‘There’s been a feature lately on the New York Times website that invites readers to stare at a painting for 10 minutes and do nothing else.

I tried it, I got bored. Also, I really don’t need another reason to stare at my laptop screen. Still, it’s a good idea, as an exercise in focus, and Wednesday morning, eight a.m., I wondered, why not try the same thing at the coffeeshop around the corner from my office? Ten minutes of listening, looking, studying myself in that situation, with a notebook in hand.

Turns out, I enjoyed it so much, I stayed an an hour….’ ( Rosecrans Baldwin via Substack )