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Tag: Tom Hanks

Michael J. Fox, Fahrenheit 451, Philadelphia, Sadhguru, and a Japanese Proverb

Sunday Supplement #152 (April 7th, 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:

“Acceptance doesn’t mean resignation; it means understanding that something is what it is and that there’s got to be a way through it.”

– Michael J. Fox

Book of the Week:

Fahrenheit 451 – Ray Bradbury

My 6th-grade teacher gave me Fahrenheit 451 to read. It was one of those door-opening moments in the world of literature, and it’s one of the few books I’ve read more than once.

The dystopian novel follows fireman Guy Montag, whose job is to burn books that the government has outlawed.

Montag’s life changes when he meets a neighbor who reads books. He then embarks on his own journey of reading, which leads him to flee the city after he is caught.

Fahrenheit 451’s depiction of books filtered out because of people losing interest and the government’s controlling of narratives through media is one of many eery but poignant themes.

Ray Bradbury’s classic won a “Retro” Hugo Award in 2004 and should be on everyone’s classics-to-read list.

Movie of the Week:

Philadelphia

1993’s Philadelphia follows Andrew Beckett as his law firm fires him because of his HIV condition and his subsequent wrongful dismissal lawsuit headed by a small-time homophobic lawyer, Joe Miller, as his only willing advocate.

Jonathan Demme (The Silence of the Lambs) brilliantly directs the Ron Nyswaner screenplay. Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington bring the story to life as Beckett and Miller.

I was only two years old when this movie came out, but watching it later gave me an interesting glimpse into the culture at the time.

Philadelphia won two Academy Awards, including Best Actor in a Leading Role for Tom Hanks, and was nominated for an additional three Oscars, including Best Writing.

Brainfood of the Week:

Why Acceptance is Freedom | Sadhguru

I’ve featured Sadhguru in several previous Sunday Supplements. He is an Indian yogi and bestselling author. His YouTube page has over 11 million followers.

In this video, Sadhguru discusses how our personalities can be like filters of likes and dislikes based on our preferences.

The danger of this comes from judging people and situations through our lenses of experience. You can carry many psychological wounds from slights you held onto for years.

Through total acceptance, you can remove the judgment from people and situations.

I find Sadhguru’s videos thought-provoking. They are worth watching and reflecting on. If you enjoy this one, check out my other posts.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Spilt water won’t go back into its tray.” (覆水盆に返らず)

– Japanese Proverb

This Japanese proverb has a Western cousin: “Don’t cry over spilled milk.” I think it’s pretty straightforward, but I like the Japanese Proverb’s translation.

I like the image of trying to force something like water or milk back into its container after it has been spilled.

I find myself guilty of trying to make things perfect or not acting until I think things are in the perfect conditions for action.

This proverb reminds me to think about what is the best usage of our time and energy. Once you’ve accepted something, you can decide how to move forward.

Accept the situation, move forward, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Jackie Chan, Harry Potter Series, A League of Their Own, Simon Sinek, and an African Proverb

Sunday Supplement #96 (March 12th, 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:

“Sometimes it takes only one act of kindness and caring to change a person’s life.”

– Jackie Chan

Book of the Week:

Harry Potter Series – J.K. Rowling

The Harry Potter Series tells the story of a boy whose parents were murdered by a dark wizard. The boy is sent to live with his uncaring non-magic relatives, and on his 11th birthday, he re-enters the magical world.

There is much controversy around J.K. Rowling and her books, but it cannot be argued that they are some of the most successful novels in history.

The Harry Potter series was a fantastic addition to my childhood. I still often revisit the world of Harry Potter and find much to appreciate.

The story encapsulates the battle of good and evil over its seven books and has many wonderful lessons along the way.

If you have only seen the movies, you are missing out. The series is well worth checking out for anyone who loves adventure, magic, and an epic battle of good vs evil.

Movie of the Week:

A League of Their Own

The film, A League of Their Own, follows the fictional journey of two sisters who join the real-life first female professional baseball league.

Geena Davis and Lori Petty play the two sisters. They struggle to help the league succeed while their rivalry as sisters and players increases.

Penny Marshall brilliantly directs the film and gets the most from the story and the star-studded cast. In addition to Davis and Petty, Tom Hanks, Rosie O’Donnell, and Madonna shine.

A League of Their Own is a well-told glimpse at a side of American history not portrayed with much entertainment and heart packed in.

Brainfood of the Week:

The Power of Kindness | Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek is an inspirational speaker and the author of multiple best-selling books. In this video, he discusses the power of kindness.

Sinek starts by stating that acts of kindness/acts of generosity are how simple it is to make people feel good.

He discusses the science behind the chemical our bodies produce, oxytocin, and how that occurs through acts of kindness and generosity. Witnessing an act of generosity actually increases our levels of oxytocin as well.

I’ve featured Simon Sinek in a few other Sunday Supplements as well. If you like this short two-minute video, check out more of his work.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent the night with a mosquito.”

– African Proverb

This African Proverb makes me smile and reminds me of the power one person or one action can have.

In the proverb, the mosquito obviously can be viewed as a pest one would not spend the night with.

The negative repercussions are clear, but it should also be a reminder of how one person can leave a lasting impression.

I paired this proverb with Jackie Chan’s quote because I believe small acts of kindness can positively affect someone’s life.

Look out for a chance to give a small act of kindness, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Simone de Beauvoir, Project Hail Mary, Apollo 13, The Locus Rule, and Surah Ar-Rahman 60

Sunday Supplement #54 (May 22nd, 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:

“Change your life today. Don’t gamble on the future, act now, without delay.”

– Simone de Beauvoir

Book of the Week:

Project Hail Mary – Andy Weir

In Sunday Supplement #7, I featured the film adaptation of Andy Weir’s book The Martian. Weir originally wrote the book one chapter at a time on his blog.

After completing the serial novel, some of Weir’s loyal readers asked him to self-publish the book on Kindle. He did, and the book went to #1 in science fiction.

Major publishers, Hollywood agents, and producers came knocking to pick up The Martian a few weeks later.

Andy Weir’s third novel, Project Hail Mary, is my favorite book that he’s written so far.

The book follows Ryland Grace, an 8th science teacher who had a previous life in academia as a leading thinker on microbiology.

At the start of the novel, Grace doesn’t know anything about his past life. He wakes up on a spaceship with severe amnesia on a last-chance mission to save humanity.

Grace’s fellow crew did not survive the induced sleep. While his memories fuzzily return, Grace realizes the enormity of his task.

Everyone on Earth is counting on him, even if he doesn’t remember why at the moment. 

Grace must save the Earth from an extinction-level event and might have a chance, thanks to an unexpected ally.

Movie of the Week:

Apollo 13

I have a list of movies to watch when I feel in a rut, and Apollo 13 makes the list. Themes like patience and perseverance stick out, but the story offers much more that resonates with me.

The Ron Howard film tells the story of the Apollo 13 space mission. 

NASA and the mission crew must devise a strategy to return the spacecraft to Earth after the spacecraft undergoes massive damage that threatens the lives of the astronauts.

Tom Hanks stars as crew leader Jim Lovell, with crewmates played by Bill Paxton and Kevin Bacon. 

While they work to solve the problem in space, Ed Harris, as flight director Gene Kranz, leads mission control at NASA.

Supporting roles from Gary Sinise, Kathleen Quinlan, and Jean Speegle Howard brilliantly round out the cast.

The Apollo 13 mission started as the third human-crewed mission meant to land on the moon. The news dumped it as something inconsequential until the potentially fatal setback.

Many great films came out in 1995 for the 68th Academy Awards, and I’m surprised Apollo 13 only won two: Best Sound and Best Film Editing.

The film is still one of my favorites, though, and holds up today as a worthy movie to have on your watch list.

Brainfood of the Week:

How To Stay Motivated | The Locus Rule

The beginning of this video highlights a study done by Claudia M. Mueller at Columbia University in 1998.

Mueller took groups of 5th graders and had them work on numerous puzzles by themselves.

Regardless of how the children did, they were told they performed well and performed better than most other kids. 

Half of the kids were told they scored high because they worked hard, while the other half were told it was because they were intelligent and gifted.

The video discusses the results of a second round of testing and then delves into the concept of the locus of control— the degree to which you believe you have control over your life.

An external locus of control leads to thinking that you can’t control the outcomes around you. You can fall into the trap of feeling like nothing you do matters and stop trying.

Studies on the locus of control have found that having an internal locus of control is the key to staying motivated. 

The video then gives the example of solving problems in your own life to help develop an internal locus of control. By fixing minor issues, you see your actions directly impact your life.

The YouTube channel Improvement Pill designed the video. Their videos are meant to inspire, motivate, or teach something that can change your life.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Is there any reward for good other than good?”

– Surah Ar-Rahman 60

This quote from the Quran reminds me of how to gauge my experiences when I’m interacting with people and my goals.

I believe that when we become focused on an outcome as the only reason for taking action, we will end up unhappy.

A quick example is when you let someone in front of you on the road, and the person doesn’t even bother to give you a little wave.

When I feel frustrated, I try to pause to figure out what’s behind the emotion. Sometimes an irritation just needs to pass, but if I did the action for a reward, I know I’m not in a good place.

This quote and the situations where outcomes are put above the actions remind me of the locus of control.

If I’m doing something good, the outcome might have a temporary letdown if it didn’t go to plan. However, I’m happy that I did the action and know I came from a good place.

Take action on something you want to do, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Viktor Frankl, The Really Hard Problem, Catch Me If You Can, Existentialism, and Dhammapada 103

Sunday Supplement #52 (May 8th, 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:

“If there is meaning in life at all, then there must be a meaning in suffering.”

– Viktor Frankl

Book of the Week:

The Really Hard Problem: Meaning in a Material World – Owen J. Flanagan

Owen Flanagan has the title of James B. Duke Professor ad Duke University, which is only given to a few faculty members with extraordinary records of achievement.

Flanagan teaches Philosophy and Neurobiology and has written extensively on the problem of consciousness and the meaning of life with regard to science and philosophy.

In The Really Hard Problem, Flanagan addresses how meaning is still possible in a material world without needing a supernatural explanation.

The Duke University professor uses concepts from philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and evolutionary biology to outline his findings and beliefs. Flanagan also draws on practices from non-theistic spiritual traditions like Confucianism, Buddhism, and Stoicism.

The book outlines the concept of eudaimonia and how we can live a meaningful life through parameters like being moral, having true friends, opportunities to express our talents, experiencing beauty, and having trust.

Flanagan’s work is a brilliant insight into a human spiritual experience that doesn’t shy away from science. His books are worth checking out.

Movie of the Week:

Catch Me If You Can

Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can is based on the autobiography of con artist Frank Abagnale Jr. 

The movie opens with FBI agent Carl Hanratty (played by Tom Hanks) escorting Frank Jr (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) back to the United States.

Various meaningful moments of Frank Jr’s life are revisited to show how the young man became a notorious check forger. Along his journey, he took on the alias of a pilot, doctor, and lawyer as he conned millions of dollars with forged checks.

The story brilliantly explores honesty in interpersonal relationships as well as the upside and downside of wealth and fame versus being seen and loved for who you are.

There aren’t many movies that delve into moral themes deeply while having an adventurous and entertaining story as the vessel.

Catch Me If You Can didn’t win any Oscars and was only up for two categories at the Academy Awards in 2003. Regardless, it’s worthy of remembering and watching years later.

Brainfood of the Week:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDz7xZkaoFk

Existentialism: Finding Meaning in Suffering | Freedom in Thought

The video opens with the question, “What does suffering mean to you?”

Viktor Frankl’s life and beliefs and Existentialism become the focus of the video to answer and find meaning in the question. 

Frankl is an Austrian neurologist, psychiatrist, philosopher, writer, and Holocaust survivor. He famously wrote the book Man’s Search For Meaning, chronicling his time as a prisoner and his psychotherapeutic method of logotherapy.

The video discusses how essentialism was a widespread belief before World War II. The belief states that we are all born with an essence and a purpose. 

However, many questioned this belief after the atrocities of WWII. It was hard to believe in a predestined meaning if all experiences were suffering.

Existentialism then became a wider spread philosophy. Its core concept is that we are born without a purpose and are left to define our own.

Some people believe this to be a depressing viewpoint because there is no ultimate or objective meaning. Others see it as a beautiful and liberating philosophy where we can have infinite amounts of meaning. 

Frankl’s philosophy allowed him to find meaning in his suffering.

“When we are no longer able to change a situation – just think of an incurable disease such as inoperable cancer – we are challenged to change ourselves.”

Life isn’t about avoiding suffering or stress at all costs. Finding meaning in suffering or finding something worth suffering for is a worthy goal.

The video delves into more positive sides of Existentialism, and I encourage you to view the whole thing. If you enjoy their breakdown of philosophical concepts, I feature another Freedom in Thought video in Sunday Supplement #27.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Greater in battle than the man who would conquer a thousand-thousand men is he who would conquer just one— himself.”

– Dhammapada 103

The Dhammapada is a collection of sayings from the Buddha and is one of the most widely read and known Buddhist scriptures.

This verse reminds me of the true power of having control over oneself.

There are many external obstacles and achievements to navigate in life, but one person is always with you along the way.

I believe some of the most important life lessons are learning to be happy with yourself and being fully conscious of your actions.

The Dhammapada verse reminds me that personal growth and well-being are two things worthy of a lifetime commitment.

Catch yourself in the moment, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Wayne Dyer, The Courage to Be Happy, Forrest Gump, Be the Punchline, and Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:11


Sunday Supplement #22 (October 10th, 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:

“If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

– Wayne Dyer

Book of the Week:

The Courage to Be Happy – Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga

In Sunday Supplement #7, I discussed Kishimi and Koga’s first collaboration, The Courage to Be Disliked. The first book explores the psychology of Alfred Adler using the Socratic method of dialogue between a philosopher and a youth. I remember reading it and feeling delighted by the ideas explored in the text. 

The second book takes place a few years later after the youth went out into the world to teach the ideas he learned. The youth returns, angered at the philosopher because the concepts of Adler did not have real-world application. They sit down once more and go over everything but with the viewpoint of how each idea fits in everyday situations.

The Courage to Be Happy is a brilliant follow-up to the first novel. Much like the youth, I was not in the best mindset in the first stages of the book. It was interesting for me to go along the journey with the youth and rediscover some of the ideas I forgot and how they can be used in day-to-day processes. 

The biggest realization for me came from their discussion around the triangle of responses many people have to setbacks. The first side is “woe is me—I can’t catch a break.” The second is “these people or this institution is setting me back.” The third side is one people often forget, and it’s a question—“What should I do now?”

I picked up many lessons from reading this book and highly encourage anyone interested to look at Kishimi and Koga’s work.

Movie of the Week:

Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump is an iconic American film that won six Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Tom Hanks), Best Director, and Best Writing – Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published.

The movie covers significant periods of American history, from post-World War II to the post-Watergate, through the eyes of an Alabama man with an IQ of 75, whose only desire is to be reunited with his childhood sweetheart.

There are many things to appreciate about this film, but the characters are the best part for me. Forrest’s single-minded focus on whatever task is at hand without getting bored is uplifting and inspirational. Jenny’s intelligence and perception are evident throughout the movie, and it’s interesting to see her journey of running away from her past to settling down. Bubba’s determination and ambition for his shrimping boat is admirable and motivational but ultimately heartbreaking when it’s taken away. My favorite character, Lieutenant Dan, has an idea of how his life is supposed to be and finds it taken away from him, only to finally accept and be grateful for the life he’s given.

Forrest Gump is one of my favorite movies. It’s a go-to film I watch when I’m depressed and always reminds me of how acceptance, gratitude, and a positive attitude can drastically change how you experience life.

Brainfood of the Week:

Be The Punchline – Michael Jr.

Comedian Michael Jr. does more than just make people laugh. He brings joy through an interesting perspective to peoples’ lives. In addition to being a comedian, Michael Jr. is an author, podcaster, and actor. A significant portion of his career focuses on bringing laughter to uncommon places like prisons and homeless shelters. The purpose of his mission is captured in the quick video above.

I remember coming across this video years ago and coming away with the realization that a simple reframe can drastically change the energy behind an action. In the video, Michael Jr. discusses his “big break” in his career. It wasn’t an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno but a change in mindset he had before performing at a club.

The simple reframe is explained in the video and is profound in its impact. Michael Jr. goes on to explain how that new mindset affected his life and career. It’s a three-minute clip and packs a tremendous impact. Check it out!

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves.”

– Surah Ar-Ra’d 13:11

For me, this passage from the Quran follows up and expands on the Wayne Dyer quote from the beginning of the supplement. The Surah Ar-Ra’d verse delves deeper into the spiritual side of change. Dyer’s quote often reminds me of when you stand on top of a chair in a room you know well and how different can appear. Likewise, if you change how you view an event or a person, you can get a different perspective.

The passage above reminds me of how changing your internal point of view over time can make you a different person. When I’ve gone through a period of depression in the past, it felt like everything I saw was sad. Everything filtered through a negative perspective and stemmed from the disheartened place inside me. However, building positive habits and healing past traumas helped me change for the better.

Passages like these remind me that we have control over our actions and how we view the world. It is a power we should never relinquish.

Think of a past event that was negative, reframe it, and have a blessed week ahead!

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