Month: October 2023

Theodore Roosevelt, A Contemporary Introduction to Free Will, The Worst Person in the World, Like Stories of Old, and a Dhammapada Verse

Theodore Roosevelt, A Contemporary Introduction to Free Will, The Worst Person in the World, Like Stories of Old, and a Dhammapada Verse

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 29, 2023

Sunday Supplement #129 (October 29th, 2023)

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.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

– Theodore Roosevelt

Book of the Week:

A Contemporary Introduction to Free Will – Robert Kane

Robert Kane is a philosopher who studied at Holy Cross College, the University of Vienna, and Yale University.

Kane is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Texas, Austin, and the author or editor of nine books on the subject of Free Will, including The Oxford Handbook of Free Will.

A Contemporary Introduction to Free Will is an accessible book that provides an overview of the views of the subject of Free Will.

The book covers subjects like determinism, moral responsibility, autonomy, agency, religion, rationality, freedom, and more.

I found the book a fascinating read and one worth reading and reflecting on for how we conduct our lives.

Movie of the Week:

The Worst Person in the World

Last week’s Sunday Supplement stated that 2021/22 had many excellent films. The Worst Person in the World was one of my favorites from that period.

The Norwegian film chronicles four years of a young woman, Julie’s life, as she navigates hard decisions in her relationships and struggles to find her career path.

The Worst Person in the World was nominated for two Academy Awards, Best International Feature Film and Best Original Screenplay.

The Best Original Screenplay nomination for Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier is a testimony to the story’s success in capturing the depths, complexities, and beauty of life.

I don’t normally heavy-hand a recommendation in the Sunday Supplements, but this is a film I think would be a hit for most who give it a watch.

Brainfood of the Week:

Arrival | Facing the Fear of Existence | Like Stories of Old

I’ve only featured Like Stories of Old in one previous Sunday Supplement because the channel tends to analyze films as its primary content source.

However, the channel’s video essays are a mixture of film analysis, philosophy, and personal development worth highlighting again.

This particular video discusses the deeper themes around the fear of life and death in the film Arrival, which I featured in Sunday Supplement #11.

The movie follows a linguist who works with the military to communicate with alien lifeforms after twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world.

My decision for this brainfood of the week might come off as a double movie recommendation, but I think it’s worth it to check out this Like Stories of Old video.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“The mind is difficult to control; swiftly and lightly, it moves and lands wherever it pleases. It is good to tame the mind, for a well-tamed mind brings happiness.”

– Dhammapada 35

The biggest takeaway from this Dhammapada verse for me is not to let your mind steer you in the direction of fear when making decisions.

It can be easy to freeze when faced with various uncertainties, but we must not get carried away by potential realities that haven’t happened.

Our minds can conjure infinite blessings or curses, but they shouldn’t distract us from the present moment for long.

Control over your mind is one of the most beneficial skills I think we can master in our lifetimes. This Dhammapada verse reminds us of how challenging but rewarding it can be.

Control your mind, don’t be afraid of making decisions, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Confucius, Ready Player One, CODA, Improvment Pill, and a Japanese Proverb

Confucius, Ready Player One, CODA, Improvment Pill, and a Japanese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 22, 2023

Sunday Supplement #128 (October 22nd, 2023)

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.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“It doesn’t matter how slowly you go as long as you don’t stop.”

– Confucius

Book of the Week:

Ready Player One – Ernest Cline

Ernest Cline’s Ready Player One is a Science Fiction novel set in 2044, where people feel most alive when engaging in the virtual world of OASIS.

OASIS is a virtual reality simulator that functions as an MMORPG and a virtual world. Most people spend their time in OASIS rather than in the real world.

Wade Watts is a teenager who loves the OASIS world and devotes his time to studying the founder James Halliday’s life and interests in the hopes of completing the massive easter egg hunt in the virtual world, leaving the winner with a massive fortune and control over OASIS.

Stephen Spielberg directed the 2018 film adaptation of the novel. I think the movie did an excellent job adapting the story, but the book is worth checking out.

Ready Player One is a solid read with a lot of 80s nostalgia that culminates in a fun adventure in an interesting world with a good message at its heart.

Movie of the Week:

CODA

Set in Gloucester, Massachusetts, high-school student Ruby is torn between helping her parents’ struggling fishing business and her pursuit of Berklee College of Music.

As a CODA (Child of Dead Adults), Ruby feels the weight of responsibility for helping her parents communicate with the community.

There were many excellent movies that came out in 2021/22, and CODA came out on top for Best Picture at the Academy Awards that year.

CODA also won in the categories of Best Adapted Screenplay (Sian Heder) and Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role (Troy Kotsur).

While I wouldn’t have picked CODA as the Best Picture winner for the year, there is a lot to appreciate in this heartfelt and uplifting story.

Brainfood of the Week:

How to Increase Your Self-Confidence – The “Yes And…” Rule | Improvement Pill

The video starts with emphasizing an exercise you can do each week that drastically increases confidence, creativity, social skills, etc.

When the revelation was improv classes, I was a little hesitant about where the video was going. However, the video went on to highlight why the practice is so helpful.

The tips Improvement Pill goes over are valuable for social interactions and building self-confidence.

Awareness of these tools is something worth watching the video for, even if you decide you don’t want to sign up for improv classes.

I’ve featured Improvement Pill in a few previous Sunday Supplements. Their channel has over three million subscribers and focuses on teaching practices that can help change your life.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Believe in people, but believe in yourself a hundred times more.” (人を信じよ、しかし、その百倍も自らを信じよ)

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb is an excellent reminder of how much power we have over our own lives.

Self-belief is one of the most important things we can have for ourselves. It changes many things about ourselves, including how we interact with others.

I think other people can be a blessing and a great source of support. However, we should always remember our own abilities to pick ourselves up and move forward.

With self-belief, you can move in the direction you want without letting discouragement from others weigh you down. Their belief is extra wind in your sails.

Believe in yourself, keep moving forward, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Octavia Butler, The Power of Habit, Remember the Titans, James Clear, and a Bible Passage

Octavia Butler, The Power of Habit, Remember the Titans, James Clear, and a Bible Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 15, 2023

Sunday Supplement #127 (October 15th, 2023)

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.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“First, forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not.”

– Octavia Butler

Book of the Week:

The Power of Habit – Charles Duhigg

Charles Duhigg is a journalist and nonfiction author. He reported for The New York Times and received the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting in 2013.

Part of Duhigg’s reporting that won him the Pulitzer Prize contributed to the basis for the book The Power of Habit.

Duhugg reported on how Target figured out a teenager was pregnant before her parents knew and how they advertised products to entice her patronage.

In the book, Duhigg goes over many case studies that exhibit how habits play a role in our personal lives, work lives, and the institutions around us.

I picked up a few extremely valuable insights from this book and highly recommend it to anyone looking to understand habits better.

Movie of the Week:

Remember the Titans

Remember the Titans is based on the true story of a football coach, Herman Boone, and his first year at the newly integrated T.C. Williams High School.

Denzel Washington stars as coach Boone and shares the screen with a brilliant supporting cast that includes Will Patton, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst, and a young Hayden Panettiere.

Boaz Yakin directs the well-crafted screenplay written by Gregory Allen Howard. The film is excellently executed to let the actors and the story take center stage.

The film explores themes of racism, stereotypes, and discrimination in 1971 in Alexandria, Virginia.

Remember the Titans tells a powerful story from American history and has been on many top sports film lists over the years.

Brainfood of the Week:

How to Get 1% Better Every Day – James Clear | APB Speakers

APB Speakers has been around for over 50 years as a global speaker and entertainment agency. The APB hosts unedited content from leaders, innovators, and celebrities.

In this video, bestselling author and speaker James Clear explains how small habits and little decisions transform us daily.

Clear breaks down four stages of habit formation: noticing, wanting, doing, and liking. He explains how every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.

The video is only eight minutes long, and I can’t recommend watching it enough for those looking to start a new journey or end an old habit.

I’ve featured James Clear in Sunday Supplement #8 and Sunday Supplement #72. Check those posts out if you want to learn more about Clear’s work.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.”

– Proverbs 13:4

This Bible passage is a good reminder to be aware of our actions and to be intentional with our time.

I think when we let our focus slip, we can find ourselves overindulging in activities that we wouldn’t ordinarily want to stew in.

Diligence allows for awareness and reflection of our actions. When we are intentional about what we do, we define parameters that are easier to navigate.

For me, this passage shows how laziness can often result in excess of what we don’t want, and diligence can result in specific results.

Reflect on the habits you want to build or eliminate, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Willie Stargell, The Great Santini, Holes, Simon Sinek, and Riyad as-Salihin 322

Willie Stargell, The Great Santini, Holes, Simon Sinek, and Riyad as-Salihin 322

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 8, 2023

Sunday Supplement #126 (October 8th, 2023)

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.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“There’s nothing a value more than the closeness of friends and family, a smile as I pass someone on the street.”

– Willie Stargell

Book of the Week:

The Great Santini – Pat Conroy

Pat Conroy’s The Great Santini is a coming-of-age novel that follows Ben Meecham’s life in a fictional military town in South Carolina under the strict rule of his father, Wilbur Meecham.

Wilbur “Bull” Meecham calls himself the Great Santini, and Conroy describes the man as a warrior without a war.

The Meecham family struggles as newcomers to fit into the small South Carolina town, and the novel explores this dynamic through Ben’s time in high school.

The Great Santini was adapted into an Oscar-nominated film starring Robert Duvall, Blythe Danner, and Michael O’Keefe.

Conroy is a brilliant author. I’ve featured two other Pat Conroy books; this is the third novel I believe is of the highest quality of storytelling.

Movie of the Week:

Holes

New York Times bestseller, National Book Award Winner, and Newbery Medal-winning novel Holes by Louis Sachar was adapted into the 2003 film five years after publication.

The story follows Stanley Yelnats, a thirteen-year-old boy with a curse on his family, as he is wrongfully convicted and sent to a detention camp where the boys are mysteriously tasked to dig holes in the desert to build character.

A movie adaptation of a novel can always be hit or miss, but Sachar wrote the screenplay, and Andrew Davis brought the story to the screen with an all-star cast of legends and newcomers.

Sigourney Weaver, Jon Voigt, and Shia LaBeouf stand out in the excellent adaptation, and you’re likely to recognize some quality cameos as well.

Holes is a fun movie that has an engaging and entertaining story with a deeper core of themes around consequences, destiny, and friendship. Check it out if you haven’t seen it!

Brainfood of the Week:

The Importance of Human Connection | Simon Sinek

I recently featured a Simon Sinek video, and even though I liked to vary up the content, this video was perfect for the week’s theme.

Sinek is a bestselling author and speaker. He spoke at the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit in 2016 and has an imprint at Penguin Random House, Optimism Press.

In this video, Sinek discusses the shift of functioning virtually and how virtual communication doesn’t fulfill everything an in-person human connection does.

One aspect in particular Sinek highlights is trust. He talks about how building trust happens in little moments of connecting with someone in person.

The short video mainly focuses on the benefits of working in-person versus virtually, but there are good reminders of how we need human connection in our lives regardless.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“The person who perfectly maintains the ties of kinship is not the one who does it because he gets recompensed by his relatives (for being kind and good to them), but the one who truly maintains the bonds of kingship is the one who persists in doing so even though the latter has severed the ties of kinship with him.”

– Riyad as-Salihin 322

Riyad as-Salihin is a selection of Hadith (a record of the words, actions, and the silent approval of the prophet Muhammad as transmitted through chains of narrators), in this case, by Imam Yahya bin Sharaf an-Nawawi.

This passage reminds me of how important it is to check in on those we consider family, even when it’s been a while since you’ve spoken.

I think it’s easy to let time pass by and believe that you’ve fallen out of touch with someone who was once close to you.

However, in those moments when a person randomly pops into your head, I think it’s a chance to reach out to let them know you were thinking about them. You never know if a kind word is exactly what that person needs at that moment.

Cherish the connections to others in your life, reach out to a friend or family member, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Victor Hugo, Stardust, Warm Bodies, Brad Troeger, and an Ethiopian Proverb

Victor Hugo, Stardust, Warm Bodies, Brad Troeger, and an Ethiopian Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 1, 2023

Sunday Supplement #125 (October 1st, 2023)

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.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Life is the flower for which love is the honey.”

– Victor Hugo

Book of the Week:

Stardust – Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman’s third novel follows young Tristran Thorn, who will do anything to win the love of cold and beautiful Victoria.

Thorn even promises to fetch her the star they watch fall from the night sky. However, to do so, he must go across the unexplored lands beyond the wall that is their village’s namesake.

Tristran finds the realm of Faerie beyond the wall, where nothing, not even a fallen star, is what he imagined.

I featured Stardust, the movie, in Sunday Supplement #31, but the book is well worth checking out for those who enjoyed the movie or love the fantasy genre.

Gaiman is a master storyteller, and even though he is early in his novel career, this Locus Award-nominated novel showcases some of the best of his imagination.

Movie of the Week:

Warm Bodies

Jonathan Levine’s Warm Bodies is an adaptation of the Isaac Marion novel about a highly unusual zombie who saves a still-living girl from a zombie attack.

The unusual zombie, R, played by Nicholas Hoult, forms a relationship with Julie, the still-living girl played by Teresa Palmer, which sets in motion events that transform the lifeless world.

Warm Bodies had a budget of $35 million and made around $117 million at the box office. The movie seemed like it came and went, though, because not many people have seen it.

The film is a hilarious but heartwarming story that is able to craft a thought-provoking world and explore what it means to be human.

Levine is probably most known for his film 50/50, but I highly recommend Warm Bodies as I have it high up on my feel-good movie list.

Brainfood of the Week:

What is Love? – Brad Troeger | TED-Ed

The animated TED-Ed video starts by emphasizing how there is no shortage of answers for what love means.

One of the challenges to defining love is comparing it to something else or getting a biased/skewed answer.

The video explains how our environments, experiences, and expectations can influence our experiences of love.

While the video shows how there can be many different interpretations, it emphasizes the necessity for communication and openness for it to grow.

This short video from Troeger is worth checking out for a thought-provoking look at how nuanced love can be.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“When one is in love, a cliff becomes a meadow.”

– Ethiopian Proverb

When I came across this Ethiopian Proverb, I was struck by the dual nature of the interpretation.

You can view the proverb as meaning love makes difficult things easier to navigate or be reminded that love can obscure reality.

I think both are helpful interpretations. We must remember to view things from a clear perspective, but we can also take strength in action from love.

Ideally, we can see things clearly and act from a place of love.

Find the strength in love, see things clearly, and have a blessed week ahead!

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