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Drew Alexander Ross Posts

Marcus Aurelius, Invitation to a Beheading, The Seventh Seal, The School of Life, and an Italian Proverb

Marcus Aurelius, Invitation to a Beheading, The Seventh Seal, The School of Life, and an Italian Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on August 4, 2024

Sunday Supplement #169 (August 4th, 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:

“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”

– Marcus Aurelius

Book of the Week:

Invitation to a Beheading – Vladimir Nabokov

Vladimir Nabokov was a Russian novelist whose books are constantly listed among the most important novels of the 20th century.

Invitation to a Beheading isn’t Nabokov’s most famous work, but the author regarded it with high esteem.

The novel follows Cincinnatus C., a thirty-year-old teacher sentenced to death by beheading for “gnostical turpitude” in an undisclosed amount of time.

Invitation to a Beheading teeters between illusion and reality, as does its main character, Cincinattus.

Nabokov’s prose is some of the best writing I’ve ever read. It’s a complex novel to describe but one worth reading.

Movie of the Week:

The Seventh Seal

Ingmar Bergman, writer and director of The Seventh Seal, is considered one of the greatest filmmakers ever. He was nominated for nine Academy Awards in his lifetime.

The Seventh Seal is one of my favorite Bergman films. It tells the story of a knight, Antonius Block, returning to Sweden after the Crusade to find the land ravaged by the Black Plague.

Antonius Block, played by Max von Sydow, encounters Death and challenges him to a game of chess, believing he can survive as long as the game continues.

The knight seeks answers about life, death, and the existence of God as he and his squire encounter various survivors of the plague.

Older films that stand the test of time often represent the best of Cinema, in my opinion. If you have explored the classics in film, I highly recommend dipping your toes in the waters.

Brainfood of the Week:

Reasons to Remember Death | The School of Life

This The School of Life video discusses death and how useful it might be to dwell on the prospect more than we’re inclined to.

The short video makes the point of how we can be scared to fail or scared to be rejected and, in doing so, delay or avoid the lives we could be living.

In the video, The School of Life argues it could be beneficial to have a greater fear of death than our other fears so we can allow ourselves to live freely.

I’ve featured many The School of Life videos in previous Sunday Supplements. Their channel has over 9 million followers, and they make content from psychologists, philosophers, and writers devoted to helping people lead calmer and more resilient lives.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“After the game, the King and the Pawn go into the same box.”

– Italian Proverb

Whenever I come across proverbs or spiritual passages, I like to take a deeper look at them to see if I can gather deeper meaning.

This Italian proverb points to death and its universal experience. However, I tried to look at what the proverb could mean regarding Pawns and Kings from the game of chess other than the obvious.

One interpretation could be that it doesn’t matter what you do at the end of the day. The other could be that you end up dead regardless, so why die as a Pawn?

For me, I like the idea that you might not get to decide whether you’re a King or a Pawn, but you do get to choose how you move your piece on the board before you go in the box.


Embrace the fact you will die at some point, live the best you can, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1Q84, Benny & Joon, Sadhguru, and a Japanese Proverb

Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1Q84, Benny & Joon, Sadhguru, and a Japanese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on July 28, 2024

Sunday Supplement #168 (July 28th, 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:

“Always do what you’re afraid to do.”

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

Book of the Week:

1Q84 – Haruki Murakami

Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84 is one of his most critically divisive novels. It is over 1000 pages, depending on the edition you pick up, so I recommend it with a grain of salt.

The novel has a dual narrative between childhood friends Aomame and Tengo. Aomame begins to notice strange changes in her world (a fictional 1984 Japan) and embarks on a journey to discover what is real.

Tengo is a math tutor tasked with re-writing a novel by a girl he finds to be an account of her life in a cult. When he follows this thread, his world collides with Aomame again.

For me, reading Murakami’s prose is an experience akin to experiencing a dream. IQ84 isn’t one of my favorite Murakami novels, but it delivers on its epic scale and is worth the look for those interested.

I’ve featured Haruki Murakami’s books in three previous Sunday Supplements, and I highly recommend checking out his work.

Movie of the Week:

Benny & Joon

I watched Benny & Joon a little while ago and was delighted at the film’s scale and its delivery of a heartfelt story. There don’t seem to be as many smaller movies like these lately.

The story follows a mechanic, Benny, who takes care of his sister, Joon. He struggles with her doctor’s opinion that Joon should live in an assisted living facility.

When Benny loses a bet to his friend, he takes on another roommate in the form of Sam, an eccentric man who models himself after Buster Keaton.

Benny finds the living situation surprisingly effective when Sam and Joon form a bond, but he still struggles with living his own life in fear of Joon’s safety.

The Jeremiah S. Chechik directed, Barry Berman and Lesley McNeil written film has a standout cast that includes Aidan Quinn, Mary Stuart Masterson, Johnny Depp, and Julianne Moore.

Brainfood of the Week:

Troubled By Fear? Just Change Your Channel! – Sadhguru

I’ve featured Sadhguru in a handful of previous Sunday Supplements. He is an Indian yogi and bestselling author. His YouTube page has over 11 million followers.

In this video, Sadhguru responds to a question about how to overcome fear. He then discusses how fear can be excessive imagination about things that are not happening.

We can project imaginary scenarios that cause fear instead of overcoming what exists in the present.

Sadhguru advises working on gardening your thought patterns to produce different scenarios in your mind.

I think the video is an interesting reminder to control our thoughts instead of letting narratives run wild in our minds without our choosing.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“If you feel like you’re losing everything, remember, trees lose their leaves every year, yet they still stand tall and wait for better days to come.”

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb reminds me not to let fears spiral out of control. I think when things don’t go as you hoped or planned, it’s easy to feel lost or worthless.

Whenever you get stuck in a bad situation, good times can feel so far away, and it might feel like you’ll never find your way back.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in negative thoughts, but it’s worth remembering that time will pass and things will change.

I think this proverb is a perfect example of the passage of time and how even when things seem bleak, there will be better times ahead. We shouldn’t dwell on what we cannot control.


Don’t let fear run amok, take action, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Gilbert K. Chesterton, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, In Bruges, Island Hopper TV, and an Irish Proverb

Gilbert K. Chesterton, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, In Bruges, Island Hopper TV, and an Irish Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on July 21, 2024

Sunday Supplement #167 (July 21st, 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 traveler sees what he sees; the tourist sees what he has come to see.”

– Gilbert K. Chesterton

Book of the Week:

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold – John Le Carré

David John Moore Cornwell, better known by his pen name John Le Carré, worked for the United Kingdom’s MI5 and MI6 in the 1950s and 19060s.

Le Carré’s novel career began in the 1960s, and he reached international acclaim with his third novel, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.

The novel covers shadowy dealings of international espionage through the story of a British agent who wants to retire but undertakes one final assignment, playing the part of a dishonored spy to lure the East German Intelligence to an ultimate defeat.

I’ve featured another spy novel, Ian Fleming’s Moonraker, in Sunday Supplement #60. While I enjoy the Bond novels, Le Carré’s writing has a more realistic take on the spy genre.

However, I’d recommend both novels for those interested in testing the waters of two classic novelists. The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is one of my favorites of Le Carré.

Movie of the Week:

In Bruges

Playwright and filmmaker Martin McDonagh has received six Academy Award nominations for three feature films and won an Oscar for his short film Six Shooter in 2006.

McDonagh’s first feature film, In Bruges (2009), is about a hitman and his partner hiding out in Bruges, Belgium, after a botched job.

Colin Farrell and Brendon Gleeson star in the offbeat dark comedy. Ralph Fiennes, Jordan Prentice, and Clémence Poésy have great supporting roles.

The film is engaging and quirky, but it also has an interesting depth when the two main characters explore the medieval city and engage in odd philosophical discussions.

In Bruges might not be for everyone, but I’ve found it a movie I’ve enjoyed over the years and recommend at least checking it out.

Brainfood of the Week:

Best Budget Travel Destinations in the World 2024 | Island Hopper TV

Island Hopper TV is a travel channel dedicated to providing relevant travel information and adventures worldwide. Their mission is to bring you closer to the people, cultures, and nature that make each destination unique.

This video from their channel discusses 17 different countries you can travel to, with breakdowns of the US dollar to local currency and expected conversions for food/accommodations.

I think some of the biggest barriers to travel are fearing you won’t have the means, you will run into trouble, or you won’t be able to navigate a foreign country.

This channel does a great job of providing information that helps on all fronts. And a lesson I learned from my brother is to set travel plans as far in advance as possible to ensure cheaper travel/accommodations. 

Take a look at Island Hopper TV and see if you find a video that inspires you to travel!

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Your feet will bring you to where your heart is.”

– Irish Proverb

I haven’t featured an Irish Proverb before in a Sunday Supplement, but this one stuck out to me, and I thought it was worth sharing.

The sentiment of the proverb can be positive or negative, depending on how you view it. I think it is a reminder to understand your heart and be aware of your emotions.

If you lose control of yourself, you may find your path dictated by outside influences. Awareness, reflection, and understanding will help you navigate your adventure.

Travel with an observing and full heart, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Sigmund Freud, Sleep No More, Ordinary People, Psych2Go, and a Quran Passage

Sigmund Freud, Sleep No More, Ordinary People, Psych2Go, and a Quran Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on July 14, 2024

Sunday Supplement #166 (July 14th, 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:

“Unexpressed emotions will never die. They are buried alive and will come forth later in uglier ways.”

– Sigmund Freud

Book of the Week:

Sleep No More – Greg Iles

New York Times bestselling author Greg Iles’s Sleep Nor More follows John Waters, a successful businessman and happy family man whose life is upended by one word, “soon.”

Waters faces a memory from his past, an obsession he thought he had escaped, in the form of a stranger who whispers the word and an old lover used to share.

Stephen King’s review, which he doesn’t often do, says the novel should come with a red wrapper marked DANGER: HIGH EXPLOSIVES.

I remember reading this book many years ago; the gripping experience has always stayed with me. If you’re looking for a spooky summer read, this is it.

Movie of the Week:

Ordinary People

As I’ve stated in previous Sunday Supplements, I think it is quite a feat for films to stand the test of time. Some movies don’t even fare well after a re-watch a couple of years later.

The 1981 Academy Award Best Picture winner Ordinary People tells a powerful story that will likely continue to stand tall in Cinema history. 

The film follows the grieving of an affluent family. Each member handles the death differently, and the story follows the consequences of each member’s path.

Timothy Hutton stars as the son Conrad, Donald Sutherland stars as the father Calvin, Mary Tyler Moore stars as the mother Beth, and Judd Hirsch stands out in his supporting role of Conrad’s therapist.

In addition to the Best Picture win, Ordinary People won the Oscar for Best Director (Robert Redford), Best Writing (Alvin Sargent), and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Hutton). Mary Tyler Moore and Judd Hirsch received nominations.

Brainfood of the Week:

4 Signs You Are Still Grieving | Pysch2Go

Psych2Go’s mission is to make psychology and mental health more accessible to everyone. I’ve featured their videos in a few previous Sunday Supplements.

This video starts by discussing how we may think we’ve moved on from something or someone, but we may still be experiencing unresolved grief.

The video then gets into the four signs of unresolved grief and how you can be aware of them. At the end of the video, Pysch2Go highlights a service of affordable online counseling platform.

I’ve featured another Psych2Go video on grieving in Sunday Supplement #104. Check it out if you found this one useful.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure.”

– Surah Al-Baqara 155

I found this passage from the Quran an interesting look at the tests God or the world can give us and the grieving process.

When I looked at the definition of endure, I found it meant patiently suffering. From the above passage, I take away the good news of allowing a loss or hardship to process while we move forward instead of trying to rush things.

I think the messages of powering through and ignoring emotions are familiar narratives. However, by burying emotions, we can lose the opportunity to learn and to heal. 

This Quran passage reminds me that it’s okay not always to feel in control or to suffer, but when we patiently endure, good news will eventually come.

Make sure to acknowledge your emotions, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Dalai Lama, Napoleon Hill’s Keys to Positive Thinking, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Tony Robbins, and a Bible Passage

Dalai Lama, Napoleon Hill’s Keys to Positive Thinking, Searching for Bobby Fischer, Tony Robbins, and a Bible Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on July 7, 2024

Sunday Supplement #165 (July 7th, 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:

“In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision.”

– Dalai Lama

Book of the Week:

Napoleon Hill’s Keys to Positive Thinking – Michael J. Ritt Jr.

I featured Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich in Sunday Supplement #85. The title might throw some people off, but I found some of its advice invaluable.

Napoleon Hill’s journey involved discovering the commonalities between the most successful people in various fields and compiling them to present to the public.

Napoleon Hill’s Keys to Positive Thinking is a compilation of some of the best principles from Hill’s best works.

Michael J. Ritt Jr. worked for Napoleon Hill, and his compilation was released as an official publication of the Napoleon Hill Foundation.

It is a short read, and at least one worthwhile tip is waiting for you to pick up in this book. I found the book an enjoyable read and one I’ll revisit in the future.

Movie of the Week:

Searching for Bobby Fischer

The 1993 film Searching for Bobby Fischer, written and directed by Steve Zaillian, was based on the story of child chess prodigy Josh Waitzkin.

The book on which the film was based was written by Josh’s dad, Fred Waitzkin. It follows Josh’s journey in the competitive chess world as he’s encouraged to harden himself to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer.

The film features brilliant performances from Max Pomeranc as Josh, Joe Mantegna as Fred, Joan Allen as Josh’s Mom, Joan, Ben Kingsley as Josh’s coach Bruce, and Lawrence Fishburne as Josh’s coach Vinnie.

Searching for Bobby Fischer was nominated for one Oscar (Best Cinematography), but I think it deserved many more.

The film is an excellent exploration of childhood, parenting, teaching, and the pursuit of success. Even if you don’t like or know much about chess, add this movie to your watchlist.

Brainfood of the Week:

These 3 Questions Will Change How You Do EVERYTHING! | Tony Robbins

Tony Robbins is a #1 New York Times best-selling author, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and leading life and business strategist.

This video is a clip from one of Robbins’s seminars. In the video, Robbins discusses three questions and how they affect our lives.

The three questions are: What are you going to focus on? What does this mean? What am I going to do?

Robbins breaks down how we shape our experience of life based on our answers to these questions (consciously or subconsciously).

I’ve featured three Tony Robbins books in previous Sunday Supplements. Check out this short video and see if you’re interested in checking out more of Tony Robbins’s work.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

– Matthew 5:8

The Ten Commandments from the Bible are often highlighted, but I find the Beatitudes a more interesting guide to living a good life. Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount is a powerful message, and I highly encourage you to read it at some point.

Matthew 5:8 is a verse from this passage, and I find you can take a lot from just this verse. I’ll start with the latter, “for they will see God.” I’m reminded of the verse John 4:8, “But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

As for the beginning of the above verse, “Blessed are the pure in heart,” I think of the Bible’s description of purity relating to guiltless, blameless, or innocent behavior.

For me, Matthew 5:8 reminds us to be honest, uplifting, and loving; in turn, we will see the love in this world.


Stay positive, move forward with positivity, and have a blessed week ahead!

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