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Blake Lively, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Free Guy, David Goggins, and a Dhammapada Verse

Blake Lively, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Free Guy, David Goggins, and a Dhammapada Verse

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on April 28, 2024

Sunday Supplement #155 (April 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:

“The most beautiful thing you can wear is confidence.”

– Blake Lively

Book of the Week:

The Hound of the Baskervilles – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was a famous British writer who contributed significantly to the history of literature. His Sherlock Holmes stories are milestones of the crime fiction genre.

Doyle wrote four novels and around fifty short stories featuring the famous Holmes and Dr. Watson. The Hound of the Baskervilles was one of the four novels.

The novel is set in Dartmoor, Devon, England, and follows Holmes and Watson’s investigation of a hound of legend with an apparent supernatural origin.

What’s interesting to me is that Dr. Watson helms the novel. Although he is usually considered Holmes’s sidekick, he takes the lead on the case in this novel, with Holmes flitting in and out and playing a more prominent part toward the end.

You’ve most likely seen one of the numerous iterations of Sherlock Holmes in film or television, but if you haven’t checked out the original writing, I highly recommend this one.

Movie of the Week:

Free Guy

Ryan Reynolds and Jodie Comer star in Free Guy, a film about a bank teller who learns he’s living in a video game as a passive actor where real-world people’s characters play.

The bank teller, Guy, becomes aware of his situation and learns that his world is under threat as a human player informs him the game will be deleted.

The film is entertaining and introspective. It raises existential questions about how we decide to live our lives wrapped in a funny and heartfelt narrative.

I think many movies in recent years aim to be funny with minimal effort from the stories and characters without really offering much more than the equivalent of an empty calorie.

Free Guy is a refreshing take on a blockbuster film that offers a little more depth with its actions and laughs.

Brainfood of the Week:

DO THIS To Make Yourself Immune To Pain & DESTROY LAZINESS | David Goggins & Lewis Howes

I clipped this YouTube video to start at the point in Lewis Howe’s interview with David Goggins where Howe prompts the question, “How do I gain more confidence?”

Goggins states going to your comfort zone won’t help you gain confidence. Confidence starts with yourself and diving into things you’re afraid of. 

He explains how facing your fears builds confidence. You don’t have to always overcome them but understand that facing them is better than staying in your comfort zone.

I’ve featured David Goggins in a couple of previous Sunday Supplements. Check out any of the posts for a glimpse at his time in the United States Armed Forces and his subsequent journey as one of the world’s top endurance athletes.

Howes is a two-time New York Times bestselling author, All-American athlete, keynote speaker, and entrepreneur. His podcast features inspiring interviews with leaders across many fields.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Just as a solid rock is not shaken by the storm, even so the wise are not affected by praise or blame.”

– Dhammapada 81

I think it can be easy to get caught up in external emotions, but this Dhammapada verse is a great reminder not to let outside events influence you too much.

When we let ourselves be buoyed too much by external praise or knocked low by external criticism, we give away our power to control our sense of self-worth.

We can be extremely critical of ourselves or have an inflated ego. Striking a balance between the two is a worthwhile pursuit, but external influence should also be taken with a grain of salt.

The biggest lesson I take from this verse is to continue pursuing meaningful activities without letting others control our experience of them.

Be confident in who you are, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Kemi Sogunle, Daring Greatly, Magnolia, The School of Life, and a Bible Passage

Kemi Sogunle, Daring Greatly, Magnolia, The School of Life, and a Bible Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on March 24, 2024

Sunday Supplement #150 (March 24th, 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:

“Embrace vulnerability so that you can be set free from fear.” 

– Kemi Sogunle

Book of the Week:

Daring Greatly – Brené Brown

I’ve featured a few Brené Brown quotes and videos in previous Sunday Supplements, but this is the first time I’ve featured one of her books.

Daring Greatly is a New York Times bestseller that delves into vulnerability and shame. It is an excellent self-help book with many gems worth picking up.

Brené Brown highlights Theodore Roosevelt’s The Man in the Arena quote and uses it as a guidepost for overcoming shame, embracing vulnerability, and daring greatly.

For me, the best parts of the book were where Brown broke down the origins of fear, shame, and guilt, which helped me understand how to embrace vulnerability.

I recommend checking out Brené Brown’s talks to get an idea of her work. If you like what she speaks about, check out this book. 

Movie of the Week:

Magnolia

Paul Thomas Anderson is probably best known for There Will Be Blood, The Master, and Licorice Pizza, but I think Magnolia is arguably his best film.

Magnolia features an ensemble cast that includes Tom Cruise, Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, William H. Macy, Alfred Molina, Melora Walters, and John C. Reilly.

The film is a mosaic of interrelated characters in the San Fernando Valley attempting to find happiness, forgiveness, and meaning.

I’ve only seen this film a couple of times because it is a tough watch. The acting, directing, and writing are brilliant, though.

I recommend Magnolia with the warning that it is a bit of a downer, but it is a powerful film you’ll likely remember long after watching it.

Brainfood of the Week:

The Importance of Vulnerability | The School of Life

I’ve featured The School of Life in ten previous Sunday Supplements. They make content from psychologies, philosophers, and writers devoted to helping people live calmer and more resilient lives.

This video starts by discussing how we often can look to hide from vulnerability to avoid mockery and humiliation. We try to appear more normal or extraordinary than we are.

Ultimately, vulnerability can be a natural route to connection and respect. It’s humanizing and helps us relate to others.

There is a bad type of vulnerability, though, where it seeks to take advantage of others and comes from a selfish place.

This School of Life video is a nice introduction to the topic of vulnerability. I highly recommend their channel.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

– John 14:2

This passage from the Bible has often been claimed to refer to heaven having endless availability to those worthy of a place.

I came across another interpretation that I thought was an interesting metaphor proclaiming that God’s house has many religions/spiritual traditions.

When I consider the overlap between these traditions, this concept of multiple spiritual practices/religions all touching on a similar message seems plausible.

It can be comfortable to exclude others or view those outside your circles as wrong or unsafe. However, we should try to remain vulnerable and open to including other people and ideas.

Try to face your fears, move forward, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Jürgen Klopp, Rules of Civility, Waking Ned Devine, Marlo Anderson, and a Dhammapada Verse

Jürgen Klopp, Rules of Civility, Waking Ned Devine, Marlo Anderson, and a Dhammapada Verse

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on March 3, 2024

Sunday Supplement #147 (March 3rd, 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:

“Life is too short not to celebrate nice moments.”

– Jürgen Klopp

Book of the Week:

Rules of Civility – Amor Towles

New York Times bestselling author Amor Towles’s debut novel Rules of Civility allowed him to retire early and write full-time.

Rules of Civility starts its story on New Year’s Eve in a hole-in-the-wall jazz bar in 1937 New York’s Greenwich Village.

On that night, twenty-five-year-old Katey Kontent meets Tinker Grey, a handsome banker who catalyzes Katey’s journey into the upper crust of New York society.

This novel reminded me of classic American novels like The Great Gatsby and The Natural. It felt like reading a book from the time it depicted, with beautiful prose as its guide.

I’ve only read this bestselling novel of Towles, but I’m looking forward to reading his other bestselling novels since there was much to appreciate from his first.

Movie of the Week:

Waking Ned Devine

The Kirk Jones written and directed film follows the story of a small Irish village after one of their citizens is reported to have won the Irish National Lottery.

Elderly best friends Jake O’Shea and Michael O’Sullivan, played by Ian Bannon and David Kelly, along with Jackie’s wife Annie (Fionnula Flanagan), plot to discover the winner’s identity.

After finding local resident Ned Devine dead at home holding the lottery ticket, Jackie has a dream that the deceased Ned wants to share the winnings with his friends.

What follows is a hilarious comedy where the whole village bands together to attempt to convince a Claim Inspector Michael is Ned Devine.

The film had a budget of $3 million and went on to make $55.3 million at the box office. I found it a charming story that celebrates life with a good dose of humor in the mix.

Brainfood of the Week:

Celebrate Every Day | Marlo Anderson | TEDxFargo

Marlo Anderson is the founder of National Day Calendar, host of the Tech Ranch, and has been involved in many local and state committees in North Dakota.

In this TEDx video, Anderson discusses the importance of celebrating every day. He talks about how when we are young, we are more adventurous but can become more secluded as we get older.

The National Day Calendar celebrates one new thing each day, with the aim to cultivate appreciation and break you out of an unconscious routine.

Celebrating each day comes with a perspective shift that helps you tap into the positive possibilities of events around you, regardless of whether the event is good or bad.

The video is a great reminder of how we can choose to celebrate more if we want and that our actions and attitudes can spread to the environment and people around us.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Therefore, one should not be negligent, nor be addicted to sensual pleases; for he who is established in mindfulness, through cultivation of tranquility and insight development practice, experiences supreme happiness.”

– Dhammapada 27

When I first came across this Dhammapada verse, I thought it was a bit of a downer. Some translations read, “Unwise, foolish people waste their lives celebrating auspicious times.”

After reflecting on the verse, I saw the importance of the words around addiction and relating celebration and appreciation to only sensual pleasures or favorable moments.

I think what the verse aims to instill is a practice of being balanced in good times and bad and not being carried away by either.

By achieving this type of balance, I believe we can appreciate and celebrate the little moments in life that we often overlook. 

We can still and should celebrate our big achievements, but the celebrations themselves and momentous occasions shouldn’t be our focus.

Look to celebrate and appreciate the little things you experience each day, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Ray Bradbury, The Century Trilogy, Office Space, Steve Jobs, and an African Proverb

Ray Bradbury, The Century Trilogy, Office Space, Steve Jobs, and an African Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on January 28, 2024

Sunday Supplement #142 (January 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:

“I know you’ve heard it a thousand times before. But it’s true – hard work pays off. If you want to be good, you have to practice, practice, practice. If you don’t love something, then don’t do it.”

– Ray Bradbury

Book of the Week:

The Century Trilogy – Ken Follett

The historical epics Fall of Giants, Winter of the World, and Edge of Eternity comprise Ken Follett’s #1 New York Times bestselling The Century Trilogy.

Follett’s novels follow five families (Welsh, English, American, German, and Russian) and their fortunes through the 20th century.

I’m a big fan of Follett’s work, and you can expect a well-crafted and researched story when you pick up one of his historical epics.

I featured his The Pillars of the Earth novel in Sunday Supplement #47, where he decided to break free from his thrilled typecast and write the historical epic he always wanted.

Follett has since delved deep into the veins of the historical fiction genre with many epic books since then. The Century Trilogy is one of his best works.

Movie of the Week:

Office Space

Emmy-winner Mike Judge, creator of Silicon Valley, Beavis and Butt-Head, and King of the Hill, wrote and directed the 1999 cult classic Office Space.

Office Space follows the plan of three workers who hate their jobs as they decide to rebel against the company.

The cast is an all-star ensemble that includes Ron Livingston, Jennifer Aniston, Ajay Naidu, David Herman, Gary Cole, and John C. McGinley.

Judge’s Office Space brilliantly and hilariously captures some of the tedious and baffling idiosyncrasies of a workplace.

There’s a positive message at the end of searching for work that fulfills you in some fashion. I recommend it for those looking for a lighthearted comedy.

Brainfood of the Week:

Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford Commencement Address | Stanford

Steve Jobs, the former CEO of Apple and Pixar Animation, gave the Commencement Address at Stanford’s 2005 graduation. He told three stories from his life.

The first story was about connecting the dots. Jobs recounted his experience with college, dropping out, attending the classes he wanted, and later seeing the dots connect.

Jobs’ second story was about love and loss. He talks about his time at Apple, getting fired, and relationships.

The last story was about death. Jobs would wake up and ask himself, “If today were the last day in my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today.” He knew he needed to change something if the answer was “no” for too many days in a row.

The commencement speech is just over 15 minutes, but it is worth the time from your day. Give it a watch if you get the urge.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“You cannot work for food when there is no food for work.”

– African Proverb

This African proverb reminds me of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Physiological needs, such as food, water, shelter, and sleep, are at the bottom of the pyramid.

On the next level of the pyramid are safety and security needs: health, employment, property, and social ability.

Love and Belonging with friendship, family, intimacy, and a sense of connection are on the next tier, with Self-Esteem (confidence, achievement, individuality, respect) above that.

The top of the pyramid is Self-Actualization, where we experience purpose, meaning, creativity, etc. This African proverb speaks to the necessity of having a base level of sustenance to be able to achieve more.

Make sure you’re meeting your base needs, work on the things that give meaning to your life, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Octavia Butler, The Power of Habit, Remember the Titans, James Clear, and a Bible Passage

Octavia Butler, The Power of Habit, Remember the Titans, James Clear, and a Bible Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 15, 2023

Sunday Supplement #127 (October 15th, 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:

“First, forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you’re inspired or not.”

– Octavia Butler

Book of the Week:

The Power of Habit – Charles Duhigg

Charles Duhigg is a journalist and nonfiction author. He reported for The New York Times and received the Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting in 2013.

Part of Duhigg’s reporting that won him the Pulitzer Prize contributed to the basis for the book The Power of Habit.

Duhugg reported on how Target figured out a teenager was pregnant before her parents knew and how they advertised products to entice her patronage.

In the book, Duhigg goes over many case studies that exhibit how habits play a role in our personal lives, work lives, and the institutions around us.

I picked up a few extremely valuable insights from this book and highly recommend it to anyone looking to understand habits better.

Movie of the Week:

Remember the Titans

Remember the Titans is based on the true story of a football coach, Herman Boone, and his first year at the newly integrated T.C. Williams High School.

Denzel Washington stars as coach Boone and shares the screen with a brilliant supporting cast that includes Will Patton, Wood Harris, Ryan Hurst, and a young Hayden Panettiere.

Boaz Yakin directs the well-crafted screenplay written by Gregory Allen Howard. The film is excellently executed to let the actors and the story take center stage.

The film explores themes of racism, stereotypes, and discrimination in 1971 in Alexandria, Virginia.

Remember the Titans tells a powerful story from American history and has been on many top sports film lists over the years.

Brainfood of the Week:

How to Get 1% Better Every Day – James Clear | APB Speakers

APB Speakers has been around for over 50 years as a global speaker and entertainment agency. The APB hosts unedited content from leaders, innovators, and celebrities.

In this video, bestselling author and speaker James Clear explains how small habits and little decisions transform us daily.

Clear breaks down four stages of habit formation: noticing, wanting, doing, and liking. He explains how every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.

The video is only eight minutes long, and I can’t recommend watching it enough for those looking to start a new journey or end an old habit.

I’ve featured James Clear in Sunday Supplement #8 and Sunday Supplement #72. Check those posts out if you want to learn more about Clear’s work.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“A sluggard’s appetite is never filled, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.”

– Proverbs 13:4

This Bible passage is a good reminder to be aware of our actions and to be intentional with our time.

I think when we let our focus slip, we can find ourselves overindulging in activities that we wouldn’t ordinarily want to stew in.

Diligence allows for awareness and reflection of our actions. When we are intentional about what we do, we define parameters that are easier to navigate.

For me, this passage shows how laziness can often result in excess of what we don’t want, and diligence can result in specific results.

Reflect on the habits you want to build or eliminate, and have a blessed week ahead!

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