Tag: Willpower
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Finding Purpose in Redemption: Lessons from Ordinary Angels
Read more: Finding Purpose in Redemption: Lessons from Ordinary AngelsDuring a recent flight to Paris, I stumbled upon the movie Ordinary Angels, starring Hilary Swank. I hadn’t heard of it before but decided to give it a try—and it spoke to me deeply for numerous reasons. Inspired by a true story that took place during the 1994 North American cold wave, the movie follows…
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How a Manga, a Middle School Friendship, and a Global Perspective Shaped My Vision
Read more: How a Manga, a Middle School Friendship, and a Global Perspective Shaped My VisionMy short trip to Paris to visit my dad also gave me the chance to reconnect with my best friend from middle school. We met at a prestigious middle school in Paris, located near the Eiffel Tower, surrounded by stereotypically wealthy French students. He comes from Algerian ancestry, and I am of Chinese descent, which…
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From “Stan” to Stability: Lessons from Eminem on Overcoming Addiction
Read more: From “Stan” to Stability: Lessons from Eminem on Overcoming AddictionBeing back in Paris for a few days to reconnect with family and friends brought back memories of Eminem’s song Stan, featuring Dido, released in 2000. Although I don’t know much about Eminem and rarely listen to rap music, this song caught my attention when it was heavily played during its release. I’d be lying…
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Kickboxer, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and the Power of Awareness
Read more: Kickboxer, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and the Power of AwarenessI met a good friend recently, someone I’ve known since we both joined the same IT course 12 years ago. He’s not just a friend but also a martial arts champion of France, which immediately brought to mind a movie I loved as a child: Kickboxer, directed by David Worth and starring Jean-Claude Van Damme.…
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Chihayafuru: A Tale of Friendship, Growth, and Brain-Boosting Lessons
Read more: Chihayafuru: A Tale of Friendship, Growth, and Brain-Boosting LessonsWe recently watched the live-action movie series Chihayafuru (a trilogy) with my wife. She asked me if I had heard of Carta before seeing it. Surprisingly, I hadn’t even come across the name. Carta is a Japanese game where two participants duel on a tatami floor, aiming to be faster than their opponent in finding…
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Uplift Spice’s “Justice”: A Dark Reflection on Society and Inequality
Read more: Uplift Spice’s “Justice”: A Dark Reflection on Society and InequalityI first discovered Uplift Spice through their song Kanojo, introduced by the now-defunct French television channel, NoLife TV. Despite not being as famous as the major hits dominating the Japanese music scene, their music left a lasting impression. I was surprised when a drummer friend of mine turned out to be a big fan of…
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Lessons from The Last Samurai: Addiction, Redemption, and Cultural Unity
Read more: Lessons from The Last Samurai: Addiction, Redemption, and Cultural UnityThe Last Samurai by Edward Zwick stars Tom Cruise alongside renowned Japanese actors such as Ken Watanabe and Hiroyuki Sanada. The movie brings together American and Japanese cultures, and while it includes some inevitable clichés, it does so thoughtfully, adding authenticity by casting Japanese actors. (Unlike many productions that cast non-Japanese Asian actors for Japanese…
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The Promised Neverland: A Tale of Awareness and the Brain’s Infinite Potential
Read more: The Promised Neverland: A Tale of Awareness and the Brain’s Infinite PotentialI was introduced to the anime adaptation of The Promised Neverland by Kaiu Shirai through my wife, who thought I would find it intriguing. Intrigued by her recommendation, we dove into the series together. The narrative proved to be utterly captivating. Set in what initially seems to be a serene and idealistic orphanage, the story…
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The Impact of Sleep on Our Perception and Well-Being
Read more: The Impact of Sleep on Our Perception and Well-BeingThe movie Ring by Hideo Nakata left a profound impact on me, particularly in how I viewed sleep. Now that I understand more about the brain and its functions, I realize how incredibly powerful it is and why it deserves to be at the center of our attention. I first watched Ring during high school,…
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Battle Royale: A Deep Critique of Society and the Future of Generations
Read more: Battle Royale: A Deep Critique of Society and the Future of GenerationsI watched Battle Royale on the recommendation of friends during my university years when I was studying Japanese. The movie sparked controversy but was also widely praised, notably by Quentin Tarantino, who listed it as one of his favorite films of the past two decades. Set in a dystopian future after a recession, a totalitarian…