a better idea to call them ‘kids’ and also call him “What a smart kid” instead of “What a smart boy.”

2. Let’s invite only boys to your birthday party

If parents start on this trend, it will be difficult for boys to mingle and socialize with girls. Mixed birthday parties are perfectly natural and a preparation for having female friends. Encouraging mixed-gender playdates is also a good idea. Boys will be drawn to more creative games and girls will do more outdoor play. The same principle holds when parents are considering sending their sons to a boys only school.

3. Women have to stay home and look after the kids

When a boy comes home and tell you that all “Girls are stupid”, ask him why he thinks that and what exactly happened. If parents never question these early erroneous stereotypes, they can easily lead to prejudice and it will be difficult to eradicate. It is also a good idea to encourage kids in role play activities to let boys take the role of the stay at home dad who is looking after the kids. Remind them that there are lots of working moms. This helps to break the mould of gender stereotypes.

4. Touchy feely stuff is only for girls

Boys are usually not encouraged to touch each other in a playful and affectionate way because that is considered a girlish thing to do; unlike Italian kids who are taught from very early on to express their affection physically. I remember a British father warning his boy not to hug his Italian male playmates. “Just a handshake will do”, he told his son! Parents need to show that touch and physical affection is healthy and reassuring.

5. Boys don’t cry

Our society is so rigid that boys simply do not cry. There is no healthy outlet for their emotions. The fear of letting a boy cry is paramount to raising a “Mommy’s boy” and that is disapproved of in our sexist culture. Peer pressure also plays a big role in that boys have to be seen as tough and stoic. That is cool. It starts at the age of four or five and lasts right through to adolescence and even into adulthood. But this attitude does not build emotional resilience to fear, disappointment and pain at all. It actually stunts their emotional growth and it is a false bravado. Figures show that boys are at greater risk of suffering from depression and low self-esteem.

What can parents do? They can be much more supportive and show the boy that they will always be there when things get tough. This will encourage them to talk about their problems. There is nothing wrong with talking about fear and disappointment. Fathers can also tell their boys “Sometimes, I feel like crying too.”

6. Arts and crafts are only for girls

Boys can be creative. We may be limiting their potential by not letting them play at arts and crafts which are traditionally considered a female preserve. Girls and boys should be allowed to try all activities. I read recently about a male British journalist who was introduced to the wonderful world of butterflies by his father. He had to keep his collection top secret so that his male friends would never find out!

7. Men don’t have to cook

If household tasks are rigidly divided from early on, then boys will grow up with the idea that certain tasks are only for the men, such as repairing things and doing more manual jobs. Boys will therefore never learn to cook or even bother to do any household jobs. The best way is to be good role models where all the household jobs are shared and there are no fixed boundaries. Everybody, including the boys, has chores to do and the tasks are equally divided among the siblings.

 8. Girls always look nice and cute

As boys get older, you can talk about how the sexes are always portrayed the same way on social media, video games and especially on TV commercials. This only reinforces the message of negative stereotyping. Talk about this and ask your boy if decorative and pretty females are truly representative of the real world. There may be some very clever girls in his class. Ask him to think about how men are frequently pictured as being in charge, competent and tough. Is this always true?

9. Don’t play with those girly toys

The Australian Greens party ran a successful campaign , called No Gender December, in the run up to Christmas and the mad dash for buying kids’ toys. The reason they did this was to prevent gender inequality setting in at an early age. Later on, this can lead to unequal pay for women and even domestic violence. It just makes sense to think of kids’ toys rather than girls’ or boys’ toys but this will take time. Watch the video here where one father encourages his boy to play with traditional girls’ toys. Buying kids toy blocks will help them develop spatial and math skills and nobody cares what color they are!

10. Boys have to protect the girls

Why does the Prince always have to rescue the Princess from the dragon? Finding stories and books which portray a less sexist view of the world is not easy. But the story by Robert Munsch and Michael Martchenko called The Paper Bag Princess is an excellent example where Princess Elizabeth rescues Prince Roland from the dragon. She also walks into the sunset by herself! But there are other ways we can raise awareness among boys that it is not always a pink /blue world. Show them examples of female astronauts, male nurses, female mechanics and male violinists.

Have you been able to make your boys aware that pink and blue worlds are extremely limiting? Let us know in the comments.

Featured photo credit: Everett – Ten Months/ Kevin Stanchfield via flickr.com

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