Tag: action

Ernest Hemingway, Our Man in Havana, Hamilton, Dr. Russ Harris, and a Bhagavad Gita Passage

Ernest Hemingway, Our Man in Havana, Hamilton, Dr. Russ Harris, and a Bhagavad Gita Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on April 14, 2024

Sunday Supplement #153 (April 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:

“Never mistake motion for action.”

– Ernest Hemingway

Book of the Week:

Our Man in Havana – Graham Greene

A few years ago, I went on a binge of reading Graham Greene books. I plan to return to his works soon because the ones I read had beautiful prose and sharp narratives.

Our Man in Havana follows Wormold, a vacuum cleaner in Cuba in the late 1950s, as he accepts the offer of a side job in espionage to help support his teenage daughter.

Wormold’s dull reports threaten to deplete the extra income he received from MI6, so he starts embellishing his accounts. The proceeding events spiral with effect.

Graham was shortlisted for the Nobel Prize in Literature several times and received the Shakespeare Prize and the Jerusalem Prize.

I’ve read about five of Graham’s books, but Our Man in Havana is my favorite. The novel is a fantastic mix of espionage and political satire.

Movie of the Week:

Hamilton

I’m not a big musical person. I’ve greatly enjoyed some of the classics and featured musicals in previous Sunday Supplements, but I’m a harsh critic of the genre.

Hamilton is a blast from start to finish. While it isn’t the pinnacle of historical accuracy, I think it accomplishes what it set out to achieve and can make history engaging for those who don’t typically seek it out.

The musical follows the stories of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr as each navigate the years of America’s founding fathers. This version captures a live Broadway production from Richard Rodgers Theater with the original Broadway cast.

There’s so much to appreciate about the musical, including the writing and choreography, but my favorite highlights are the performances of Leslie Odom Jr., Renée Elise Goldsberry, Daveed Diggs, and Jonathan Groff.

Hamilton holds the record for most Tony Award nominations, and this recording received the 2021 Emmy for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded).

Brainfood of the Week:

The Choice Point: A Map for a Meaningful Life | Dr. Russ Harris

Dr. Russ Harris is a psychotherapist, medical practitioner, and bestselling author of The Happiness Trap.

In this video, Harris breaks down our decisions (conscious or unconscious) into actions that move us toward our desired life or away from it.

When life is going well, choosing actions that move us toward the life we want is easier. However, life isn’t always easy, and we can get caught up in negative thoughts and feelings.

Harris’s video discusses identifying values and becoming more aware of the choice points of our actions. He doesn’t go into more detail since the video promotes his book and his classes, but identifying whether your choices align with your values seems to be the goal.

Dr. Harris’s channel has some interesting videos, not all of which end on cliffhangers. I’m curious to check out his book. The video was a good reminder of the consequences of our actions if we aren’t conscious and in alignment with our values.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Those who see action in inaction and inaction in action are truly wise amongst humans. Although performing all kinds of actions, they are yogis and masters of all their actions.”

– Bhagavad Gita 4:18

This Bhagavad Gita passage can be broken down in a few different ways. The two that stand out to me are that inaction can be a choice, and there can be senseless action.

The second one reminds me of the Hemingway quote. Often, we can mistake mindless action as meaningful. Sometimes, we need to move forward, but other times, it’s better to think about the best way to move forward before acting.

On the other hand, we can often refrain from making a choice, which itself becomes a choice. By not making a decision, we think we can avoid a situation.

I think some of the most challenging decisions we face are meaningful action and knowing the right time to act.

Do the best you can, make conscious choices, and have a blessed week ahead!

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John Amatt, Fairy Tale, The Wizard of Oz, National Geographic, and a Japanese Proverb

John Amatt, Fairy Tale, The Wizard of Oz, National Geographic, and a Japanese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on April 30, 2023

Sunday Supplement #103 (April 30th, 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:

“Adventure isn’t hanging off a rope on the side of a mountain. Adventure is an attitude we must apply to the day-to-day obstacles of life.”

– John Amatt

Book of the Week:

Fairy Tale – Stephen King

I’ve featured Stephen King in a few previous Sunday Supplement posts, but with the theme being adventure this week, I wanted to give his work another shoutout.

Many people might solely associate Stephen King with the horror genre, but I believe his work is typically much more than that.

Fairy Tale is one of King’s most recent books and tells the story of a seventeen-year-old boy who inherits the keys to a parallel world where good and evil are at war, and the outcome has the highest stakes for both.

The novel topped many bestseller lists and is a brilliant story with compelling characters in a fun, page-turning adventure.

Movie of the Week:

The Wizard of Oz

The Wizard of Oz is another classic in Cinema history, but it took a little time to attain its acclaim status. The film came out toward the end of the Great Depression and barely made back its budget.

The film was adapted from L. Frank Baum’s novel and tells the story of a young woman swept away to the magical Land of Oz, where she must embark on a quest with three new friends to see the Wizard who can return her home and fulfill the others’ wishes.

Despite not being the most commercially successful, the film won two Academy Awards and became a hit after a TV run in the 1950s.

The Wizard of Oz was one of the first movies to use color to promote a fantasy setting. The history of the film is worth checking out, and despite some controversy, it is still a pivotal movie in Cinema and stands up to a modern watch.

Brainfood of the Week:

Why Is It Important to Explore? | National Geographic

National Geographic was founded in the late 1800s as a scholarly journal but is now a popular magazine. Their work inspires people to care about the planet and focuses on science, exploration, and adventure.

In this video, the question of why it’s important to explore is given to scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers who work with National Geographic.

Some of the people who answer the question are marine ecologist Clare Fieseler, anthropologist Emily Ainsworth, and environmentalist Juan Martinez.

The short two-minute video stuck out to me because of the different answers that were given. It’s also a fun reminder to check out some of National Geographic’s work.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Only staying active will make you want to live a hundred years.”

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb is fairly straightforward, but I think it’s an excellent reminder of how important it is to continue to be active and adventurous.

Like the John Amatt quote, I don’t think being adventurous has to be some daring physical feat, but I do believe it means pushing yourself outside your comfort zone.

In the context of this proverb, being active to me means being conscious, not passive.

Some days can go by without much awareness, but we should create as many engaging moments as possible.

Look for adventure in your life, stay active, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Abu Bakr al-Ṣiddīq, The Power of Now, BlacKkKlansman, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and a Bible Passage

Abu Bakr al-Ṣiddīq, The Power of Now, BlacKkKlansman, Neil deGrasse Tyson, and a Bible Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on February 5, 2023

Sunday Supplement #91 (February 5th, 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.

I hope you take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Without knowledge, action is useless, and knowledge without action is futile.”

– Abu Bakr al-Ṣiddīq

Book of the Week:

The Power of Now – Eckhart Tolle

I’ve featured Eckhart Tolle in six previous Sunday Supplements, but I haven’t featured arguably his best work, The Power of Now.

The book delves into concepts of self-reflection and being present. Tolle provides insight into why both are powerful tools, and he gives exercises to achieve the principles.

Tolle is a spiritual teacher, public speaker, and bestselling author. Oprah Winfrey hosted a 10-episode web series with him and, in a previous interview, stated that what she learned from him eliminated all stress from her life.

Most self-improvement books point to many of the same conclusions about living a better life. For me, Tolle’s The Power of Now is one of the best and most useful.

Movie of the Week:

BlacKkKlansman

Spike Lee’s catalog of movies is extensive, stretching back to the 80s, and well worth delving into. BlacKkKlansman is one of his more recent masterpieces.

The film tells the true story of the first Black detective in the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Ron Stallworth infiltrates a local Ku Klux Klan branch with the help of his Jewish colleague and combats the racist organization from within.

BlacKkKlansman has much to appreciate from a filmmaking point of view and much to take in on the history of racism in America.

Brainfood of the Week:

Neil deGrasse Tyson — How to Dream Big | The Tim Ferriss Show

Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist, educator, and author. He has been appointed by the United States government on multiple occasions in an advisory capacity or to serve on a scientific commission.

In the interview with Tim Ferriss, Tyson discusses his childhood, his education, and how he progressed in his career as an astrophysicist.

There are many entertaining stories in the almost two-hour interview, in addition to the coverage of his career in science.

I’ve featured many Tim Ferriss podcast interviews in previous Sunday Supplements, and there is always something worth picking up from them. Tyson’s is another great episode.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.”

– Titus 1:16

The Epistle to Titus is attributed to Paul the Apostle and describes the requirements and duties of elders and bishops.

This passage calls out those who preach the word of God but don’t walk the walk. It emphasizes the expression that actions are louder than words.

The Bible has many passages that express how God doesn’t view flowery words and lack of action highly.

There are also passages that express the good path of improvement. This verse from the Epistle to Titus reminds me to reflect on what person I want to be.

Think about what you want to put out into the world, and have a blessed week ahead!

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

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

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on September 11, 2022

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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