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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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Susan Sontag, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Boyhood, Eckhart Tolle, and a Quran Passage

Susan Sontag, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Boyhood, Eckhart Tolle, and a Quran Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on September 8, 2024

Sunday Supplement #174 (September 8th, 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:

“Compassion is an unstable emotion. It needs to be translated into action, or it withers.”

– Susan Sontag

Book of the Week:

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – Robert Stevenson

Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous novella Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde is a well-known work of English literature and a pivotal book in the history of the gothic/horror genre.

The novella, published in 1886, follows Gabriel John Utterson, a London-based legal practitioner who investigates the connection between a murderous criminal named Edward Hyde and Utterson’s friend Dr. Henry Jekyll.

Utterson believes that Mr. Hyde is blackmailing Dr. Jekyll after Jekyll covers for the brutal acts of the murderer.

Finding a work of art that lasts for decades or centuries is a beautiful experience. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Stevenson’s novella and highly recommend it.

Movie of the Week:

Boyhood

Richard Linklater’s 2014 film Boyhood depicts the childhood and adolescence of Mason Evans Jr., from ages six to 18, as he grows up in Texas with divorced parents.

Linklater filmed the movie from 2002 to 2013. The project began without a completed script, and Linklater allowed all pivotal actors to participate in the writing process to help incorporate their experiences into their characters’ stories.

Ellar Coltrane portrayed Mason, Ethan Hawke portrayed Mason’s dad, Patricia Arquette portrayed Mason’s mom, and Lorelei Linklater portrayed Mason’s sister. Each had a phenomenal performance.

Boyhood was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Motion Picture of the Year. Arquette won for Best Performance of an Actress in a Supporting Role.

When I first saw it, it felt like a unique experience in Cinema history. The story, acting, and directing are brilliant. It’s almost three hours long and well worth the watch.

Brainfood of the Week:

Guide to Overcoming People Pleasing | Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle is a spiritual teacher, public speaker, and bestselling author. I’ve featured some of his videos and books in previous Sunday Supplements.

In this video, Tolle answers a question from an audience member about growing in a different (spiritual) direction than a family member and how to handle that situation.

Tolle states our happiness or fulfillment does not depend on any other human’s acceptance of who we are.

Tolle explains how conditions of society and environments can lead to judgments of others. He encourages understanding, compassion, and acceptance.

If you enjoy the video, check out some of the other posts where I’ve featured his work.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Indeed, Allah is with those who are righteous and those who do good.”

– Surah Al-Ankabut 29:69

This passage from the Quran is an interesting litmus test for determining whether one’s actions qualify for God’s approval.

Many religious messages are twisted by those who claim to be followers to justify their actions or what they think is righteous and good.

I think we must reflect on our thoughts and actions and ensure they align with what is righteous and what is good.

Many different verses and passages from various religions speak about righteousness and goodness. Seek those sources that help you be your best self.


Have compassion for yourself and others, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Angela Duckworth, The War of the Worlds, The Hunt, The Art of Improvement, and a Bhagavad Gita Verse

Angela Duckworth, The War of the Worlds, The Hunt, The Art of Improvement, and a Bhagavad Gita Verse

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on September 1, 2024

Sunday Supplement #173 (September 1st, 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:

“Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.”

– Angela Duckworth

Book of the Week:

The War of the Worlds – H.G. Wells

H.G. Wells was a prolific writer with over fifty novels and dozens of short stories. His famous book The War of the Worlds was serialized in 1987 Pearson’s Magazine and Cosmopolitan.

The novel follows the first-person narrative of an unnamed protagonist and his younger brother as Martians invade southern England.

As the aliens move across the country in huge three-legged machines, they incinerate those in their path with a heat ray and toxic gasses.

The War of the Worlds is one of the first novels to depict a conflict between humans and extraterrestrials.

H.G. Wells’s science fiction classic has never been out of print and has been adapted into many different mediums, including the famous radio drama by Orson Welles.

Movie of the Week:

The Hunt

The Hunt, directed by Thomas Vinterberg and written by Vinterberg and Tobias Lindholm, currently ranks at #95 on IMDb’s Top 250 movies list.

Mads Mikkelsen stars in this Danish film about a teacher living a solitary life while struggling over his son’s custody.

The teacher’s life slowly improves as he finds love and receives good news from his son, but the new boost is shattered when an innocent little lie gets loose.

The Hunt was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film of the Year at the 2014 Academy Awards. It is an upsetting story, but it is well done and worth watching.

Brainfood of the Week:

Ten Ways to Build and Develop Resilience | The Art of Improvement

This The Art of Improvement video starts by stating that we all encounter hardships and that we can either let them swallow us up or make the best of them.

Resilience is the ability to pick yourself back up and move forward after tragedy or challenges—deciding not to quit. 

The Art of Improvement explains that resilience is a skill, not an innate ability. It must be built up and developed over time through mindset shifts, practice, and healthy habits.

The video then highlights ten ways to build and develop resilience. Two of my favorite tips are to be proactive about problems and to change your mindset about adversity.

I’ve featured The Art of Improvement in a few previous Sunday Supplements. Their videos focus on helping viewers learn how to better themselves and be more productive.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“And that determination which cannot go beyond dreaming, fearfulness, lamentation, moroseness, and illusion— such unintelligent determination is the mode of darkness.”

– Bhagavad Gita 18:35

This Bhagavad Gita passage is an interesting insight into how we can determinately get lost in our own negativity.

We often stumble or find ourselves facing adverse situations. In those moments, it can be easy to drop your head or to think of past failures.

This Bhagavad Gita verse reminds us that this way of thinking is lost in emotion and will only lead us to darker places.

We must pay attention to our emotions but find balance and remind ourselves that we can take action to improve our situation.


Find the right mode of resilience, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Omar Khayyam, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Perfect Days, Einzelgänger, and a Tao Te Ching Verse

Omar Khayyam, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Perfect Days, Einzelgänger, and a Tao Te Ching Verse

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on August 11, 2024

Sunday Supplement #170 (August 11th, 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:

“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.”

– Omar Khayyam

Book of the Week:

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance – Robert M. Pirsig

Robert M. Pirsig’s Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a fictionalized autobiography of a 17-day motorbike journey with his son in 1968.

During the trip, the father examines how we live as a species and meditates on the meaning of quality. He recounts an earlier form of himself’s pursuits of this information and how he views the experience of life at the present moment.

Pirsig’s book is dense, and I recommend it only for those interested in tackling a challenging read.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance received 121 rejections before being accepted by a publisher who didn’t believe the book would sell. It’s sold over 5 million copies so far.

Movie of the Week:

Perfect Days

The Wim Wenders film written by Takuma Takasaki and Wenders follows the life of Hiriyama, a man who cleans public toilets in Tokyo, lives a life in simplicity, and encounters that lead him to reflect on himself.

I found it a slow-burn story with a powerful reflection of life. Sometimes, people watch movies for intense action with extreme highs and despairing lows. This isn’t that kind of movie.

Koji Yakusho portrays Hiriyama brilliantly, embodying a man who finds tranquility and beauty in his simple existence yet doesn’t block out the sadness and frustrations of life.

Perfect Days was nominated for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film. Yakusho won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival. It’s a film worth checking out for those whose interest has been piqued.

Brainfood of the Week:

Don’t Worry, Everything is Out of Control | Einzelgänger

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

In this video, Einzelgänger discusses how our busy lives can lead to stress, exhaustion, and burnout, which can cause illness and depression. He then highlights Taoist writings that offer solutions that can help relieve stress.

There are five different Taoist antidotes Einzelgänger goes over in the video. The two I’ll preview here are to stop looking for happiness and the internal law.

The video explains how worrying about getting or not getting happiness leads us to forever look outside of ourselves for it. The internal law explains how it’s not the world that decides how we feel; it’s our minds.

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

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Nature doesn’t make long speeches. A whirlwind doesn’t last all morning. A cloudburst doesn’t last all day. Who makes the wind and rain? Heaven and earth do. If heaven and earth don’t go on and on, certainly people don’t need to.”

– Tao Te Ching (Verse 23)

The Tao Te Ching is a central Taoist text associated with the philosopher Lao Tzu. Taoism holds that humans should live in balance with the universe (the Tao – the Way).

In this verse of the Tao Te Ching, I’m reminded to live in the moment. We can often get lost in thoughts of the past or worries of the future, but our world exists in the present.

I don’t believe we should completely ignore the past and future. Gathering clouds can be plans for the future, and storms can leave destruction in their path to remember them by.

However, this verse reminds us not to dwell too long on events outside our immediate control. It’s nice to connect to the moment you’re in.


Remember to ground yourself in the present moment when you’ve been caught up in a narrative that has pulled you away from it, and have a blessed week ahead!

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