Tag: Oscars

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Elantris, Stardust, Calm, and the Atharva Veda

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Elantris, Stardust, Calm, and the Atharva Veda

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on December 12, 2021

Sunday Supplement #31 (December 12th, 2021)

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:

“Magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen.”

– Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Book of the Week:

Elantris – Brandon Sanderson

Brandon Sanderson is a Hugo Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author. Sanderson also teaches one writing class a year as an adjunct professor at Brigham Young University and hosts the podcast Writing Excuses with authors Dan Wells, Mary Robinette Kowal, and web cartoonist Howard Tayler.

While Sanderson went to undergraduate and graduate school, he was employed at a hotel as a night auditor and wrote many novels while he worked. His sixth novel, Elantris, was picked up by Tor Books and started his career as a Fantasy and Science Fiction author.

Elantris tells the story of the falling of magic in Arelon. Elantris was the capital of Arelon and was the home of magical beings who used their abilities to benefit the kingdom. The residents of Elantris were once ordinary people from Arelon until they became transformed overnight through the power of Shoad.

Without warning, the magic failed, and the Shaod became a leper-like curse. The demigods of Elantris became wizened creatures, and the city of Elantris was walled off for the transformed to be exiled.

Prince Roaden and Princess Sarene’s marriage was the last hope for an Arelon under threat from the ruthless religious fanatics of Fjordell. However, before Sarene could marry Raoden, the prince was struck by the Shaod, and his father snuck him into Elantris.

Elantris goes on to follow the stories of Raoden, Sarene, and a priest of Fjordell and the future of Elantris and how each deals with their own position and the situation they are forced to manage.

The novel is one of my favorite fantasy books and has brilliant lessons on making the best of where you’re at and how to never give up. If you’re a fan of fantasy, this should be on your list.

Let me know what you think!

Movie of the Week:

Stardust

Stardust is a 2007 film adapted from Neil Gaiman’s Locus Award-nominated novel. I don’t think many movies better their source, but Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman make a case for their script.

The movie follows Tristan Thorn, a shop boy, who makes a promise to his beloved that he’ll retrieve a fallen star by venturing into the fabled magical kingdom beyond the borders of their town.

This fantasy film stars Charlie Cox as Tristan Thorn and Claire Danes as Yvaine the fallen star. Michelle Pfeiffer plays Lamia, the witch after Yvaine’s heart and eternal life, and Robert De Niro plays Captain Shakespeare, a colorful pirate who aides Tristan and Yvaine.

Stardust is a fun watch that shows the power of saying yes to adventure and learning about yourself along the way. There are great performances sprinkled throughout, and the fun script makes an entertaining viewing.

The movie isn’t an Oscar-nominated masterpiece, but it is something lighthearted that would be a fun watch on a cold or snowy day.

Brainfood of the Week:

10 Minute Mindfulness Meditation | Calm

Calm is the number one app for meditation and sleep. There are many facets of the app, but the focus of this post is on their daily ten-minute guided meditation.

There are many benefits to meditation, such as decreasing stress and anxiety. The practice of meditation can also enhance awareness and patience.

I like to keep a playlist on my phone of downloaded meditations I’ve come across on YouTube. I tend to switch between guided meditations, soft background mediations, and if I’m in nature ambient meditation.

I’m not always in a steady practice of meditation, but I notice how my days feel rushed when I fall out of practice. Ideally, I liked to meditate once in the morning and once in the afternoon or before bed.

Breathing exercises are another great way to ground and be present. Part of these practices helps me be calm when I go through each day. I always finish each session with a little prayer or intention for the rest of the day or for a specific event I’m going to encounter.

These are all practices I’ve worked on incorporating into my life. The Calm video is a great guided meditation to check out. Their app is also worth looking at with a free and subscription option available.

Go at your own pace and find the practice and time that works best for you. Let me know what you think and if you’d like any other recommendations in this field.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“May thou bless me with radiance, courage, energy, and strength.”

– Atharva Veda

In Sunday Supplement #29, I discussed the benefits of cultivating a positive mindset. I delved into the power of gratitude and practicing control over your thoughts.

For this section of the Sunday Supplement, I wanted to list a prayer/mantra. I think it is crucial to work on ourselves, learn, and grow. However, I believe asking for help is something that can often be ignored or frowned upon.

For me, prayer and mantras are the other side of the coin for positivity and gratitude. While we cultivate our lives and perspectives, asking for a bit of help and having faith in something can be a tremendous support.

I believe in a higher power. I don’t care what people call it, but I feel it when I’m with other people, in nature, and when I experience moments of silent bliss within. I believe meditation, prayers, mantras, walks in nature, and connection with others tap into that universal power.

The Atharva Veda has been called the Veda of magical formulas, and it contains over 5,000 mantras in its pages.

The above passage is just one version of a mantra that you can use, but I encourage you to find one that feels right and try repeating it after meditation or prayer. See what happens after you incorporate it into your routine.

Have a magical month of December, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Louise May Alcott, Awaken the Giant Within, Finding Forrester, Marcus Aurelius, and a Zen Proverb

Louise May Alcott, Awaken the Giant Within, Finding Forrester, Marcus Aurelius, and a Zen Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on December 5, 2021

Sunday Supplement #30 (December 5th, 2021)

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:

“I am not afraid of storms for I am learning to sail my ship.”

– Louise May Alcott

Book of the Week:

Awaken the Giant Within – Tony Robbins

My first adventure into the self-help genre came in the form of Tony Robbin’s Awaken the Giant Within. He was the perfect entrance ramp for me on my journey of self-reflection and development. I’m not a massive fan of his voice or seminars, so I opt for his books rather than his videos.

Tony Robbins is one of the nation’s leaders in the science of peak performance, and he uses this book to guide people with the fundamental lessons of self-mastery.

Awaken the Giant Within provides techniques and strategies for mastering your emotions, your body, your relationships, your finances, and your life.

I first read the book around five years ago, and some of my favorite perspective tools stuck immediately. I particularly enjoyed neurolinguistic programming (NLP) and intention setting.

NLP is an approach to communication where you focus on removing negative and limiting words from your vocabulary. The power of what you think and speak is highlighted, and the research behind the technique is fascinating. With intention setting, I found out how powerful it can be to shape how you want to participate in an experience before it happens.

There are many more brilliant techniques explained in the book, and all of them are worth exploring to see if they click for you. Tony Robbins’ work is all over the world for a reason.

Movie of the Week:

Finding Forrester

Finding Forrester follows basketball prodigy Jamal Wallace, as he is invited to attend a prestigious private high school. A chance dare connects him with a reclusive writer, with whom he refines and furthers his talent for writing while learning to express himself fully.

Mike Rich penned the brilliant screenplay that won him a Nicholl Fellowship in Screenwriting by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in 1998. Rich was picked up by Hollywood through his success in Nicholl’s screenwriting competition, and his script made it to the big screen in 2000.

Gus Van Sant directed the film, and the cast was wonderfully rounded out with newcomer Rob Brown and acting giants Sean Connery, F. Murray Abraham, and Anna Paquin. I’m still not sure how this movie completely missed the Oscars.

The simple story is well done and is a thoughtful narrative of stepping outside your comfort zone. An underlying feel-good aspect of the movie is subtly done while addressing timely topics.

Finding Forrester didn’t receive the best reviews from critics, but it is worth checking out.

Brainfood of the Week:

Marcus Aurelius: How to Think Clearly — The Art of Improvement

The Art of Improvement is a YouTube channel that makes videos with the focus of helping viewers learn how to better themselves and how to be more productive.

Much of the video focuses on breaking down some valuable lessons from Aurelius’s Meditations writings on living a balanced life.

Because of overstimulation, our brain limits our focus to what’s most important to us. This technique is useful to our survival but has the unfortunate side-effect of making us miss what’s going on outside of our perspective. We then can get easily distracted and removed from the present because of our thoughts.

Aurelius, in his writings, came up with methods to help himself be more aware and attentive.

The Art of Improvement video highlights three of his methods to help improve the consciousness of your surroundings and yourself.

The discussed methods delve into breaking the autonomous loop of everyday thinking, seeing situations through an objective eye, and practices of decluttering the mind.

The video is a wonderful introduction to some of the brilliant lessons left by Marcus Aurelius in Meditations. Let me know if you found anything helpful and applicable to your life.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Knowledge is learning something new every day. Wisdom is letting go of something every day.”

– Zen Proverb

This proverb reminds me that growth isn’t always about addition. I tend to gravitate toward making sure I experience something new every day, even if it’s as simple as reading a chapter of a book or having a conversation with someone.

However, as I get older, I realize that eliminating bad habits or decluttering my schedule and the space around me makes a huge difference for my mental health.

Jesse Itzler, featured in Sunday Supplement #3, discussed how he did the math on how much time he spent watching college football each weekend and how many hours that would total over the next twenty years.

The short of that experiment is being more conscious of how we use our time. Itzler says if you only see your parents once or twice a year and are getting up there in age, you might only have a handful of visits with them.

This kind of reflection is the perfect example of how elimination can create space for more meaningful activities in your life.

Make space for something meaningful, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Amy Collette, All the Light We Cannot See, The Pursuit of Happyness, The Gratitude Experiment, and Surah Ibrahim 14:7

Amy Collette, All the Light We Cannot See, The Pursuit of Happyness, The Gratitude Experiment, and Surah Ibrahim 14:7

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on November 28, 2021

Sunday Supplement #29 (November 28th, 2021)

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:

“Gratitude is a powerful catalyst for happiness. It’s the spark that lights a fire of joy in your soul.”

– Amy Collette

Book of the Week:

All the Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr

All the Light We Cannot See is an international bestseller and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction (2015). It follows two narratives and tells a wonderful story set in World War II. =

Marie-Laure lives with her father, who works in the Museum of Natural History in Paris as the master of its thousands of locks. When Marie-Laure turns 6, she starts to go blind. Her father builds her a to-scale miniature model of their neighborhood so she can memorize by touch and be able to navigate the city.

When Marie-Laure turns 12, the Nazis occupy Paris, and she and her father flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo to live by the sea with her reclusive great-uncle. Marie-Laure doesn’t know that they carry the museum’s most valuable jewel that the Nazis are after.

In a mining town in Germany, an orphan, Werner, grows up with his younger sister. They become enchanted by a radio they find and the stations they come across. Werner becomes fascinated with building and fixing new instruments, which wins him a place at a brutal academy for Hitler Youth.

Werner’s prowess as an inventor lands him a role with a special assignment to track the resistance to the Nazis. This task brings him across all fronts of the war and ultimately into Saint-Malo.

The book has so many lessons integrated into a beautiful tale. The characters are excellently crafted and allow for a depth that is felt long after finishing the novel.

Movie of the Week:

The Pursuit of Happyness

Will Smith brilliantly plays a struggling salesman who takes custody of his son after his wife leaves them. The film is based on Chris Gardner’s memoir and recounts the period of his life when he struggled to make ends meet, take care of his son, and battle homelessness.

The movie came out in 2006 and came up against many excellent films at the 2007 Academy Awards. The only Oscar nomination The Pursuit of Happyness received was for Will Smith’s portrayal of Chris Gardner. However, the film arguably should have been nominated for many other categories.

There are many good things to take away from the movie. The positive message is evident by the end of the story, and there are little moments throughout that will bring tears and smiles.

If you’re looking for a movie that is uplifting and has depth, this should be a movie you check out. You’ll find it on many top movie lists for a reason.

Brainfood of the Week:

The Gratitude Experiment — WatchWellCast

WatchWellCast is a YouTube channel that uploads animated videos that explore physical, mental, and emotional paths to wellness.

In this video, WatchWellCast delves into the causes behind happiness and how we can improve our overall happiness levels.

Humans operate on what’s called the hedonic treadmill. We generally stabilize on one level of happiness. Specific events might increase that level for a short period, but you come back down and settle at your normal level.

The things that give us temporary spikes in happiness can be taken for granted, and over time can stop psyching us up.

A simple way to improve our overall happiness levels and create new baselines for our perspective is practicing gratitude. By setting time aside for appreciation and examining what you’re thankful for and why you stop ignoring what makes you happy.

WatchWellCast then goes into some scientific background of Dr. Robert Emmons and his studies on happiness. An exercise prompt at the end of the video is a great practice to incorporate into your daily routine.

The video is only four minutes long, and it is an excellent summary of happiness and a tool to increase yours.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“If you are grateful, I would certainly give you more; and if you are ungrateful, My chastisement is truly severe.”

– Surah Ibrahim 14:7

One of the things I’ve worked on over the past year is control over my thoughts.

I experienced a massive dip in many different areas of my life, and I was at a loss for why I no longer felt as good as I had before.

This passage from the Quran perfectly emphasizes the importance of gratitude and how important that is for bringing more good things into your life.

When I was depressed and sad, all I could see was the negative side of things. I realized later that it was okay to have dips, but I needed to build my base level back to being grateful.

In the passage above, there is also a warning for those who are ungrateful. It is no surprise to me that the lack of gratitude is linked with severe chastisement.

While I do necessarily agree with the level of punishment, I believe it is an important reminder of the depths of negativity we can experience when ungrateful.

I’ve worked on my mindset to be more positive and grateful, and it makes me realize how much in my life, even in the down moments, I’m thankful to have.

Check in with yourself about the things you are thankful for and have a blessed week ahead!

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Nat Turner, When Strangers Meet, 12 Angry Men, Julian Treasure, and Philippians 4:6

Nat Turner, When Strangers Meet, 12 Angry Men, Julian Treasure, and Philippians 4:6

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on November 21, 2021

Sunday Supplement #28 (November 21st, 2021)

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:

“Good communication is the bridge between confusion and clarity.”

– Nat Turner

Book of the Week:

When Strangers Meet – Kio Stark

Kio Stark has a rich background, including journalism, interactive advertising, community research, and teaching. She is the author of both non-fiction and fiction books and has taught, consulted, and spoken about stranger interactions worldwide.

In When Strangers Meet, Stark argues the benefits of interacting with strangers. The act of talking with someone you don’t know can pull you into experiences that open your world. They can be interruptions that pull you out of your daily routine. It’s up to you how you interpret these experiences.

Stark uses stories from her life and studies about talking to strangers and the dynamics of where, how, and why strangers come together. She explores the deep meaning that can come from these interactions and the necessary connection that occurs when we talk with others.

Some helpful tips from the book include how we subconsciously decide who to greet and trust and the subconscious rules by which these interactions operate. The book helps open the doors for talking with strangers and gives challenges for those willing to try out the techniques.

The book is a short read and one worth adding to your list. Stark also did a Ted Talks that is worth checking out to see if you would like her work.

Movie of the Week:

12 Angry Men

12 Angry Men follows a seemingly straightforward jury trial that gets held up by a single juror whose skeptical caution forces the group to go over all the evidence again before making a hasty verdict.

The film was nominated for three Oscars but didn’t take home any wins. The Bridge on the River Kwai was the film that took most of the Academy Awards, deservedly so, in 1958, but 12 Angry Men is another brilliant film that lasts the test of time.

Sidney Lumet adapted Reginald Rose’s teleplay into one of the most famous films in movie history. Rose’s screenplay expertly showcased how a one-room drama could be just as riveting as an Action/Thriller.

What makes the film stand the test of time is the story and the acting. Each actor, led by Henry Fonda, gives a performance that supports the narratives reflecting on judgment and speaking out. Many in the movie did not want to go over the evidence again. They assumed guilt on the accused and were ready to move on with their days. One many took the time to go over the facts with the others and challenge their preconceived notions.

The movie’s power comes from the willingness to go against the norm and to question what seems apparent. The dialogue that ensues carries the story and shows the importance of communicating effectively.

12 Angry Men is a trues classic that ages well and should be on your watch list if you haven’t seen it already.

Brainfood of the Week:

TED Talks: 5 Ways to Listen Better — Julian Treasure

Julian Treasure is a sound and communication expert. His five TED Talks views have been watched more than 100 million times. Treasure’s vision is to integrate speaking and listening skills into education.

In this video, Treasure breaks down how we interpret sound and how that filters into our listening skills. We have subconscious filters like culture, language, values, beliefs, attitudes, explications, and intentions that shape how we pay attention. He argues that accurate listening has disappeared because of impatience, desensitization, and technological advancements that allow presence to be unnecessary.

Treasure then highlights how conscious listening creates understanding. He follows that up with examples and ways of how we can cultivate our listening skills.

This TED Talks video is one of my favorites that I’ve come across. If you enjoy Treasure’s presentation, check out his other videos or his books How to be Heard and Sound Business.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

– Philippians 4:6

This passage from the New Testament reminds me of the power of communicating what’s inside you. The first part states to not be anxious. I believe when you are anxious, a contributing factor is thoughts building up with nowhere to go.

Whenever I’ve shared something I was anxious about with someone else, I’ve found that pressure was lifted. I wasn’t as tense, and I got the nervous feeling out of my head.

The other takeaway from this passage is communicating what you want, need, or desire. The clarity that comes from speaking these things to yourself or others is immense. If you do not let others know how you feel, you leave them to guess at best.

Speaking out about what you want to is a great way to focus on the things you want to attract in your life. Communication is paramount in all relationships, including the one you have with yourself. And for myself, I find writing down my thoughts a great way to get them out if someone else isn’t there to talk.

Clarify a need, want, or desire, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Chris Gardner, Spirited Away, The Crucible, Archetype of the Magician, and Proverbs 25:18

Chris Gardner, Spirited Away, The Crucible, Archetype of the Magician, and Proverbs 25:18

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on October 31, 2021

Sunday Supplement #25 (October 31st, 2021)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a movie worth watching, a book worth reading, 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:

“Strong people stand up for themselves, but stronger people stand up for others.”

– Chris Gardner

Movie of the Week:

Spirited Away

I highlighted Studio Ghibli in Sunday Supplement #2 and Sunday Supplement #16. Spirited Away is another brilliant movie from their catalog and is one of my favorite films.

The story follows 10-year-old Chihiro as she stumbles upon a world of gods, witches, and spirits. Her parents are turned into pigs for their greed, and Chihiro must find a way to fit into the magical world and figure out a way to save her parents. She receives help from Haku, a servant of the witch Yubaba, but must overcome many obstacles on her own while staying true to her feelings and beliefs.

One of the important takeaways from the movie is Chihiro’s belief in Haku when others do not trust him. The message of valuing friendship and standing up for what you believe in is subtle but powerful in the film.

Spirited Away won Best Animated Feature at the Oscars and is currently #28 on IMDB’s Top Rated Movies list. The film is a masterclass of storytelling, and the visuals are stunning. The themes in the movie (capitalism, spirituality, standing up for others) are brilliantly explored in a video by the YouTube channel The Take.

The story and tone of the film provide an exciting version of the Halloween movie. There are plenty of classic Halloween movies, but Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away is one you should add to your list. There is so much to take away from the film, and I can’t recommend it more highly.

Book of the Week:

The Crucible – Arthur Miller

Arthur Miller’s classic play tells a fictionalized story about the witch-hunts and trials in 1700s Salem, Massachusetts. The story revolves around a disgraced maid, Abigail Williams, and her attempts to exact revenge by accusing citizens of Salem of practicing witchcraft. Her old employer, Elizabeth Proctor, is one of the women charged. And the accusation of Elizabeth comes after she was fired for a suspected illicit relationship with Elizabeth’s husband, John Proctor.

The Crucible touches on many themes about humanity and hysteria and is a valuable lesson of the power of fear and dishonesty. Miller wrote the play in 1953 and used the story to reflect the current times and effects of Senator Joseph McCarthy’s modern-day witch-hunt with Communism. The ruthlessness and eagerness of the community to turn on their neighbors is a reminder of the dark side of human nature and a warning against that path.

Halloween is often a chance to partake in festivities and should be celebrated, but inclusion and community should be at the center. The Crucible can be a way to connect with the history of witches in America while picking up some timeless lessons along the way.

Brainfood of the Week:

Like Stories of Old — Venturing into Sacred Space | Archetype of the Magician

Tom van der Linden is a video essayist whose YouTube channel (Like Stories of Old) explores different wisdoms, philosophies, social constructs, and spirituality. Linden’s videos tend to implement stories from authors and films to convey the thoughts behind the topics he discusses.

In this video, Linden goes over the final category in Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette’s book King, Warrior, Magician, Lover. The book is a venture into the four basic building blocks of our psychology. The video examines the archetype of the Magician and explores related concepts such as initiation, ritual process, and sacred space.

Lined quotes Carol S. Pearson for a description of the role: “The archetype of the magician teaches us about creation, about our capacity to bring into being what never was there before, about claiming our roles as co-creators of the universe.”

The video uses examples from movies and various books when discussing the archetype of the Magician. It focuses on the two sides of the archetype, Master of Technology and Knower. One has to do with the material world, and the other represents the personal psyche and internal/spiritual knowledge. The video then concludes with how the archetype of the Magician functions today. The qualities of the Magician revolve around the deconstruction of the ego, thoughtfulness, reflection, awareness, and insight. The purpose is to create and help others.

I recently came across Linden’s channel and am eagerly exploring its videos. The visuals and auditory background of his work are superb. The content is well worth checking out.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Telling lies about someone is as harmful as hitting him with an ax, or wounding him with a sword, or shooting him with a sharp arrow.”

– Proverbs 25:18

Amid Halloween celebrations, I see the masks and costumes we all put on for a bit of adventure. The above passage reminds me that people often still have masks on in everyday life. The previous entries on this post show the mistake of judging someone or bearing a false witness. I like to think that there is a reason for everyone’s actions, and a lot of times, crueler behavior masks an internal or previous wound. The backstory doesn’t excuse the action, but I try to pause and choose my response before making a hasty judgment.

One of the things I’ve learned and enjoyed is how a one-on-one conversation can completely change my perspective on someone I don’t know. It’s interesting to see people take off their masks and connect with someone I haven’t met before. Sometimes the best of these experiences have been with people I’ve judged before without knowing them or their story. I’m glad for these lessons, and I’m constantly working on being more aware of my thoughts and actions, especially when talking with and about other people.

Have a happy Halloween, and have a blessed week ahead!

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