Tag: movie

Helen Keller, Mindfulness, In the Mood for Love, Why Silence is Power, and Sahih al-Bukhari 6126

Helen Keller, Mindfulness, In the Mood for Love, Why Silence is Power, and Sahih al-Bukhari 6126

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on July 10, 2022

Sunday Supplement #61 (July 10th, 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:

“Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn whatever state I may be in, therein to be content.”

– Helen Keller

Book of the Week:

Mindfulness – Mark Williams and Danny Penman

Oxford professor Mark Williams is one of the leading thinkers on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. He teamed up with award-winning journalist Danny Penman to write Mindfulness.

The book explains simple and straightforward practices from Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy to help dissolve anxiety, stress, exhaustion, and unhappiness.

Mindfulness’s subtitle is An Eight-Week Plan for Finding Peace in a Frantic World.

The mindfulness meditation program is broken down and explained in a way anyone can do. The time the practice requires is only 10-20 minutes per day.

One of my favorite things about this book is that it doesn’t rely on spirituality or religion to explain the benefits of meditation.

I don’t think it’s a coincidence that many spiritual traditions include meditation, but I find it promising that science has found a way to separate the practice from religion.

There are many different books, apps, and videos that explain and provide lessons for meditation. It’s worth checking Mindfulness out to see if it resonates for you.

Movie of the Week:

In the Mood for Love

One of my favorite films is Wong Kar-Wai’s In the Mood for Love. It tells the story of two neighbors who befriend each other after suspecting the extramarital activities of their spouses.

The film beautifully shows the platonic relationship of the two neighbors as they question and reenact situations they believe formed their spouses’ relationship.

Everything in the movie is choreographed exquisitely. The music and the cinematography enhance the brilliant acting from leads Maggie Cheung and Tony Chui-Wai Leung.

The film premiered at Cannes Film Festival in 2000 and received a nomination for the Palme d’Or. Tony Leung won Best Actor, becoming the first Hong Kong actor to win the award.

Much of the movie is explored through scenes without dialogue. Some of the best sequences occur through close attention to mannerisms and non-verbal exchanges.

I’ve found that there aren’t many movies that leave lasting impressions on their viewers. This movie is one that I find myself often visiting over the years.

In the Mood for Love is well worth checking out if you’re looking for a movie that explores the human experience in a subtle and profound manner.

Brainfood of the Week:

Why Silence is Power | Priceless Benefits of Being Silent | Einzelgänger

Einzelgänger is a YouTube channel that creates videos exploring different people and ideas of history with the aim of making content that inspires, resonates, and entertains.

I’ve featured three of Einzelgänger’s videos in previous Sunday Supplements.

This video explores the advantages of silence in creativity, mental health, spiritual and religious practice, and other everyday situations. It breaks down into four parts.

Silence can also send a powerful message. In conversation, pausing or choosing not to speak can give a person strength. In protest, silence can express what discourse cannot.

Studies have shown that silence relaxes the mind, enhances sleep, and lessens insomnia. Excessive input of noise is detrimental to our ability to function.

All of these topics are explored in more depth in the video. On the surface, the necessity of silence is obvious, but Einzelgänger’s video has many insights worth picking up.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should speak what is good or keep silent.”

– Sahih al-Bukhari 6126

Sahih al-Bukhari is one of the six major collections of Hadith, based on the Islamic prophet Muhammed’s teachings, sayings, traditions, and practices.

The whole passage starts with, whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should not hurt his neighbor. The second part says whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should serve his guest generously.

The third and last part of the passage is the one I’ve highlighted above. It reminds me of the saying, “If you can’t say something kind, don’t say anything.”

Words have much power, but I believe silence equally holds great power. Many great speeches exist, but a single word or silence can be just as profound.

The passage above from the Hadith reminds me that speaking isn’t always necessary. Silence is a tool that can be louder than words.

Explore and look for moments of silence, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Tim Ferriss, Moonraker, La Bamba, The Art of Improvement, and an African Proverb

Tim Ferriss, Moonraker, La Bamba, The Art of Improvement, and an African Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on July 3, 2022

Sunday Supplement #60 (July 3rd, 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:

“Focus on being productive instead of busy.”

– Tim Ferriss

Book of the Week:

Moonraker – Ian Fleming

James Bond is one of the most famous characters in pop culture. Most know his name from the popular movie series that debuted in the 1960s and continues today.

The movies are based on Ian Fleming’s novels about the British secret agent. Fleming worked in naval intelligence, but his novels depicted a more fanciful story for his main character.

Fleming had an admirable output in his late career as a novelist. He wrote 15 James Bond stories starting in 1952 before his death in 1964.

Moonraker often gets overlooked because of the film’s poor reception. The decision to take the plot to space like other successful space odysseys of the time was one of a few misguided decisions.

The book stays grounded and completely takes place in Britain. It starts with a look into Bond’s daily life before he investigates an ex-British soldier turned millionaire industrialist, Hugo Drax.

Drax works on building Moonraker, a prototype nuclear missile designed to defend England against Cold War threats.

Bond is later brought on to Drax’s staff, and the British secret agent works with undercover Special Branch Officer Gala Brand (whom he doesn’t sleep with) to uncover Drax’s plans.

Moonraker is Fleming’s third novel in the Bond series and arguably the best of the lot. It is a fun read and misses most of the negatives associated with Fleming’s works.

Movie of the Week:

La Bamba

The 1987 film La Bamba is a biographical story of the life and short-lived career of Richard Valenzuela— Ritchie Valens.

La Bamba starts when Valenzuela is 16, living with his mother and younger brother and sisters while working as a farmworker after school.

After Richard’s half-brother Bob returns from prison, the family moves to Southern California using Bob’s money.

The film covers Valenzuela’s family life (his brother’s conflicts in particular), his struggles fitting in the San Fernando Valley, and his rise to fame as Ritchie Valens.

There are many great performances in the film to admire, including Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto, and Joe Pantoliano. Phillips shines as Ritchie Valens.

In Sunday Supplement #3, I featured Stand and Deliver as the movie of the week. I discussed the story of how Phillips got the role after almost quitting acting and the imminent fame he would experience after the release of La Bamba.

La Bamba was selected in 2017 to be added to the National Film Registry of the US Library of Congress. It was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” and recommended for preservation.

There are many aspects to appreciate, and the overall positivity of the film comes through the story of the pioneer of Chicano rock and Latin rock.

Brainfood of the Week:

6 Habits of Insanely Productive People | The Art of Improvement

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

In this video, the six habits of insanely productive people are starting the day right, controlling time, building buffer time, dealing with procrastination, getting stuff off their plate, and working less to achieve more.

The Art of Improvement breaks down each section and explains with examples and tools to show how to best utilize them.

In starting the day right, the video discusses how most insanely productive people start the day off early with exercise, mediation, or journaling.

For people who don’t love mornings, Hal Elrod of The Miracle Morning offers a method that helps people learn to love mornings. The answer is simply building a custom-made morning routine you would love to wake up to.

Controlling time is essential from the start to the day to help you be productive throughout. Blocking time, batching tasks, and tracking productivity help control time.

These are just brief highlights from two sections of the video. Check it out to get the rest of the information and pick up a few tips on productivity.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Rising early makes the road short.”

– African Proverb

This African proverb reminds me of the benefits of getting to things early. I don’t think it only refers to rising early, but that can be a valuable habit to cultivate too.

To me, rising early in the proverb means rising to the challenge. We can pick whatever challenge we want for ourselves, but meeting it early can make the road seem short.

In middle school, I was surprised when I learned that if I paid attention in school rather than goof off or watch the clock, classes went by faster. Also, when I did my homework right away, I had way more free time later to do what I wanted.

I look back at those realizations and believe they still have truths today. I try to fully immerse in whatever I’m doing, and I try to get things done early.

Doing my personal tasks before I start my work day has been a great way to rise early to my challenges, so I’m not too tired later.

The African proverb has many meanings, and I’m happy I came across it. It’s an excellent reminder for me. I hope you enjoy it too!

Make time to do something you want to do first, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Madeleine Albright, Teacher Misery, Hidden Figures, Brené Brown, and a Japanese Proverb

Madeleine Albright, Teacher Misery, Hidden Figures, Brené Brown, and a Japanese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on June 26, 2022

Sunday Supplement #59 (June 26th, 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:

“It took me a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.”

– Madeleine Albright

Book of the Week:

Teacher Misery – Jane Morris

When I decided to pursue teaching, I was given Teacher Misery by one of the teachers I worked alongside.

The book compiles short stories, emails (from students, parents, and administrators), and other essays that paint the ridiculous and sometimes disheartening experience of teachers.

As I read the book, I could see and believe many of the experiences described by Morris and other teachers who anonymously contributed to the book.

I think the book can be outlandish at times and doesn’t take the other party’s perspective in many instances, but I believe the book is a warning for those who think teaching is a straightforward profession or calling.

Jane Morris is a pen-name for the teacher that authored the book. She has worked in education for decades and provides resources on her website to aid all teachers.

The book is an interesting read but not one I’d describe as pleasant. I recommend it to anyone interested or looking to enter the teaching profession.

For a more supportive guide for teachers with some phenomenal advice, I’d recommend The Courage to Be Happy, which I discuss in Sunday Supplement #22.

Movie of the Week:

Hidden Figures

The film Hidden Figures is based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly about African American female mathematicians who worked at NASA.

Hidden Figures showed the segregation of race and sex at NASA and how Katherine Johnson, Mary Jackson, and Dorothy Vaughan had to overcome both.

Taraji P. Henson played Johnson, Janelle Monáe played Jackson, and Octavia Spencer played Vaughan. Each was brilliant in their roles, and Spencer received an Oscar nomination for her portrayal.

The movie went on to show how each woman played a vital role at NASA during the Space Race with the USSR.

One of the strikes against the movie was the argument of a white savior narrative from Kevin Costner’s character, director of the Space Task Group Al Harrison.

I don’t think the moment referred to in the arguments was shot well, but it didn’t take away from the overall experience of the film for me.

The movie was nominated for Best Picture, and writers Allison Schroeder and Theodore Melfi were nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay at the Academy Awards.

Brainfood of the Week:

Dr. Bené Brown’s Vulnerability Breakdown | SuperSoul Sunday | OWN

The video recounts one of Brown’s experiences after her TED Talk, “The Power of Vulnerability,” went viral.

One night Brown looked at the comments under one of her videos and found some scathing anonymous feedback.

While getting her mind off the internet trolls, she came across Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” quote.

The quote became a catalyst for Brown to move forward on her path. It represented everything she learned about vulnerability in her research—showing up and being seen.

Brown wanted to be courageous and daring like the person in the quote and committed to only taking feedback from people who put themselves in the arena.

Brené Brown went on to be a bestselling author, an expert on shame, vulnerability, and empathy, and has helped others through her podcasts, talks, and appearances.

I’ve featured Oprah Winfrey and Brené Brown in multiple previous Sunday Supplements. Click their tags at the bottom of the page to see other posts with their content highlighted.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Heart to heart.” (以心伝心)

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb “heart to heart” means to share your true feelings to connect with another person.

When I look at passages and quotes, I try to think about them in different ways. With this one, I believe it also means that you can only have a deeper connection with someone if you share your true feelings.

For me, to share your true feelings or to be able to achieve “heart to heart,” you must be willing to be vulnerable.

When opening yourself up to be vulnerable, there can be rejection. However, I find there is great power when being vulnerable. Regardless of the outcome, you know that you gave 100 percent.

I think it’s vital to let yourself be seen and heard by yourself as much as others. This Japanese proverb reminds me of how important it is to open your heart for genuine connection.

See and express yourself fully, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Sterling K. Brown, Kindred, He Got Game, Oprah Winfrey, and Dhammapada 21

Sterling K. Brown, Kindred, He Got Game, Oprah Winfrey, and Dhammapada 21

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on June 19, 2022

Sunday Supplement #58 (June 19th, 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:

“Empathy begins with understanding life from another person’s perspective. Nobody has an objective experience of reality. It’s all through our own individual prisms.”

– Sterling K. Brown

Book of the Week:

Kindred – Octavia E. Butler

Octavia E. Butler was a bestselling author with multiple Hugo and Nebula awards. She became the first science-fiction writer to receive a MacArthur Fellowship in 1995.

Kindred is a standalone novel telling the story of a young African-American woman, Dana, as she inexplicably finds herself forced back and forth through time from present-day 1976 California to antebellum Maryland.

Dana’s first trip back in time puts her in the situation where she decides to save a drowning white boy from drowning.

Dana’s subsequent trips back have her encountering the same young man. Her trips to the past become longer, and she must face difficult choices to ensure survival and return to her own time.

Butler’s Kindred brilliantly traverses race and gender issues, the history of slavery, and prospects of future egalitarianism.

Kindred is one of Butler’s most famous books and well worth checking out.

Movie of the Week:

He Got Game

Spike Lee is a legendary director and writer. His output as a filmmaker is phenomenal, and his Spike Lee “Joints” catalog contains many brilliant films and powerful stories.

Lee’s love of basketball is prolific, from the sidelines of New York Knicks games to commercials with Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant’s documentary Kobe Doin’ Work.

However, one of Lee’s most prolific contributions to basketball might be his film He Got Game.

He Got Game tells the story of Jesus Shuttlesworth, the number one high school prospect in America, as he contemplates what college to ply his trade.

Jesus’s decision is preyed on by almost everyone who knows him. An unexpected influence comes from his absent father, Jake.

Jake Shuttlesworth is serving a long-term sentence for the death of his wife. He gets released on parole for a week to try and persuade his son to play for the governor’s alma mater in exchange for a reduced prison sentence.

The story is beautifully told with standout performances from Denzel Washington as Jake and the young Ray Allen as Jesus.

Lee’s themes of acceptance, family strife, and the struggles of Black families living in the projects shine throughout.

There is much to appreciate in Spike Lee’s He Got Game, and it should be on any film lover’s or basketball fan’s watch list.

Brainfood of the Week:

Oprah Winfrey: The Secret of My Success

Oprah Winfrey spoke at Stanford Graduate School of Business’s View From The Top speaker series in 2014. This is a clip of Oprah answering a question about the secret of her success.

Oprah begins by explaining that her doing comes from her being. Compassion, willingness to understand and be understood, and wanting to connect make up her being.

Later, Oprah talks about the importance of her work on consciousness.

The video finishes with Oprah explaining that the core of her success was in the connection and understanding of her audience.

These are brief highlights of the video. The clip is five minutes, but the full video is worth checking out as well.

I’ve featured Oprah Winfrey in a few other Sunday Supplements. Her SuperSoul Sunday program is an excellent source of information on self-care and self-improvement.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Watchfulness is the path of immortality. Unwatchfulness is the path of death. Those who are watchful never die. Those who do not watch are already as dead.”

– Dhammapada 21

This verse from the Dhammapada reminds me of the importance of being open to view outside your own narrative.

Often we find ourselves filtering all our experiences through our own perspectives and passing judgments based on our viewpoint.

Keeping an open eye and observing without judgment is the key to welcoming a fresh perspective and leaving room for growth.

Our judgments and perspectives are often used to protect ourselves from foreign experiences and can be dangerous.

However, we are limited to our surroundings when we stay in our shells. We don’t let in any new sights and lose opportunities to grow.

The Dhammapada verse depicts how watchfulness allows us to love, experience new things, and continue growing—closing ourselves off does the opposite.

Observe without judgment, be open to new experiences, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Paulo Coelho, The 4-Hour Workweek, The Birdcage, Emily Esfahani Smith, and Ecclesiastes 3:12

Paulo Coelho, The 4-Hour Workweek, The Birdcage, Emily Esfahani Smith, and Ecclesiastes 3:12

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on June 12, 2022

Sunday Supplement #57 (June 12th, 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:

“Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure.”

– Paulo Coelho (Matthew 6:21)

Book of the Week:

The 4-Hour Workweek – Timothy Ferriss

I’ve featured Tim Ferriss in seven different Sunday Supplements, but they all were in the Brainfood of the Week Category with interviews he’s conducted on The Tim Ferris Show.

In addition to being a brilliant interviewer, Ferriss is famous for his “life-hack” blog posts and bestselling books on various topics.

Tim’s The 4-Hour Workweek is the first of his bestselling self-help books. It delivers anecdotes and how-tos on eliminating unnecessary work and maximizing results.

I haven’t always been a fan of Ferriss’s tone on his podcast and in his writing, but I’ve liked him more in the past year or two since his deeply personal podcast episode.

The 4-Hour Workweek is a throwback to his days when he came off out of touch at times with different audiences, but some of the content he covered was excellent.

The book’s time management and work negotiation sections were some of my favorite and had tips I continue to use today.

Read with a grain of salt, but there is sure to be something useful you add to your own routine.

Movie of the Week:

The Birdcage

Mike Nichols’s The Birdcage was adapted from Jean Poiret’s play and starred Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, and Dianne Wiest.

The story follows a cabaret owner and his drag queen companion as they agree to put on a false straight front so their son can bring his fiancée’s right-wing parents to meet the family.

The film carries a comedic tone throughout but champions LGBTQ+ issues in serious moments at a time (1996) when it was taboo to cover them.

Williams and Lane star as the partners and parents pretending to play it straight. The story utilizes both actors’ brilliance to help the film shine.

The Birdcage was nominated for only one Academy Award (Best Art Direction-Set Decoration) and arguably missed out because of the movie’s story.

Nichols’s movie stands the test of time and is one to check out for many reasons, including one of Robin Williams’s best performances.

Brainfood of the Week:

TED Talks: There’s More to Life Than Being Happy | Emily Esfahani Smith

In this TED Talk, Emily Esfahani Smith discusses her journey from the pursuit of achieving happiness by achieving success to finding out how to live a life of meaning.

Smith went to graduate school for positive psychology to find out why she and others struggled despite achieving success.

Data showed Smith that chasing happiness can make people unhappy.

Suicide rates reached a 30-year high in America. Even though life has improved objectively by nearly every conceivable standard, more people feel hopeless, depressed, and alone.

Research shows that this despair comes from a lack of meaning in life. Is there more to life than being happy? And is there a difference between being happy and having meaning in life?

How can we each live more meaningfully? Smith spent five years interviewing hundreds of people and reading through thousands of pages of psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy.

Smith found what she calls the four pillars of a meaningful life— Belonging, Purpose, Transcendence, and Storytelling.

In the video, Smith details each pillar and how they affect our lives.

This Ted Talks is genuinely one of the best videos I’ve come across about the meaning of life. Please take the time to give it a watch.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live.”

– Ecclesiastes 3:12

This bible passage reminds me not to chase happiness and to look for the moments to help others when I have the opportunity.

The words ‘be joyful’ don’t describe a state achieved through outside influences. In Ecclesiastes, the words read to me of an emotion that comes from within.

I believe we can be affected by outside influences, consciously or unconsciously, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But we can always choose or work on choosing how to respond.

And when we go about our lives, I believe we have the ability to tap into whatever emotion we want. For me, this Ecclesiastes passage reminds me to tap into joy.

The other part of the passage reminds me that acts of service ‘doing good’ are our most powerful ways to contribute and experience life.

I believe doing good can come in small acts as well as grand acts, and sometimes it’s the small acts that can make a massive difference in someone else’s life.

Act from joy, watch for the moments to do good, and have a blessed week ahead!

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