Month: November 2021

Amy Collette, All the Light We Cannot See, The Pursuit of Happyness, The Gratitude Experiment, and Surah Ibrahim 14:7

Amy Collette, All the Light We Cannot See, The Pursuit of Happyness, The Gratitude Experiment, and Surah Ibrahim 14:7

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on November 28, 2021

Sunday Supplement #29 (November 28th, 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 these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. It’s the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul.”

– Amy Collette

Book of the Week:

All the Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr

All the Light We Cannot See is an international bestseller and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction (2015). It follows two narratives and tells a wonderful story set in World War II. =

Marie-Laure lives with her father, who works in the Museum of Natural History in Paris as the master of its thousands of locks. When Marie-Laure turns 6, she starts to go blind. Her father builds her a to-scale miniature model of their neighborhood so she can memorize by touch and be able to navigate the city.

When Marie-Laure turns 12, the Nazis occupy Paris, and she and her father flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo to live by the sea with her reclusive great-uncle. Marie-Laure doesn’t know that they carry the museum’s most valuable jewel that the Nazis are after.

In a mining town in Germany, an orphan, Werner, grows up with his younger sister. They become enchanted by a radio they find and the stations they come across. Werner becomes fascinated with building and fixing new instruments, which wins him a place at a brutal academy for Hitler Youth.

Werner’s prowess as an inventor lands him a role with a special assignment to track the resistance to the Nazis. This task brings him across all fronts of the war and ultimately into Saint-Malo.

The book has so many lessons integrated into a beautiful tale. The characters are excellently crafted and allow for a depth that is felt long after finishing the novel.

Movie of the Week:

The Pursuit of Happyness

Will Smith brilliantly plays a struggling salesman who takes custody of his son after his wife leaves them. The film is based on Chris Gardner’s memoir and recounts the period of his life when he struggled to make ends meet, take care of his son, and battle homelessness.

The movie came out in 2006 and came up against many excellent films at the 2007 Academy Awards. The only Oscar nomination The Pursuit of Happyness received was for Will Smith’s portrayal of Chris Gardner. However, the film arguably should have been nominated for many other categories.

There are many good things to take away from the movie. The positive message is evident by the end of the story, and there are little moments throughout that will bring tears and smiles.

If you’re looking for a movie that is uplifting and has depth, this should be a movie you check out. You’ll find it on many top movie lists for a reason.

Brainfood of the Week:

The Gratitude Experiment — WatchWellCast

WatchWellCast is a YouTube channel that uploads animated videos that explore physical, mental, and emotional paths to wellness.

In this video, WatchWellCast delves into the causes behind happiness and how we can improve our overall happiness levels.

Humans operate on what’s called the hedonic treadmill. We generally stabilize on one level of happiness. Specific events might increase that level for a short period, but you come back down and settle at your normal level.

The things that give us temporary spikes in happiness can be taken for granted, and over time can stop psyching us up.

A simple way to improve our overall happiness levels and create new baselines for our perspective is practicing gratitude. By setting time aside for appreciation and examining what you’re thankful for and why you stop ignoring what makes you happy.

WatchWellCast then goes into some scientific background of Dr. Robert Emmons and his studies on happiness. An exercise prompt at the end of the video is a great practice to incorporate into your daily routine.

The video is only four minutes long, and it is an excellent summary of happiness and a tool to increase yours.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“If you are grateful, I would certainly give you more; and if you are ungrateful, My chastisement is truly severe.”

– Surah Ibrahim 14:7

One of the things I’ve worked on over the past year is control over my thoughts.

I experienced a massive dip in many different areas of my life, and I was at a loss for why I no longer felt as good as I had before.

This passage from the Quran perfectly emphasizes the importance of gratitude and how important that is for bringing more good things into your life.

When I was depressed and sad, all I could see was the negative side of things. I realized later that it was okay to have dips, but I needed to build my base level back to being grateful.

In the passage above, there is also a warning for those who are ungrateful. It is no surprise to me that the lack of gratitude is linked with severe chastisement.

While I do necessarily agree with the level of punishment, I believe it is an important reminder of the depths of negativity we can experience when ungrateful.

I’ve worked on my mindset to be more positive and grateful, and it makes me realize how much in my life, even in the down moments, I’m thankful to have.

Check in with yourself about the things you are thankful for and have a blessed week ahead!

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Nat Turner, When Strangers Meet, 12 Angry Men, Julian Treasure, and Philippians 4:6

Nat Turner, When Strangers Meet, 12 Angry Men, Julian Treasure, and Philippians 4:6

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on November 21, 2021

Sunday Supplement #28 (November 21st, 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 these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity.”

– Nat Turner

Book of the Week:

When Strangers Meet – Kio Stark

Kio Stark has a rich background, including journalism, interactive advertising, community research, and teaching. She is the author of both non-fiction and fiction books and has taught, consulted, and spoken about stranger interactions worldwide.

In When Strangers Meet, Stark argues the benefits of interacting with strangers. The act of talking with someone you don’t know can pull you into experiences that open your world. They can be interruptions that pull you out of your daily routine. It’s up to you how you interpret these experiences.

Stark uses stories from her life and studies about talking to strangers and the dynamics of where, how, and why strangers come together. She explores the deep meaning that can come from these interactions and the necessary connection that occurs when we talk with others.

Some helpful tips from the book include how we subconsciously decide who to greet and trust and the subconscious rules by which these interactions operate. The book helps open the doors for talking with strangers and gives challenges for those willing to try out the techniques.

The book is a short read and one worth adding to your list. Stark also did a Ted Talks that is worth checking out to see if you would like her work.

Movie of the Week:

12 Angry Men

12 Angry Men follows a seemingly straightforward jury trial that gets held up by a single juror whose skeptical caution forces the group to go over all the evidence again before making a hasty verdict.

The film was nominated for three Oscars but didn’t take home any wins. The Bridge on the River Kwai was the film that took most of the Academy Awards, deservedly so, in 1958, but 12 Angry Men is another brilliant film that lasts the test of time.

Sidney Lumet adapted Reginald Rose’s teleplay into one of the most famous films in movie history. Rose’s screenplay expertly showcased how a one-room drama could be just as riveting as an Action/Thriller.

What makes the film stand the test of time is the story and the acting. Each actor, led by Henry Fonda, gives a performance that supports the narratives reflecting on judgment and speaking out. Many in the movie did not want to go over the evidence again. They assumed guilt on the accused and were ready to move on with their days. One many took the time to go over the facts with the others and challenge their preconceived notions.

The movie’s power comes from the willingness to go against the norm and to question what seems apparent. The dialogue that ensues carries the story and shows the importance of communicating effectively.

12 Angry Men is a trues classic that ages well and should be on your watch list if you haven’t seen it already.

Brainfood of the Week:

TED Talks: 5 Ways to Listen Better — Julian Treasure

Julian Treasure is a sound and communication expert. His five TED Talks views have been watched more than 100 million times. Treasure’s vision is to integrate speaking and listening skills into education.

In this video, Treasure breaks down how we interpret sound and how that filters into our listening skills. We have subconscious filters like culture, language, values, beliefs, attitudes, explications, and intentions that shape how we pay attention. He argues that accurate listening has disappeared because of impatience, desensitization, and technological advancements that allow presence to be unnecessary.

Treasure then highlights how conscious listening creates understanding. He follows that up with examples and ways of how we can cultivate our listening skills.

This TED Talks video is one of my favorites that I’ve come across. If you enjoy Treasure’s presentation, check out his other videos or his books How to be Heard and Sound Business.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

– Philippians 4:6

This passage from the New Testament reminds me of the power of communicating what’s inside you. The first part states to not be anxious. I believe when you are anxious, a contributing factor is thoughts building up with nowhere to go.

Whenever I’ve shared something I was anxious about with someone else, I’ve found that pressure was lifted. I wasn’t as tense, and I got the nervous feeling out of my head.

The other takeaway from this passage is communicating what you want, need, or desire. The clarity that comes from speaking these things to yourself or others is immense. If you do not let others know how you feel, you leave them to guess at best.

Speaking out about what you want to is a great way to focus on the things you want to attract in your life. Communication is paramount in all relationships, including the one you have with yourself. And for myself, I find writing down my thoughts a great way to get them out if someone else isn’t there to talk.

Clarify a need, want, or desire, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Judy Blume, The Alchemist, V for Vendetta, Freedom in Thought, and an African Proverb

Judy Blume, The Alchemist, V for Vendetta, Freedom in Thought, and an African Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on November 14, 2021

Sunday Supplement #27 (November 14th, 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 these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Each of us must confront our own fears, must come face to face with them. How we handle our fears will determine where we go with the rest of our lives. To experience adventure or to be limited by the fear of it.”

– Judy Blume

Book of the Week:

The Alchemist – Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist tells the story of a shepherd boy who travels from Spain to Egypt searching for a treasure buried near the pyramids. Santiago quests for his personal legend and meets many different people and challenges along the way. He doesn’t know what the treasure is and pursues many different avenues along his adventure.

There are many lessons that Santiago and the reader learn throughout the journey, and the importance of listening to our hearts is one of the most important.

I won’t spoil too much of the story, but I want to highlight one part from the book in this post. When Santiago makes the first leap into the unknown, he travels to a land where he doesn’t know the language. Santiago gets robbed and becomes stuck without any means to get back to his home country.

What’s incredible about this part of the journey is the reminder of the capacity for humans to land on their feet after falling. It is a lesson that gets repeated throughout the story and is one that we all should remember.

The Alchemist is one of the few books I’ve read multiple times. It always picks me out of a rut when I pick the book back up. I encourage you to give this short novel a read. Let me know what you think!

Movie of the Week:

V for Vendetta

This movie would have been perfect for a 5th of November post, but it is worth watching regardless of the time of year. The film is rated R for a reason and shouldn’t be watched on a whim, but the story, cinematography, and acting are superb.

V for Vendetta is set in a future Britain ruled by tyranny. A freedom fighter disguised behind a Guy Fawkes mask plots to expose and overthrow the government with the help of a young woman. The story is based on the graphic novel written by Alan Moore and illustrated by David Lloyd. While the movie received some criticism from the fans of the source material, the film on its own is a brilliantly executed motion picture.

The Wachowski’s adapted the graphic novel, and their friend, James McTeigue, directed it. Influence from The Matrix can be seen in the style of the movie. And on the acting side, Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, Stephen Fry, and John Hurt all give outstanding performances in their respective roles.

It’s worth repeating that the movie’s R rating is warranted. The violence and content of the film are graphic at times, but I believe that content serves a purpose. I don’t agree with some extremes, but that is one of the points in the movie.

V for Vendetta is a movie I recommend with some caution, but its lessons and warnings are captured brilliantly. It currently resides at 170 on IMDB’s Top Rated Movies list.

Brainfood of the Week:

Buddha – Conquer Fear, Become Free — Freedom in Thought

Freedom in Thought is a YouTube channel that breaks down philosophical concepts and explores them through dialogue.

In this video, the concept discussed is based on a quote from the Buddha in the Dhammapada. The Buddha says a wise person is beyond fear, and as a result, is truly free.

The video then uses a Zen story to set up an example that explores the Buddha’s words.

During a Japanese civil war, an army took control of different villages. In one village, everyone fled except for a Zen master. The general went to the temple to get the Zen master to submit to his will. He brought out his sword and said, “Fool, don’t you see? I’m the type of man that can put a sword through you without blinking an eye.” The master calmly replied, “Don’t you see? I’m the type of man who can have a sword put through him without blinking an eye.”

As long as we fear something, we are controlled by that thing. True freedom is to be without fear.

In a dialogue between a monk and a student, the video discusses different facets of fear and how to overcome them. It shows how fear is blinding and controlling. A person who is afraid projects what they are scared of and sees the world through a lens.

The source of fear is our desire to protect ourselves from pain. When we are afraid, we block ourselves from understanding and growth. We must accept pain and fate and focus on our actions and not the outcomes we can’t control.

There are many videos on Freedom in Thought worth exploring. Try this one out to see if it is something that you enjoy.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“The unborn baby that fears criticism will never be born.”

– African Proverb

This African proverb is a great reminder for me and my creative pursuits. At times, I’ve not started a projected or have been tempted not to finish because I thought my idea was terrible. I realize looking back on those times I was just scared of the reception my writing would receive.

I always worked on finishing my projects no matter what, but I wouldn’t always let others see what I wrote. I’ve since worked on removing the barriers I’ve kept up to keep me safe. Every time I put myself out there, regardless of reception, I’ve learned something and grown.

An important lesson from this quote for me is to keep putting myself out there. I want to keep pushing myself to grow and experience new things, knowing that fear can hinder these. and I continue to work on being more comfortable with being uncomfortable. Baby steps helped me move along, but I’m working on taking more incredible leaps and knowing I’ll be okay.

Step outside your comfort zone, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Lao Tzu, The Power of Myth, The Lord of the Rings, Simon Sinek, and the Rig Veda

Lao Tzu, The Power of Myth, The Lord of the Rings, Simon Sinek, and the Rig Veda

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on November 7, 2021

Sunday Supplement #26 (November 7th, 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 these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”

– Lao Tzu

Book of the Week:

The Power of Myth – Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers

In 1988, PBS aired a six-episode series composed of interviews with Joseph Campbell. The companion book was released at the same time the series aired. The Power of Myth book has additional discussions not included in the original six-hour docuseries, but it follows a similar format.

The book is based on the interviews between Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers. The discussion revolves around Campbell’s lifework in mythology and human history. Campbell uses his own life story and the knowledge of different civilizations’ myths and cultures to present the idea of a global story we all follow— the Hero’s Journey.

Campbell’s other works, The Hero with a Thousand Faces and The Masks of God, delve more deeply into the Hero’s Journey. However, The Power of Myth gives the main points and discusses how society has experienced struggle due to the loss of mythology and rights of passage in the modern-day.

The Power of Myth is a brilliant read that gives many insights into the universal human experience. It is well worth checking out and seeing if any of the stages apply to your life and how you can move forward.

Movie of the Week:

The Lord of the Rings (Extended Editions)

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote one of the most popular fiction trilogies in history. Peter Jackson adapted the novels into some of the most accomplished movies ever made. The story is fantasy and adventure-based, but there is so much quality that a genre pigeonhole can’t capture the whole experience.

Frodo, a Hobbit from the Shire, and eight companions set out on a journey to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom to save Middle-Earth from the Dark Lord Sauron. Across the three films, the world of elves, men, and dwarves is explored and intricately woven into the story. The history and relationships of the people in the film are expertly depicted to give the story a more profound experience than a surface-level action flick.

So many details make these films a fantastic experience— too many to delve into in a short post. I’ll focus on two for the rest of this post.

The first is the practical effects of the films. So many movies in modern times rely on computer graphic imaging to create the effects the audience sees on the screen. Sometimes it works, but older films using this technology often appear outdated in recent times. Lord of the Rings has special effects and CGI, but they used many creative camera techniques to film in real-time and create beautiful and complex images on the screen. Fame Focus goes over some of the best effects in the movies that allowed the scale to be filmed, cities to be created, and actions sequences to be executed.

The other thing I want to touch on is the Hero’s Journey archetype of the story. The points in the journey are beautifully constructed and explored. Each character has their own journey, and many are richly created to have a whole arc. The overall story contains each point in the Hero’s Journey and helps to establish a connection with the audience. Even if you don’t like fantasy, there is something in these films that can resonate with you.

The extended editions are wonderful and fully encapsulate Tolkien’s stories, but either of Jackson’s versions is well worth watching.

Brainfood of the Week:

Simon Sinek – The Truth About Being the “Stupidest” Person in the Room

In Sunday Supplement #13, I featured a video from Simon Sinek about the paradox of being human. Sinek is an inspirational speaker and the author of multiple best-selling books.

In this video, Simon Sinek discusses the benefits of being okay with being the stupidest person in the room. He tells a story about a business meeting where he didn’t understand the concept delivered to the room. Sinek was okay with asking the presenter to repeat the presentation, and after a few questions, it was apparent the premise of the demonstration wasn’t straightforward. If he hadn’t spoken up, the rest of the group would have nodded along because they weren’t comfortable with saying they didn’t understand the presentation.

The idea of the video is that by being okay with being seen as dumb, you open the door for knowledge while being brave enough to speak up.

This video is only a couple of minutes long. It’s worth checking out to see if Simon Sinek is something you’d be interested in checking out.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“A person can achieve everything by being simple and humble.”

– from the Rig Veda

This passage from the Hindu Vedas reminds me of the beauty of doing something you love. I’ve looked back on my actions in the past, and a lot of them used to be based on the feedback I hoped to receive. Moving toward doing more of what I love changed how I approached things and gave me more confidence to be myself. I asked myself whether I would still do the task if no one else knew what I was doing.

Writing, reading, and playing/watching soccer are all things I’ve done on my own. It’s fun to have company, and I enjoy sharing the things I love with others, but I would still do them independently. I believe if you have goals and dreams for making what you love into a career or a profession, you have to market yourself. But I think you should be doing what you love regardless of outside validation or not.

Like the Rig Veda passage, I often find myself the happiest and most successful doing what I love and not caring about the outcome.

Make time to do something you love and have a blessed week ahead!

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