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Tag: Theodore Roosevelt

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

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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Theodore Roosevelt, A Contemporary Introduction to Free Will, The Worst Person in the World, Like Stories of Old, and a Dhammapada Verse

Sunday Supplement #129 (October 29th, 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:

“In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”

– Theodore Roosevelt

Book of the Week:

A Contemporary Introduction to Free Will – Robert Kane

Robert Kane is a philosopher who studied at Holy Cross College, the University of Vienna, and Yale University.

Kane is a Professor of Philosophy at the University of Texas, Austin, and the author or editor of nine books on the subject of Free Will, including The Oxford Handbook of Free Will.

A Contemporary Introduction to Free Will is an accessible book that provides an overview of the views of the subject of Free Will.

The book covers subjects like determinism, moral responsibility, autonomy, agency, religion, rationality, freedom, and more.

I found the book a fascinating read and one worth reading and reflecting on for how we conduct our lives.

Movie of the Week:

The Worst Person in the World

Last week’s Sunday Supplement stated that 2021/22 had many excellent films. The Worst Person in the World was one of my favorites from that period.

The Norwegian film chronicles four years of a young woman, Julie’s life, as she navigates hard decisions in her relationships and struggles to find her career path.

The Worst Person in the World was nominated for two Academy Awards, Best International Feature Film and Best Original Screenplay.

The Best Original Screenplay nomination for Eskil Vogt and Joachim Trier is a testimony to the story’s success in capturing the depths, complexities, and beauty of life.

I don’t normally heavy-hand a recommendation in the Sunday Supplements, but this is a film I think would be a hit for most who give it a watch.

Brainfood of the Week:

Arrival | Facing the Fear of Existence | Like Stories of Old

I’ve only featured Like Stories of Old in one previous Sunday Supplement because the channel tends to analyze films as its primary content source.

However, the channel’s video essays are a mixture of film analysis, philosophy, and personal development worth highlighting again.

This particular video discusses the deeper themes around the fear of life and death in the film Arrival, which I featured in Sunday Supplement #11.

The movie follows a linguist who works with the military to communicate with alien lifeforms after twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world.

My decision for this brainfood of the week might come off as a double movie recommendation, but I think it’s worth it to check out this Like Stories of Old video.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“The mind is difficult to control; swiftly and lightly, it moves and lands wherever it pleases. It is good to tame the mind, for a well-tamed mind brings happiness.”

– Dhammapada 35

The biggest takeaway from this Dhammapada verse for me is not to let your mind steer you in the direction of fear when making decisions.

It can be easy to freeze when faced with various uncertainties, but we must not get carried away by potential realities that haven’t happened.

Our minds can conjure infinite blessings or curses, but they shouldn’t distract us from the present moment for long.

Control over your mind is one of the most beneficial skills I think we can master in our lifetimes. This Dhammapada verse reminds us of how challenging but rewarding it can be.

Control your mind, don’t be afraid of making decisions, and have a blessed week ahead!

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

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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