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Month: September 2022

Arnold H. Glasow, On Writing, Rocky, Escaping Ordinary, and a Japanese Proverb

Sunday Supplement #72 (September 25th, 2022)

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:

“Success isn’t a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.”

– Arnold H. Glasow

Book of the Week:

On Writing – Stephen King

Stephen King’s On Writing is a part memoir part masterclass by one of the bestselling authors of all time.

The book is divided into five sections, one narrating his life “C.V.,” one explaining “What Writing Is,” one describing a writer’s “Toolbox,” one giving advice “On Writing,” and the last discusses King’s thoughts on the accident where he was struck by a van “On Living: A Postscript.”

While the book tends to be viewed as a go-to manual for writers, the book offers more than just a writing guide.

King became one of the most successful writers in history, and it’s interesting to see that was his goal when he was young.

The first chapter is worth reading just to see the background King gives on his life growing up and his early journey as a writer.

On Writing should be on every writer’s shelf, but it is also worth checking out for readers looking for life insights from a prolific author.

Movie of the Week:

Rocky

The movie Rocky has become a part of American pop culture over the years but often for the iconic character’s underdog story and a classic score.

Many haven’t seen the film or forgotten how brilliant the original movie was. Sylvester Stallone wrote a phenomenal script that has wonderful depth in its characters.

A small-time Philadelphia boxer gets a lottery chance of fighting the world heavyweight champion when the champion’s original opponent drops out.

The film beautifully captures the struggling Rocky Balboa as he navigates his life to the best of his abilities while receiving little respect from those around him.

Once the opportunity to face the champ comes to his doorstep, people from the neighborhood pay attention. Rocky isn’t fooled but strives to fight for his self-respect.

The film won three Oscars, including Best Picture. Rocky should be on any movie lover’s list, and the extraordinary story behind the film deserves a look too.

Brainfood of the Week:

How to Become 37.78 Times Better at Anything (Atomic Habits Summary) | Escaping Ordinary (B.C. Marx)

In Sunday Supplement #8, I highlighted James Clear’s Atomic Habits. The New York Times bestseller is one of my favorite tools for self-improvement.

In this YouTube video, B.C. Marx breaks down the book with an engaging presentation. The animation and voice-over on the video are excellent.

In the book, Clear reveals practical strategies that help form good habits, break bad ones, and master tiny behaviors that lead to massive change.

Clear explains how your daily systems and routines, as well as how you view yourself, control how effective you are at building good habits or promoting bad habits.

In the video, B.C. Marx summarizes Atomic Habits, breaks down the habit-building system in it, and explains how he uses the book in his life.

B.C. Marx’s channel only has eight videos, but he has over 500 thousand subscribers because of the quality of his content. See if you like this video, and check out Escaping Ordinary.

Remember to check out James Clear’s Atomic Habits as well!

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Even dust, when piled up, becomes a mountain.” (ちりも積もれば山となる)

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb reminds me of the power of consistently making good decisions for yourself.

Whether deciding to exercise for ten minutes or devoting a half hour each day to a hobby or goal, the long-term results are often staggering.

Tim Ferriss often says on his podcast, “People overestimate what they can do in a year and underestimate what they can do in ten.”

Conversely, letting your ship stray slightly without correction can land you far off from where you want to go.

This Japanese proverb is an excellent reminder of how our decisions over time can be something that let us down or bring us great benefits.

Think of the decisions you can make or habits you can build that will help you benefit in the long term, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Randy Pausch, The Chronicles of Narnia, Hot Fuzz, Catherine Price, and an African Proverb

Sunday Supplement #71 (September 18th, 2022)

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:

“Never, ever underestimate the importance of having fun.”

– Randy Pausch 

Book of the Week:

The Chronicles of Narnia – C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis’s classic children’s series, The Chronicles of Narnia, has sold over 100 million copies in over 45 languages.

The series contains seven novels that delve into the magical realm of Narnia, where magic, mythical beasts, and talking animals roam.

C.S. Lewis initially had a photo of a fawn in his head at 16, which eventually developed into the world of Narnia.

Narnia has its own history, which throughout the series is added to by humans from our world traveling there by magical means.

The order of the series is debated, but I started with The Magician’s Nephew. You can look up the different orders for suggested reading and decide for yourself.

I didn’t read the series until my late 20s. The books might be classified as children’s novels, but the adventures and themes were something I feel everyone can enjoy.

Movie of the Week:

Hot Fuzz

The detective murder mystery is making a comeback in Cinema with the likes of Knives Out and the Hercule Poirot remakes.

However, most of these modern movies fall short through poor writing and sometimes conceited self-awareness.

In Hot Fuzz, a skilled London police officer irritates his superiors with his embarrassing effectiveness and is transferred to a simple English village.

The officer’s fervor for regulations rubs against the easygoing villagers’ lifestyles even when a string of grisly murders occurs.

Edgar Wright and Simon Pegg’s Hot Fuzz is an action comedy grounded in a detective murder mystery that is better than most recent films taking a serious stab at the genre.

Hot Fuzz’s genius comes from treating the audience as intelligent viewers and crafting a well-written murder mystery. It is well worth checking out.

Brainfood of the Week:

Why Having Fun is the Secret to a Healthier Life | Catherine Price | TED Talks

In this video, science journalist Catherine Price discusses what it means to have fun and shares ways to weave playfulness, flow, and connection into your life.

Price opens her talk by discussing how we often pack our schedules and find ourselves languishing in our free time, which leads to more of the former.

She points out how we can often use the word “fun” to describe things that we do in our leisure time but aren’t actually fun or good for us.

Fun is often attributed to a childlike demeanor or a fanciful experience. Price argues how this definition is wrong and belittles what fun can be.

In the next portion of the video, Price describes how fun should be viewed as a feeling and not an activity.

The latter half of the video delves into Price’s prescription of playfulness, flow, and connection as true fun and how you can incorporate more into your life.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Between true friends, even water drunk together is sweet enough.”

– African Proverb

This African proverb reminds me of the joy one can experience when connecting with another human being.

I think back, especially to times in college, when a prevailing attitude was that alcohol or other substances were necessary for good times.

While fun times can be had during times of intoxication, I think it’s a mistake to believe that intoxication or other outside factors are a requirement for good times.

I believe a good indicator of whether or not something is worth pursuing is when you can be entirely absorbed by the function and be happy.

Some of my favorite times are having engaging discussions or finding myself engaged in an activity that brings me joy.

The African proverb reminds me that those moments are sweet enough.

Recognize the moments that bring you unaided joy, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Mahatma Gandhi, The Lords of Discipline, Yojimbo, Sadhguru, and Dhammapada 258

Sunday Supplement #70 (September 11th, 2022)

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:

“You must be the change you want to see in the world.”

– Mahatma Gandhi

Book of the Week:

The Lords of Discipline – Pat Conroy

Pat Conroy’s The Lords of Discipline recounts Will McClean’s time as a cadet at a fictional Military Institute in Charleston, South Carolina.

Will is in his fourth year in the Institute and narrates his experiences over the four years, focusing on the school’s emphasis on hazing.

Will and his friends discover a secret society that aims to drive out any cadet deemed unworthy of graduating through whatever means necessary.

Their lives are threatened when they uncover the secret, and they must decide how far they are willing to go to protect fellow cadets.

Pat Conroy was a brilliant author. I featured him in Sunday Supplement #55, and I highly recommend his best works. The Lords of Discipline is one of them.

Movie of the Week:

Yojimbo

Akira Kurosawa is a legendary filmmaker. There have been many remakes of his classic movies for Western audiences, the most famous being The Magnificent Seven from Seven Samurai

Yojimbo tells the story of a town ruled by two criminal gangs. A ronin (wandering samurai) arrives and decides to play the gangs against each other to free the town’s people.

There aren’t too many classic movies that stand the test of time without being outdated in some way or another. However, Yojimbo holds up in every conceivable way.

The acting, led by Toshirô Mifune as The Samurai, is superb. The story is excellent. And everything from costume design to editing is beautifully detailed.

This is a great one to add to your list for those interested in delving into foreign films or seeing classics. If you’re just looking for an entertaining movie, Yojimbo fits the bill as well.

Brainfood of the Week:

How to Always Make the Right Decision? | Sadhguru

In this video, a young man asks Sadhguru, “How do we know we are making the right or wrong decision in the moment?”

Sadhguru discusses how you create conflict within yourself over every simple thing when you think this way. 

Nobody knows if they are doing the right or wrong thing.

The best you can do is to ask, “Is this something that brings well-being to me and everybody around me?”

The best we can do is to be reasonably balanced, clear, and happy when we decide.

I featured Sadhguru in Sunday Supplement #8. He is an Indian yogi and bestselling author. I find his videos from time to time, and they always provide thought-provoking content.

If you find this one interesting, check out his YouTube page, which has over 10 million followers and over a billion views. 

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“A man is not called wise because he talks and talks again; but if he is peaceful, loving, and fearless, then his is in truth called wise.”

– Dhammapada 258

This verse from the collection of Buddha’s sayings reminds me of the ideal of practicing what you preach.

I think the first step to action is realizing that there is something you wish to correct in yourself or in the world.

However, if those thoughts only remain words, then the actualized potential that comes through action will never occur.

The Dhammapada verse also shows how wise does not mean ruthless or dominating. I think power can be held in high regard, but while it may denote skill, wisdom can be absent.

My takeaway from this verse is to practice the ideals I hold up and to remember to center peace, love, and fearlessness in how I move forward.

Consider your beliefs, take action, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Thomas Merton, The Man’s Guide to Women, The Wind Rises, TED-Ed, and 1 John 4:18

Sunday Supplement #69 (September 4th, 2022)

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 beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise, we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them.”

– Thomas Merton

Book of the Week:

The Man’s Guide to Women – John Gottman, PhD & Julie Schwartz Gottman, PhD

John and Julie Gottman’s book is based on 40 years of research. John is a world-renowned relationship expert, and his wife Julie is a clinical psychologist and researcher.

Their combined knowledge, along with co-authors Rachel and Doug Adams – best-selling authors about intimacy and passion – culminated in The Man’s Guide to Women.

The book addresses how men can make or break relationships, how to approach a woman and build a connection with her, and how to navigate relationships.

I don’t think relationship advice can be summed up in one book, but The Man’s Guide to Women provided many interesting findings and pointers.

Relationship books are a fascinating section of self-help literature and worth delving into. Check this one out and see if it resonates with you.

Movie of the Week:

The Wind Rises

The Wind Rises is a fictionalized biographical film about Jiro Horikoshi, the designer of two prestigious aircraft models used by the Empire of Japan during World War II.

Jiro’s journey starts with ambitions of becoming a pilot. However, due to his poor vision, he cannot fly, but he quickly finds himself dreaming of building his own planes.

What fascinated me with The Wind Rises was the exploration of Jiro’s dreams and how the government’s agenda created much adversity around pursuing that dream.

The relationship between Jiro and Naoko and the challenges they faced in their lives was also beautifully depicted.

The Wind Rises was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature and a Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

I haven’t featured a Studio Ghibli movie in a while, but I’m glad I have the chance to recommend another one of their brilliant films.

Brainfood of the Week:

3 Tips to Boost Your Confidence | TED-Ed

This short presentation is an animated video that dissects confidence and explains three easy tips for how to boost your own.

The video discusses confidence as self-worth— believing you are valuable, worthwhile, and capable. Add optimism, self-esteem, empowerment, and courage, and you have confidence.

Several factors that impact confidence are genes, how you’re treated, and the choices you make in your life.

The three tips the video goes over are quick fixes, belief in your ability to improve, and practicing failure.

TED-Ed goes over each of these tips in detail and provides examples of why and how these tips can help boost your confidence.

There are many short videos that provide helpful information, and this TED-Ed video is one worth checking out.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

– 1 John 4:18

This Bible passage reminds me of the power of love.

In my first Sunday Supplement, I discussed Matthew 22:39 and how you pour from an empty cup if you don’t have love for yourself.

I believe this sentiment comes up in this passage as well. If you do not have love for yourself, you will have doubts about your value and your actions.

There can be pain if things don’t turn out the way you wanted them to, but when you know you acted out of love, you know you did your best.

Do your best to act from love, and have a blessed week ahead!

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