Month: July 2021

Anaïs Nin, The Once and Future King, Arrival, Malavika Varadan, and Proverbs 3:7

Anaïs Nin, The Once and Future King, Arrival, Malavika Varadan, and Proverbs 3:7

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on July 25, 2021

Sunday Supplement #11 (July 25th, 2021)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from this post that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“And the day came when the risk to remain in a tight bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.”

– Anaïs Nin, from her poem “Risk”

Book of the Week:

The Once and Future King – T.H. White

T.H. White’s The Once and Future King is based largely on Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur. It recounts many classic elements of Arthurian Legend in easy-to-digest prose, unlike some denser books in the same field.

The book is separated into four parts and starts with a light-hearted telling of The Sword in the Stone but ends with a more sobering look at Arthur experiencing the downfall of his kingdom at the hands of his son Mordred.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the stories of King Arthur. It is a long novel, but since it’s broken into four parts, you can take it in sections and go at your own pace. The stories are wonderfully written and provide vivid descriptions with entertainment and depth. The themes and lessons in the book are rooted in the many fantastical adventures and intense challenges the characters encounter.

The multiple points of view and different storylines from various characters add to the complexity of the narrative. Many of the stories from the book address issues that are still relevant today. It is a complete work in many different ways and is one that gives the reader a pleasurable and thought-provoking read.

Movie of the Week:

Arrival

Twelve alien spaceships appear around the world, but the reason for their arrival is unknown. A linguist, played by Amy Adams, works with the American military to make initial contact with the lifeforms from one of the ships.

Arrival was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won one— Best Achievement in Sound Editing. The year it was up for the Oscars (2017) had many brilliant films, but this one should not be lost in the mix. It is one of the best Cinematic viewings I’ve had to date. The execution of the screenplay on screen provides a beautiful experience.

The film is based on a short story by Ted Chiang. Chiang won four Nebula awards, four Hugo awards, and four Locus awards for his works. If you enjoy the movie, you should check out his short story collections.

It’s not often that a movie surpasses the bar of entertainment and reaches the heights of unique art. Arrival’s themes fit in too well with modern times but give hope to viewers by the end. Communication is one of the themes at the forefront of the narrative, but how it is explored makes the climax of the film profound.

Every element of the movie is executed to the highest degree. The beauty of the story is brought to life through everyone involved in its making. Even if science fiction is not your genre, this film should be on your list.

Brainfood of the Week:

TEDx Talks with Malavika Varadan on Communication

Malavika Varadan is a radio host, musician, and fitness enthusiast. She cultivated a large fan following on her radio show, reaching over 1.6 million people, and has learned many tips on how to engage in conversation in the process. In this episode on TEDx, Varadan goes over different strategies to support effective communication.

Varadan starts with a description of how conversations are like links in a chain. Each conversation we have with someone adds another link. The strength and power of the chain depend on the conversation, and we can create solid or weak bonds depending on how we communicate with others.

The seven tips Varadan provides are valuable tools to help start a conversation with anyone, establish a connection, and ultimately have a new experience.

A lot of polarities occur between people as a result of miscommunication or not communicating at all. Our words can be misinterpreted, or we might not even be able to connect in a conversation. Varadan’s TEDx Talk addresses these issues and helps give solutions for effectively engaging with others.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Be not wise in thine own eyes.”

– Proverbs 3:7 (Tanakh)

This passage from the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament is one of my favorite reminders to keep growing and learning. The early books of the Bible can be drastic, but there are a lot of nuggets of wisdom in its pages.

I like how this quote discusses wisdom and how it shouldn’t be viewed as a personal attribute. It is an example of the continual pursuit of knowledge. I’ve been working on being curious rather than judgmental. The reason for this is because judgment comes from a place of believing you are right. In many cases, we only see the surface of a person or situation and think we know the whole. Curiosity offers a way to learn instead.

I want to continue learning for the rest of my life. I want to continue to be curious when I encounter different people and ideas. Passages like this one are excellent reminders of how to be forever open to growth.

Learn something new, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Dr. Seuss, Attached, It’s a Wonderful Life, David Foster Wallace, and Surat Al-`Asr 103

Dr. Seuss, Attached, It’s a Wonderful Life, David Foster Wallace, and Surat Al-`Asr 103

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on July 18, 2021

Sunday Supplement #10 (July 18th, 2021)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from this post that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”

– Dr. Seuss

Theodor Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, is one of my favorite children’s authors. There are so many brilliant phrases, tongue twisters, and clever rhyming schemes from his books. Thankfully, after 27 rejections of his first book, Geisel experienced a lucky encounter with an old friend that launched his writing career.

The above quote is one of his many great lines and reminds me to be grateful and present whenever possible. There are plenty of moments when I wish I was more aware, but I’m glad I can look back on them, learn from them, and appreciate them.

Book of the Week:

Attached – Amir Levine and Rachel S.F. Heller

British psychologist and psychoanalyst John Bowlby pioneered attachment theory. He scrutinized the impact of our early relationships with parents and caregivers on our development into adulthood. While there had been much research on attachment theory since its initial founding, its effect on romantic relationships wasn’t an area as deeply explored until recently.

Psychiatrist and neuroscientist Amir Levin and psychologist Rachel S.F. Heller teamed up and wrote a book that breaks down attachment theory in romantic relationships. Attached explores how evolutionary influences, combined with attachment theory, shape our behavior and who we are in our relationships today.

A highlight from the book is Levine and Heller’s breakdown of behaviors into three categories: anxious, avoidant, and secure. We have a mix of all three but tend to lean in one direction or another and can change over time. The book provides brief prompts that allow the reader to reflect on different relationships and see how different behaviors fall into the three categories. It is a powerful tool to help recognize an underlining meaning behind different actions, and it is worth learning to understand yourself and others better.

Attached offers excellent advice and helps explains how each style is okay and can be worked on if desired. The book is one of my favorites, so far, in the relationship/self-help genre.

Movie of the Week:

It’s a Wonderful Life

A local businessman who is about to give up on his life is visited by his guardian angel, who shows the man what life would have been like in his small town if he never existed.

It’s a Wonderful Life had an underwhelming return at the box office, barely breaking even. However, the film was nominated for five Academy Awards and has gone on to become a Christmas classic. Jimmy Stewart stars in the movie and gives a performance that rivals his Hitchcock films. Frank Capra was initially criticized for the movie’s lack of financial return, but time proved the director still knew what he was doing in the latter stages of his career.

We might not be anywhere near Christmas now, but I thought the movie’s themes were worth exploring in this post. In an interview posted by AFI, Capra talks about how the theme of the importance of the individual, featured in all his work, was best explored in It’s a Wonderful Life. The story shows how we can easily miss our impact on others around us. And by the end of the movie, the importance of an individual’s self-belief is predominant.

Keep this film in mind for the holidays at the end of the year, or check it out if you’re looking for an uplifting watch. It is a beautiful reminder of your importance to others in your life and to be grateful for those people.

Brainfood of the Week:

David Foster Wallace’s “This is Water” Commencement Speech – Kenyon College ’05.

David Foster Wallace was a celebrated author and university professor. He is most known for his widely acclaimed novel Infinite Jest. Time magazine listed it as one of the best 100 English-language novels from 1923 to 2005. His last novel, The Pale King (published posthumously), was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2012.

In Wallace’s Commencement Speech, he outlines the importance of learning to exercise more control over how and what you think. He reflects on the most important realities being often the hardest to see and talk about. The ultimate goal is choosing what you pay attention to and choosing how you construct meaning from your experiences.

I first came across Wallace through his interview on Charlie Rose. His thoughts on postmodernism in media and how self-ridicule can be a deterrent for action gave me a different perspective on modern television and film. I tried reading Infinite Jest, but it is one of the very few novels I’ve put down. I might give it another go at some point in the future, or I might check out one of his other works.

The speech is something that’s come back around at various points in my life. The goal to be aware of what is right in front of me and around me is something that I try to keep at the forefront of my day-to-day experiences. As Wallace describes in the speech, it’s one of the hardest things in adult life. However, it is a worthy pursuit.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“By time, surely man is in loss, save those who believe and do good deeds, and enjoin on each other truth, and enjoin on each other patience.”

Surat Al-`Asr 103: 1-3

This passage from the Quran helps me realize the importance of where we aim our focus. The beginning words about time remind me of instances where I’ve experienced frustration because something wasn’t happening when I wanted it to occur. That feeling of anger has been from something as simple as finding a parking space or something much bigger, like achieving a goal.

That frustration of sadness can also be linked to unhappy memories or potentially stressful future situations. Regardless of the circumstances, a fixation on time and lack created an unpleasant experience.

I like how the Quran passage goes on to discuss belief/doing of good deeds, truth, and patience are what takes us out of loss. I’m reminded of the times a calm mind and heart helped me in various situations, big and small. I will continue to aim to be present, conscious, and aware as much as possible going forward.

Take a few moments to be present and grateful, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Audrey Hepburn, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Life as a House, Yuval Noah Harari, and the Sutta Pitaka

Audrey Hepburn, A Prayer for Owen Meany, Life as a House, Yuval Noah Harari, and the Sutta Pitaka

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on July 11, 2021

Sunday Supplement #9 (July 11th, 2021)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from this post that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Nothing is impossible. The word itself says I’m possible!”

– Audrey Hepburn

Book of the Week:

A Prayer for Owen Meany – John Irving

By the time John Irving released A Prayer for Owen Meany, he was a known name in the literary community. His work consistently hit multiple bestseller lists, and the film adaptations of his novels received a decent share of Academy Award nominations. A Prayer for Owen Meany was not as favored as Irving’s previous novels, The World According to Garp or The Cider House Rules, but it is arguably his best.

The narrator, John Wheelwright, teaches English at the all-girls school Bishop Strachan in Toronto, Canada. Wheelwright’s present-day narrative punctuates his reflections on his past, where he grew up in the fictional town of Gravesend, New Hampshire. A significant event forever connects John and his childhood friend Owen Meany. That incident also plants the seed in Owen’s mind that he is God’s Instrument. Meany spends the rest of his life to fulfill the fate he prophesied.

The book’s themes of faith, powerlessness, and gender stereotypes jump out vehemently throughout the story. Irving’s literary prose is well crafted and does not come off as wordy or hard to read. It is a beautifully constructed novel that engages and leaves a lasting impression.

I’ve read a few hundred books in my life so far, and this one continues to stand out over the years. It is one of those novels that I don’t always best know how to convince others to read, but it definitely is worth checking out to see if it calls out to you.

Movie of the Week:

Life as a House

When George Monroe is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he decides to take custody of his misanthropic son, Sam, for the summer. George uses his remaining months to repair relationships with Sam and his ex-wife Robin, in addition to fulfilling an old dream to tear down his father’s house and build a new one in its place.

Life as a House has a simple but potent narrative, and all the characters, including the supporting cast, add to the meaningful story. Kevin Kline plays George, and Hayden Christensen makes his film debut as Sam. Both give stellar performances. Supporting actors Kristin Scott Thomas, Jena Malone, Mary Steenburgen, and Ian Somerhalder contribute to the solid ensemble cast.

For Kline, Thomas, and Steenburgen, the film is an under-highlighted gem in their filmography. For Christensen, Malone, and Somerhalder, the film is an early marker for their impressive careers that followed.

The movie did not perform well at the box office or receive many positive reviews. However, it boasts an 88% fresh rating with audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. Both the director, Irwin Winkler, and the screenwriting Mark Andrus, have an impressive resume of classic films— Goodfellas, Rocky, and Raging Bull for Winkler, and an Oscar-nominated screenplay As Good as It Gets for Andrus. It’s curious to see the division between the critics and the positive ratings on various sites given the quality of people involved with the film.

I understand how some critics believe it is more of a Hallmark movie than a blockbuster, but I thought the movie was well done and accomplished its intentions. It explores how we have a choice in our focus and our actions— it is never too late to take control of our lives. I often go back and rewatch the movie when I need a lift and a positive reminder.

If you check it out, let me know what you think.

Brainfood of the Week:

Tim Ferriss’s interview with Yuval Noah Harari on The Tim Ferriss Show.

Another The Time Ferriss Show episode is the focus of this week’s Brainfood. Previous episodes are featured in the first and fifth Sunday Supplements. Ferriss has many other accolades to his name, including six bestselling self-help books, but his podcast is one of my favorite contributions he’s made to date.

In this episode, Tim interviews Yuval Noah Harari. Harari is a historian most known for his bestselling books— Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow, and 21 Lessons for the 21st Century. His books have been recommended by iconic figures like Barack Obama and Bill Gates. At the time the podcast episode was released, Harari’s books had sold 27.5 million copies.

The interview covers a wide variety of topics but mostly centers on Harari’s thoughts on humanity and where we’re headed. He talks about human history and the experiences of suffering and happiness. Another focus in the conversation is how humans create fictional stories and entities to help further our advancement as a species. We even contemplate our futures in philosophy and science fiction.

I’ve read Sapiens, and it is a phenomenal book. I’m positive there are more in-depth historical accounts out there, but I appreciated Harari’s approach in creating an overarching narrative of human history. He is currently working on releasing the bestseller in graphic novel form over four volumes. The second volume is due out in October of this year.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Purity or impurity depends on oneself. No one can purify another.”

– Sutta Pitaka

The Sutta Pitaka consists of over 10,000 dialogues from the Buddha and his close disciples.

This particular passage reminds me of the work I need to do for myself. I am blessed to have the support of my family and friends. But, I know that my future is in my control.

It’s easy to lose focus and become depressed or anxious about a current situation. However, there is a wonderful power in knowing that you can change the direction of where you’re going.

I’m doing my best to aim for the best future possible. I want to do more work in this area and dedicate more time to checking in with myself. I believe the time we use to reflect on our lives and our decisions is the filter that helps us heal. I’m grateful for reminders like these that bring a fresh and positive perspective.

Dedicate some time to assess how to best support yourself, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Thomas Edison, Atomic Habits, Bad Boys (1983), Sadhguru, and Matthew 7:12

Thomas Edison, Atomic Habits, Bad Boys (1983), Sadhguru, and Matthew 7:12

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on July 4, 2021

Sunday Supplement #8 (July 4th, 2021)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

I hope you take something away from this post that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

– Thomas Edison

Book of the Week:

Atomic Habits – James Clear

James Clear is an expert on habit formation. The New York Times, Entrepreneur, and Time are a few of the many publications that featured his work. Clear’s work has also been used by teams in the NFL, NBA, and MLB. His website receives millions of monthly visitors where he writes about habits, decision-making, and continuous improvement.

Clear’s book, Atomic Habits, was a New York Times bestseller. The book helped me quit smoking and get back in shape. I accomplished both before, but I found myself burning out at various points. I would eventually use my willpower to push myself back to my best, but I struggled. Atomic Habits broke down concepts that made it easier to improve in areas of my life that I wanted to build up while letting go of things that weren’t good for me.

In the book, Clear goes over topics like identity, which help with starting good habits or breaking bad ones. For smoking, I always viewed myself as a smoker trying to quit smoking. He explains how that frame of mind is rooted in identity and makes it hard to stop. The shift of implementing the identity that I’m not a smoker was a simple concept with profound results.

There are many valuable strategies and systems that Clear explains in his book. One of my favorites is akin to the Edison quote above. Clear gives the metaphor of an ice cube melting to signify one’s dreams and goals. You can work for a long time to melt the ice cube. You can bring the temperature up to 31.9 degrees, and it will still be an ice cube. But you are so close to making water from your efforts. Don’t give up!

Atomic Habits is one of my favorite self-help/self-improvement books. It is an enjoyable read as well. There are many true stories from various inspirational people that will entertain and motivate. Check it out!

Movie of the Week:

Bad Boys (1983)

A Chicago youth Mick O’Brien plans to rob a rival’s drug deal. The heist goes horribly wrong, and O’Brien is sent to a juvenile detention center. He must face the consequences of his actions and decide if the path he’s currently on is one he wants to continue. The story gets more intricate as the film continues, but that is a quick summary without too many spoilers.

Sean Penn stars as Mick O’Brien in his first film released after the iconic Fast Times at Ridgemont High. His role as Spicoli in Fast Times at Ridgemont High created the possibility of being typecast as a comedic actor, but Penn made the deliberate decision to go in a different direction with Bad Boys. Penn’s performance was assisted with a brilliant supporting cast. Reni Santoni, Jim Moody, Esai Morales, Ally Sheedy, and Clancy Brown are some of many who brought immense quality to the screen.

Bad Boys was a small film and didn’t get too much recognition when it came out, but it received mostly favorable reviews. A testament to the quality of the script and Sean Penn’s performance is that actors like Tom Cruise and Kevin Bacon auditioned for the lead role.

It could have been a simple movie, but instead, it allowed for depth in the narrative, which resulted in complex characters and a powerful story. Even though the film isn’t well known, Bad Boys deserves to be recognized.

Brainfood of the Week:

A conversation with Sadhguru led by Angella Nazarian.

Sadhguru is an Indian yogi and bestselling author. He is a spiritual leader and founder of the Isha Foundation, a non-profit spiritual organization with over 9 million volunteers. Sadhguru’s YouTube page features many videos where he discusses spirituality, perception, and various other topics. His videos have just shy of 1 billion views in total.

Angella Nazarian is a philanthropist, bestselling non-fiction author, and conference organizer. She co-founded Looking Beyond, a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children and young adults with special needs, and Visionary Women, a non-profit community, focused on engaging conversations with innovative leaders and funding high-impact initiatives for women and girls.

In this video, Nazarian speaks with Sadhguru about vision, willingness, and joy. Sadhguru discusses how willingness can be tested when other people do not act in accordance with one’s beliefs. However, it ultimately our choice in how we respond or react. This culminates in a direct link with how we experience joy.

Sadhguru’s discussion is a great lesson and reminder of how we can shape our world.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Therefore whatever you desire men to do for you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.”

– Matthew 7:12

There are a few bible passages I can quote off the top of my head. Matthew 7:12 one of them. But I didn’t know about the final part— “for this is the law and the prophets.” This part reminded me of the law of attraction. The basic principle of the law of attraction is positive thoughts bring positive experiences, and negative thoughts bring negative ones.

It always sticks out to me when different religions or philosophies I come across repeat similar passages. More often than not, you can find the same messages in different religions or spiritual practices. However, quotes like think positively don’t always have a positive reception when I’m not doing well. That is something I want to change.

In my first Sunday Supplement, I quoted Matthew 22:39— “Love thy neighbor as thyself.” I discussed how if you don’t love yourself, you won’t be able to love your neighbor. I then talked about filling your cup so you can help others. Matthew 7:12 reminds me that assisting others in filling their cup can fill yours as well. I believe in this way, Matthew 22:39 is linked to Matthew 7:12.

Trying to balance the two and knowing when I’m balanced is the goal I’m setting for myself going forward. I also plan on re-reading Atomic Habits to help me with that objective.

Be kind to yourself and others, and have a blessed week ahead!

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