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Tag: Nick Cassavetes

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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John F. Kennedy, The Stand, John Q, Deepak Chopra, and an African Proverb

John F. Kennedy, The Stand, John Q, Deepak Chopra, and an African Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 30, 2022

Sunday Supplement #77 (October 30th, 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:

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

– John F. Kennedy

Book of the Week:

The Stand – Stephen King

I’ve featured Stephen King many times in previous Sunday Supplements. I figured a Halloween weekend post was a good excuse to feature my favorite author again.

King’s The Stand depicts a world as it falls to a deadly virus leading to a post-apocalyptic world that becomes divided by the good and evil people who remain.

The Stand received much attention during the pandemic, but much of that publicity focused on the McGuffin of the book (the virus) rather than the heart of the novel.

Themes like the power of community, transition, and vices are brilliantly explored in the massive 1000+ page novel.

I’ve read almost 50 excellent Stephen King books, but The Stand has always been toward the top of the list. It has also been on many more prestigious best books of all time lists like Rolling Stone, Time, Amazon, and BBC. 

Movie of the Week:

John Q

Getting away from the Halloween weekend excuse from the previous recommendation is this entry of Nick Cassavetes’s John Q.

While Cassavetes’s most famous film is probably The Notebook, John Q deserves more recognition for the handling of a challenging story.

The James Kearns screenplay shows a father, John Quincy Archibald, making the decision to hold a hospital emergency room hostage when his insurance won’t cover his son’s heart transplant.

Denzel Washington puts in a masterclass performance as John Quincy Archibald. His acting carries the film and has the audience on his side as he tries to save his son.

John Q might not be the best film I’ve recommended, but the movie is worth a watch, especially for the acting of Washington.

Brainfood of the Week:

10 Min Meditation – Gratitude – Daily Guided Meditation by Deepak Chopra

The video here is pretty self-explanatory by the title. Deepak Chopra leads a ten-minute guided meditation around gratitude.

Deepak Chopra is the founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit for research on well-being and humanitarianism.

He has written numerous New York Times bestsellers, has been featured by Oprah Winfrey, and was described by Time magazine as one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.

In this guided meditation, Chopra brings you into the present moment and cultivates a meditative state around gratitude opening the door to abundance.

I featured two other meditation videos in Sunday Supplement #31 and Sunday Supplement #41. Check them out if you want some other recommendations!

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Ingratitude is sooner or later fatal to its author.”

– African Proverb

I started this post with a quote highlighting the importance of following through on words of gratitude, and this African Proverb reminds me of how detrimental ingratitude can be.

For me, gratitude is one of the best ways to fill your cup daily. Having a ritual around feeling and expressing thanks for the blessings in your life keeps your attention on the good in life.

False or insincere gratitude can be a slippery slope to emptiness and ingratitude. 

Ingratitude leaves a person feeling many negative emotions that ultimately can turn the head down a path where all you see is darkness.

While there is much evil in the world, you get to choose the attitude you put forth each moment.

Express your gratitude through your actions, and have a blessed week ahead!

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