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Maya Angelou, The Psychology of Money, Minority Report, Philosophies for Life, and a Dhammapada Verse

Maya Angelou, The Psychology of Money, Minority Report, Philosophies for Life, and a Dhammapada Verse

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on July 2, 2023

Sunday Supplement #112 (July 2nd, 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:

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”

– Maya Angelou

Book of the Week:

The Psychology of Money – Morgan Housel

Morgan Housel’s The Psychology of Money shares 19 short stories that exemplify different ways people think about money and provides valuable lessons in them.

One of the fundamental principles of the book is the idea that doing well isn’t necessarily about what you know but more about how you behave.

Many smart financial people lose a lot of money or go completely broke. It often has to do with the lack of control or awareness of their behavior.

Housel is an award-winning author, two-time winner of the Best in Business Award from the Society of American Business Editors and Writers, and a partner at The Collaborative Fund.

The Psychology of Money is worth a read as a good reminder of solid principles that will help you secure your financial future.

Movie of the Week:

Minority Report

Steven Spielberg’s Minority Report takes place in the future, where a special police unit is able to arrest murderers before they commit their crimes.

The film is based on Philip K. Dick’s novella and focuses on the situation an officer in that special unit faces when he is accused of a future murder.

Tom Cruise stars as the accused officer, John Anderton. Max von Sydow, Colin Farrell, and Samantha Morton also stand out in their performances.

Minority Report is an excellent exploration of free will versus determinism in a well-done science fiction/action film.

Those familiar with Dick’s works will know the story can get pretty heady, but it’s worth the watch if you’re interested in a thought-provoking and entertaining story.

Brainfood of the Week:

Miyamoto Musashi – How To Build Your Self Discipline | Philosophies for Life

Miyamoto Musashi is considered the greatest swordsman in the history of Japan. However, he wasn’t just a master of the sword; he was an artist, a philosopher, and a Buddhist.

Musashi wrote war and philosophy books, which became blueprints for people wishing to lead a disciplined life.

Philosophies for Life breaks down philosophical ideas that will help you improve multiple aspects of your life – spirituality, finance, relationships, mental, and emotional.

In the Philosophies for Life video, they discuss four principles from Musashi’s work about discipline. Check out the video and let me know if you liked the content.

I’ve featured Miyamoto Musashi in Sunday Supplement #20 and Philosophies for Life in Sunday Supplement #17 if you want to check out other similar videos.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Easy to do are things that are bad and harmful to oneself. But exceedingly difficult to do are things that are good and beneficial.”

– Dhammapada 163

This is a fairly straightforward verse from the Dhammapada, but it’s a great reminder of how the decisions we make each day can compound positively or negatively.

I’m blanking on where my brother picked up this phrase, but he shared the example of how each decision we make affects our present self and our future self.

So a decision I make now can be fun for present Drew, but future Drew will have to pay the consequences. A simple example is staying up too late and not getting enough sleep.

This Dhammapada verse reminds us that it’s easy for us to make decisions that will become our future selves’ problems. 

Look out for moments when you can take control, make the best decisions you can in those moments, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Marcel Proust, Tigana, The Banshees of Inisherin, Richard Reeves, and a Bhagavad Gita Verse

Marcel Proust, Tigana, The Banshees of Inisherin, Richard Reeves, and a Bhagavad Gita Verse

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on June 25, 2023

Sunday Supplement #111 (June 25th, 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:

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.”

– Marcel Proust

Book of the Week:

Tigana – Guy Gavriel Kay

Guy Gavriel Kay provides a grand epic of magic, politics, friendship, war, and the power of love and hate in his 600-page fantasy standalone novel.

The book follows the history of a land on a planet orbited by two moons. The story takes place on the Peninsula of the Palm, which like medieval Italy, comprises provinces with a shared culture and language.

Two powerful sorcerers control the land, and one casts a curse over it, which removes the name and history of part of the land from the people’s minds.

Only those born before the curse remember Tigana, and a group of rebels aim to free the land from the grips of the sorcerer.

I’m a huge fantasy genre fan, but I don’t always like to read a series that the genre tends to gear toward. This solo novel offers an excellent and complete story worth checking out.

Movie of the Week:

The Banshees of Inisherin

Martin McDonagh’s The Banshees of Inisherin didn’t do well at the box office but received nine Academy Award nominations.

The film follows two lifelong friends who find themselves at an impasse when one abruptly ends their relationship, with alarming consequences for them both.

Colin Farrell, Brendon Gleeson, Kerry Condon, and Barry Keoghan star in this excellent film that explores the purpose of life, friendship, and critiques the history of Ireland.

The Banshees of Inisherin isn’t a movie you should throw on if you’re looking for a popcorn flick to pass the time.

If you give it a chance, look at the movie’s themes and how they provide us with a story that allows us to reflect on how we live our lives.

Brainfood of the Week:

The Friendship Recession | Richard Reeves | Big Think

Richard Reeves is a British American writer, scholar and Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution.

In this video, he opens with the comment that some studies suggest that being without a close friend, being lonely, is as bad for your health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.

Richard Reeves goes on to explain the friendship recession we’re in, the value of friendships, and what we’re losing if we don’t cultivate meaningful friendships.

The video is an intriguing look at how significant a role friendships play in our lives and how one of the hardest things we can admit is that we need a friend.

Big Think is the channel that hosts the video. They are a leading source of expert-driven, actionable, and educational content. Check out their other videos if you liked this one.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Let a man lift himself by his own Self alone, and not let him lower himself; for, this Self alone is the friend of oneself, and this Self is the enemy of oneself.”

– Bhagavad Gita 6:5

I’ve picked this verse from the Bhagavad Gita in a post about friendship because I believe we are responsible for cultivating our worlds.

This passage highlights how we can be our own best friend or worst enemy. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have friends, but we can be the ones that prevent that from happening.

Friendship is a crucial part of our lives, but it is up to us to cultivate an environment where we allow friendships to flourish.

Sometimes we must work on ourselves first to allow space for those around us to come into our lives.

Be grateful for your friends, nourish those friendships, and have a blessed week ahead!

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James Baldwin, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Fruitvale Station, Weird History, and an African Proverb

James Baldwin, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Fruitvale Station, Weird History, and an African Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on June 18, 2023

Sunday Supplement #110 (June 18th, 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:

“People are trapped in history, and history is trapped in them.”

– James Baldwin

Book of the Week:

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass – Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was an American abolitionist, writer, orator, and statesman.

Douglass’s exact date of birth is unknown because it was uncommon for enslaved people to be told their birthdate. He later chose February 14th, 1818.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is Douglass’s memoir recounting his life as an enslaved person and his determination to educate himself and find freedom. 

The book is the first of three of Douglass’s autobiographies and is the most famous. His writing is excellent and is a firsthand look at a period of history that deserves observance.

Movie of the Week:

Fruitvale Station

When he was in college, Ryan Coogler first wrote Creed and brought the project to Sylvester Stallone for consideration. However, Stallone didn’t take on the project at first.

Coogler went back and wrote Fruitvale Station to honor the story of Oscar Grant III. He showcased his abilities as a storyteller and director with this debut film.

The film shows the life of Oscar Grant on the last day of 2008 as he reflects on his life and addresses the direction he’s headed.

Fruitvale Station is a powerful film brought to life by the filmmaker Coogler and the start performance of Michael B. Jordan as Oscar Grant III.

Brainfood of the Week:

12 of the Most Important Cities in History | Weird History

Weird History is a YouTube channel that chronicles the stories of history that are often overlooked. Their channel has over 4 million subscribers and over 500 million views.

In this video, Weird History covers some of history’s most impressive and important cities and why they fell.

Ancient cities were vital hubs for commerce, ideas, trends, culture, and scholarship. Some grew so large and influential that we still know their names centuries later.

The video covers cities like Jerico, Babylon, Ur, Alexandria, and Timbuktu. It is a brief look into the history of these cities and is worth the watch.

Check out their channel for more exciting and well-made videos.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Until the lion tells the story, the hunter will always be the hero.”

– African Proverb

The phrase “the winners write history” relates to this African Proverb because we often only see one side’s version of what happened. 

This African Proverb shows the importance of seeing both sides of the story before judging something.

I don’t think everything is straightforward as one side presents events, so I try to remain open to learning both sides to get a clearer picture.

It isn’t likely that one side is entirely right or wrong in events, but I think it’s important to try and learn each side to understand how events unfolded.

You don’t have to make judgments on history, but you can learn from them and decide how you would like to move forward as you contribute your own story to history.

Learn from the past, move forward, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Karen Salmansohn, Walking to Listen, Lilo & Stitch, Elizabeth Dunn, and a Bible Passage

Karen Salmansohn, Walking to Listen, Lilo & Stitch, Elizabeth Dunn, and a Bible Passage

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on June 11, 2023

Sunday Supplement #109 (June 11th, 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:

“Choose to focus your time, energy, and conservation around people who inspire you, support you, and help you grow into your happiest, strongest, wisest self.”

– Karen Salmansohn

Book of the Week:

Walking to Listen – Andrew Forsthoefel

Forsthoefel’s book recounts his decision to walk across America with the intention of listening to the stories of the people he encounters along the way.

After graduating college, Forsthoefel wasn’t quite sure what to do next and decided to take a year off to walk across the United States and hopefully have a meaningful experience.

Forsthoefel acknowledged he was able to embark on this journey in part because of his privilege as a young white man, but the people he met had many diverse perspectives.

The people who help Forsthoefel along the way, either by giving him a place to rest or sharing some wisdom from a life with much more experience, make the book an interesting read.

I didn’t think the book was amazing. However, I recommend it with a grain of salt because of the people Forsthoefel encountered and the concept and execution of his journey.

Movie of the Week:

Lilo & Stitch

Disney’s Lilo & Stitch is about a young girl who adopts a ‘dog’ from a local shelter, unaware that it’s a supposedly alien science experiment that’s taken refuge on Earth.

The young girl, Lilo, attempts to connect with the alien, Stitch, and protect him from his creators and the Galactic Federation, who chases him.

Stitch learns about the Hawaiian concept of ‘ohana – extended family’ from Lilo and must reconsider his violent nature to keep his newfound family together.

Lilo & Stitch was nominated for Best Animated Feature at the Academy Awards, but it was unlucky to be up against Spirited Away (which I covered in Sunday Supplement #25).

That being said, the film packs a wonderful combination of drama, comedy, and action and is a movie that stands out over the years as one to remember.

Brainfood of the Week:

Helping Others Makes Us Happy – But How We Do It Matters | TED Talks – Elizabeth Dunn

Elizabeth Dunn is a social psychologist and Professor of Social Psychology at the University of British Columbia.

In her studies on generosity and joy, Dunn found a catch to helping others and the effect on the giver— how we help matters.

Early in her career, Dunn published a paper about how spending money on others promotes happiness. However, she found that the conclusion didn’t seem to apply to her.

The TED Talk focuses on Dunn’s subsequent research and findings of how connection and seeing a difference matters in our experience of helping others.

Dunn’s video is a thought-provoking watch, and while its context is focused on a larger charity level, I think it has interesting parallels to engaging with others daily. 

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Generous persons will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.”

– Proverbs 11:25

This Bible passage is shown to be true through scientific experiments like the one in the Brainfood of the Week above.

While I think much of the Bible’s wisdom comes in metaphors, it’s interesting to see the cases when science backs it up.

That being said, I tend to find many layers to different spiritual sayings and find it worthwhile to see if you can view them from different perspectives.

For me, this verse is a reminder that helping others will also lift you up. But it also reminds me that it is good to let others help you as well.

Keep those who want to support you around as friends and family but remember to reach out to others and give them a chance. And have a blessed week ahead!

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Lailah Gifty Akita, Blind Willow – Sleeping Woman, The Princess Bride, Yoga By Candace, and a Japanese Proverb

Lailah Gifty Akita, Blind Willow – Sleeping Woman, The Princess Bride, Yoga By Candace, and a Japanese Proverb

Published by Drew Alexander Ross on June 4, 2023

Sunday Supplement #108 (June 4th, 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:

“The paradox of relaxation is the renewal of the mind, rekindling of spirit, and revitalizing of strength.”

– Lailah Gifty Akita

Book of the Week:

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman– Haruki Murakami

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman is a collection of twenty-four short stories from author Haruki Murakami.

The stories range from insightful and captivating looks at the mundane aspects of life to bizarre surrealist experiences.

I’ve featured Murakami in two previous Sunday Supplements, but I could have easily featured as many books of his as I’ve read.

Murakami is one of my favorite authors, and his books always remind me of stepping into a dream and coming out of it refreshed.

I’m suggesting Bling Willow, Sleeping Woman because it is my favorite short story collection of his, and I believe a quick and complete interval of reading is worth pursuing.

Movie of the Week:

The Princess Bride

I recently read The Princess Bride, which is an excellent book for those who loved the film. However, the movie wonderfully captures the best parts of the book.

The story follows a bedridden boy being read a novel by his grandfather about a farm boy turned pirate and a commoner turned princess.

It’s a story about true love, where the two main characters face numerous obstacles, enemies, and allies in their quest to be reunited.

The Princess Bride is a brilliant combination of adventure, romance, and comedy. The story and dialogue are excellent, and the casting is perfect.

If you’re looking for a heartwarming movie to watch or something fun to watch on a rainy day, I highly recommend The Princess Bride. 

Brainfood of the Week:

20 Min Yoga Flow for Beginners | Yoga By Candace

I typically feature a podcast, interview, or educational video in my Brainfood of the Week portion of the Sunday Supplement.

Sometimes, I’ve featured a meditation video as a mental break for the week, and this video aims to follow that suit.

I’ve used this video at various stages in my life to start the day, and without fail, those days I start with this video are thirty minutes of peace.

The video is a walkthrough of a sun salutation yoga exercise variation. It can be difficult if you’ve never done yoga, but it becomes an easy and relaxing exercise the more you do it.

Candace is the best-selling author of Namaslay and is an international yoga instructor, personal trainer, and writer of the yoga lifestyle blog on www.yogabycandace.com. 

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“The winds of tomorrow will blow tomorrow.” (明日は明日の風が吹く)

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb highlights the importance of not over-worrying about a bad situation because the winds will change.

In this case, the winds of tomorrow are not there yet, so you can enjoy today. That doesn’t mean you cannot prepare for bad winds, but you should not dwell on them.

If we’re constantly preparing or worrying about bad situations, we can often miss the beauty of what’s around us on good days.

This proverb is a great reminder for me to recognize the moments of peace in my day, take them in, and appreciate them fully.

Work hard on what’s important to you, but make sure you have moments in your day or times set aside to relax and rest. Have a blessed week ahead!

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