Tag: Willpower
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How Does Free Solo Reflect Neuroplasticity, Balance, and the Pursuit of Excellence?
Read more: How Does Free Solo Reflect Neuroplasticity, Balance, and the Pursuit of Excellence?Free Solo is a 2018 American documentary film directed by Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin, profiling rock climber Alex Honnold’s quest to achieve the first-ever free solo ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in June 2017. Watching it a few years ago, I still remember the sweat on my hands and feet—I…
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How Does Finding Your Feet Inspire Us to Embrace Change and Neuroplasticity?
Read more: How Does Finding Your Feet Inspire Us to Embrace Change and Neuroplasticity?Watching Finding Your Feet (2018) with my wife was a delightful experience. This British comedy may not be the greatest movie of all time, but it has a warm heart if you set aside the clichés and stereotypes it leans on. The story revolves around Sandra, a woman whose life is upended when she discovers…
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The Lion King: A Story of Growth, Responsibility, and Emotional Healing
Read more: The Lion King: A Story of Growth, Responsibility, and Emotional HealingReleased in 1994 by Disney, The Lion King is certainly one of the most famous animated movies ever created. As I write these very lines, the sequel to the live-action version of the movie, Mufasa: The Lion King, is being released in theaters. With plans to see it, it seemed like the perfect occasion to…
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Rediscovering Balance: Lessons from Climbing and Life
Read more: Rediscovering Balance: Lessons from Climbing and LifeThe end of the year, with Christmas and New Year festivities, often becomes a time of overindulgence in food and drink while neglecting exercise. For many, the cold weather only dampens motivation. However, these are precisely the moments when we should remind ourselves of our daily habits, particularly maintaining fitness. While reflecting on ideas for…
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Unlocking the Power of Fitness, Nutrition, and Sleep for a Thriving Life
Read more: Unlocking the Power of Fitness, Nutrition, and Sleep for a Thriving LifeI couldn’t properly exercise when I went back to France for a few days, and yesterday marked two weeks since I last visited the bouldering gym. I woke up feeling a bit tired despite the short break from my routine. This highlights the importance of regular fitness practice. Inspired by watching Invictus recently and my…
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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…