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Paulo Coelho, The Hero’s Journey, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Calm, and a Bhagavad Gita Passage

Paulo Coelho, The Hero’s Journey, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Calm, and a Bhagavad Gita Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 13, 2024

Sunday Supplement #179 (October 13th, 2024)

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:

“When you say ‘yes’ to others make sure you are not saying ‘no’ to yourself.”

– Paulo Coelho

Book of the Week:

The Hero’s Journey – Joseph Campbell

Joseph Campbell was a writer and professor of literature at Sarah Lawrence College. His work in mythology and religion is famous.

You may have heard of the phrase “the hero’s journey” before. Campbell believed it to be a monomyth of the archetypal hero shared through various mythologies.

I featured Campbell’s books about the field in previous Sunday Supplements. This book is an autobiography/biography of Campbell’s own life fit into the frame of the hero’s journey.

The book dives into Campbell’s life, his discoveries, conversations with poets, anthropologists, and philosophers, and the role of myth in our lives.

Movie of the Week:

Forgetting Sarah Marshall

Jason Segel wrote and starred in the 2008 comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Segel plays Peter, who, after getting dumped, takes a Hawaiian vacation getaway only to find that his ex Sarah is at the same resort with her new boyfriend.

The film is brilliantly written with a great supporting cast, including Kristen Bell, Mila Kunis, Bill Hader, Russell Brand, and Paul Rudd.

I was surprised at how much depth the film has for such a raunchy comedy. It earns its R rating but packs more heart and intelligence than cheap laughs.

You should check out the reasons for the rating before watching it, but it is one of my top-shelf recommended Comedies.

Brainfood of the Week:

Daily Calm Live Stream: Disconnect to Connect | Calm

Over the years, I have fallen into and out of a meditation routine. Whenever I’m not practicing meditation regularly, I look back and wish I’d make time for it.

Calm is the number one app for meditation and sleep. The app has many facets, but this post focuses on its daily ten-minute guided meditation.

Their app has some free features, and their YouTube channel posts regular meditation-videos, tips, and other guides to leading a calm life.

I featured a Calm guided meditation in Sunday Supplement #31. I highly recommend looking into a mediation practice and finding one that works for you.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“With thorough discipline, they learn to withdraw the mind from selfish cravings and rivet it on the unsurpassable good of the self. Such persons are said to be in Yog and are free from all yearning of the senses.”

– Bhagavad Gita 6:18

I’ve featured Chapter 6 of the Bhagavad Gita in a few previous Sunday Supplements. The chapter speaks on conquering the mind through meditation.

This verse focuses on the absence of selfish cravings and the yearning of the senses, leading to the unsurpassable good of the self.

I’ve found mediation to be a powerful tool and experience. I think we have so many demands on our senses and our minds each day that it is vital to find a healthy method of disconnecting.


Make self-care a part of your routine, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Bob Marley, Tesla: A Man Out of Time, To Kill a Mockingbird, Einzelgänger, and a Bible Passage

Bob Marley, Tesla: A Man Out of Time, To Kill a Mockingbird, Einzelgänger, and a Bible Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 6, 2024

Sunday Supplement #178 (October 6th, 2024)

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:

“The greatness of man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.”

– Bob Marley

Book of the Week:

Tesla: A Man Out of Time – Margaret Cheney

I picked up Tesla: A Man Out of Time because I was curious to learn more about a man entrenched in history but whom I knew little about.

Cheney’s biography of Nikola Tesla is an engaging read that covers Tesla’s childhood in Yugoslavia to his death in New York in the 1940s.

There are entertaining anecdotes, including some of Tesla’s friendship with Mark Twain and interesting insights into his inventions, which others commercialized.

After reading the biography, I found that it wasn’t as in-depth as it could have been and wasn’t as objective as it should have been.

I think it’s worth reading if you are interested in whetting your appetite for a deeper excursion into the history of a brilliant scientist and inventor.

Movie of the Week:

To Kill a Mockingbird

The 1963 film To Kill a Mockingbird, based on Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, remains a classic, as does its source material.

The story is set in a small town in 1930s Depression-era Alabama. It follows the childhood of Scout and the events around the trial of a Black man for an underserved rape charge.

Atticus Finch, Scout’s father, a widowed lawyer, defends the man on trial and tries to educate his children against prejudice.

To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic in film and literature. The film won three Academy Awards, including Best Actor in a Leading Role for a brilliant performance by Gregory Peck.

Brainfood of the Week:

3 Stoic Ways To Be Happy | Einzelgänger

Einzelgänger’s YouTube channel features videos that explore different people and ideas of history with the aim of inspiring, resonating, and entertaining.

The video starts with the observation that many people are concerned with achieving a happy life. Einzelgänger highlights how the Stoics figured out how to suffer less and enjoy more with a system of exercises, wisdom, and ethics. 

The first point Einzelgänger covers is about altering your judgments to be aware of what lies within your control and what lies outside of it. Check out the video to see the other two points.

I’ve featured several Einzelgänger videos in previous Sunday Supplements. If you enjoyed this video, check out the other posts or his YouTube channel.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.”

– Proverbs 21:3

I think it can be an easy trap to create narratives around your actions or the actions of others to support your opinion of yourself or others.

This Bible passage reminds me not to get wrapped up in excuses for poor behavior. We can stumble and make mistakes, but we should be honest with ourselves.

The part of the verse about sacrifice reminds me of how we can take on burdens or cope with a wrong situation rather than speak up for what is right.


Reflect on the integrity of your actions, move forward, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Drew Houston, Congo, The Peanut Butter Falcon, Tony Robbins, and a Chinese Proverb

Drew Houston, Congo, The Peanut Butter Falcon, Tony Robbins, and a Chinese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on September 29, 2024

Sunday Supplement #177 (September 29th, 2024)

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:

“Instead of trying to make your life perfect, give yourself the freedom to make it an adventure, and go ever upward.”

– Drew Houston

Book of the Week:

Congo – Michael Crichton

An expedition into the African rainforest near the Lost City of Zinj results in the mysterious and brutal killing of a team of American geologists.

In San Francisco, a primatologist works with Amy, a gorilla with a vocabulary of 620 signs. When Amy’s paintings resemble a Portuguese print from 1692, the Congo Project supervisor notices and prompts another expedition to the Lost City of Zinj.

Michael Crichton was a prolific writer. He wrote 28 novels, selling over 200 million copies, and wrote and directed a few films. He also created the celebrated show ER.

I’ve found most of Crichton’s work to be the epitome of embarking on a literary adventure. His bibliography is well worth exploring. I’ve featured Crichton’s work in one other Sunday Supplement, #134.

Movie of the Week:

The Peanut Butter Falcon

Tyler Nilson and Michael Schwartz’s written and directed feature debut follows Zak, a man with Down syndrome, who runs away from a residential nursing home to pursue his dream of becoming a wrestler.

Zak later meets up with an outlaw, who becomes his friend and coach. The two continue on their journey while attempting to avoid the people pursuing them.

The film has brilliant performances, including those from Zack Gottsagen, Shia LaBeouf, Dakota Johnson, Bruce Dern, Thomas Haden Church, Jon Bernthal, and John Hawkes.

I’m surprised The Peanut Butter Falcon wasn’t recognized by more major festivals, but it is definitely a film worth watching.

Brainfood of the Week:

Tony Robbins | The Tim Ferriss Show

This interview from Tim Terriss’ podcast is almost nine years old, but it still packs incredible wisdom from world-famous performance coach Tony Robbins.

Tony Robbins is a #1 New York Times best-selling author, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and leading life and business strategist. I have featured him and his books in a few previous Sunday Supplements.

In this episode of The Tim Ferriss Show, Tony discusses his morning routine, diet, how he works with high-performing athletes and traders, common misconceptions about him, and much more.

This is part one of the interview. Here is the link to part 2. If you enjoy the content, check out Robbins’s work and more episodes of The Tim Ferriss Show.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“One learns more from traveling ten thousand miles than from reading ten thousand scrolls.”

– Chinese Proverb

This Chinese proverb is an excellent reminder to continue adventuring in life and not to succumb to inaction over action.

I find over-preparation an easy trap to fall into, as opposed to trusting your ability to land on your feet after taking a leap.

In modern society, so many different mediums vie for our attention and time that we can slip into vicarious living through media or reading.

Studying and preparation have their time and place, but learning from action over inaction should always weigh heavier on the scales of life.

Continue to adventure in your life, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Sylvia Plath, The Creative Act, Pan’s Labyrinth, Ethan Hawke, and an African Proverb

Sylvia Plath, The Creative Act, Pan’s Labyrinth, Ethan Hawke, and an African Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on September 22, 2024

Sunday Supplement #176 (September 22nd, 2024)

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:

“The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”

– Sylvia Plath

Book of the Week:

The Creative Act: A Way of Being – Rick Rubin

Rick Rubin is a record executive and producer, co-founder of Def Jam Recordings, founder of American Recordings, and former co-president of Columbia Records.

Rubin has worked with various prestigious artists, from Jay-Z and Red Hot Chili Peppers to Aerosmith and Johnny Cash. His production discography is iconic.

The Creative Act is Rubin’s book about tapping into the creative spirit that flows in us and connecting to the world around us.

Rubin shares his insights about creativity from his personal experience and the tools and methods he’s learned. 

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a guidebook on a more profound and more playful experience of life.

Movie of the Week:

Pan’s Labyrinth

When I write these posts, I’m sometimes surprised that I haven’t already recommended my chosen film for the week.

Pan’s Labyrinth is a phenomenal story brought beautifully to life by the Academy Award-winning director/writer Guillermo del Toro.

The film is set in the Falangist Spain in 1944. It follows the young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer who escapes into an eerie fantasy world.

The cinematography is excellent, and the acting from Ivana Baquero, Sergi López, Maribel Verdú, Álex Angulo, and Doug Jones is captivating.

I can’t recommend Pan’s Labyrinth highly enough. It can be a somewhat intense movie, but it is a brilliant story.

Brainfood of the Week:

Give Yourself Permission to Be Creative | Ethan Hawke | TED

Four-time Academy Award-nominated actor, author, and director Ethan Hawke sits down and discusses creativity for the TED channel.

Hawke starts the video by saying that many people struggle to give themselves permission to be creative.

He states that most people want to offer something of quality that is considered good, but that aim is the enemy of creativity. It is not up to us whether what we do is any good. 

Hawke shares his views on creativity, shares experiences in his life, and finishes with the credo that you have to be willing to play the fool.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“It is crooked wood that shows the best sculptor.”

– African Proverb

When I read this proverb, I’m reminded of how perfect final products can look and how often we don’t see their origins.

In creativity, I believe that everyone has their unique story to contribute. Sometimes, that story speaks to a universal experience.

The road to creating something beautiful, personal or universal, isn’t always straight. 

Get in touch with your creative side however that looks for you, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Jen Sincero, Peter and the Starcatchers, Blow, Deepak Chopra, and a Japanese Proverb

Jen Sincero, Peter and the Starcatchers, Blow, Deepak Chopra, and a Japanese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on September 15, 2024

Sunday Supplement #175 (September 15th, 2024)

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:

“Basically, I chose not to identify with being broke any longer. I realized I deserve a beautiful life, and abundance was something that I needed to welcome into my life.”

– Jen Sincero

Book of the Week:

Peter and the Starcatchers – Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson

Authors Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson collaborated to write a reinterpretation of the classic tale of J.M. Barrie’s famous character, Peter Pan.

The first novel in the series follows an orphan boy named Peter as he’s shipped out with his friends on the boat Never Land. Peter discovers a mysterious trunk on the ship and its guardian, a girl named Molly.

Peter, his friends, and Molly must overcome bands of pirates and thieves to keep the trunk’s contents safe.

Barry and Pearson beautifully craft a familiar world in a unique way. The novel is an homage to Barrie’s original works, and the series is a wonderful adventure.

Movie of the Week:

Blow

Ted Demme’s 2001 film Blow, based on Bruce Porter’s book and adapted by David McKenna and Nick Cassavetes, tells the story of George Jung.

The movie recounts Jung’s life from Boston to California as Jung, played by Johnny Depp, finds himself a central figure in establishing the American cocaine market in the 1970s.

In addition to Depp’s brilliant lead performance, the film has an excellent supporting cast, including Penélope Cruz, Ray Liotta, Cliff Curtis, and Miguel Sandoval.

Blow didn’t sweep the Academy Awards or the Golden Globes, but it is a well-done film worth checking out for a glimpse of history and its message on chasing abundance.

Brainfood of the Week:

Two Practical Ways to Create Abundance | Deepak Chopra

In this video, Deepak Chopra discusses how money contributes only a small percentage to daily happiness, but it is the number one cause of stress. 

Ironically, obtaining money doesn’t necessarily increase your happiness unless used in a fulfilling manner. Chopra explains how you can cultivate abundance and use money in meaningful ways.

Deepak Chopra founded The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit for research on well-being and humanitarianism. He has written numerous New York Times bestsellers and was described by Time Magazine as one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.

I’ve featured Deepak Chopra in a few previous Sunday Supplements. If you enjoyed this video, check them out.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Laughter and smiles will bring happiness and fortune.” (笑う門には福来たる)

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb is a good reminder for me to welcome as much laughter and as many smiles into my life as possible.

I try to catch myself whenever a negative stream of thoughts passes through my mind. I am wary of that becoming a default mindset.

This proverb suggests that happiness and fortune follow those whose lives include laughter and smiles. In many ways, happiness and fortune are laughter and smiles.


Welcome an abundance of positivity into your life, and have a blessed week ahead!

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