The Sunday Series: In Gratitude, with Mark Brodinsky

When your love pours down on me
You know I’m finally free
So I tell you gratefully
Every single beat in my heart, is yours to keep.

Lyrics from Close Your Eyes, by Michael Buble

 

I’m Mark Brodinsky and this is The Sunday Series.

For nearly 50 Sundays now I have attempted to do what the lyrics describe above, try and pour my life into yours and in doing so speak from the heart and share your story. Everyone has a story. Every beat of my heart in between the lines of those stories is yours to keep, permanently.

These stories are about courage, hope, inspiration, people overcoming great obstacles, or perhaps someone who fought a great fight, or someone living their purpose and doing what they were born to do, living their WHY.

Sunday Series #50 will appear next week – a story yet to be written, though I have a short list of people in mind. But if you have an idea and want to be nearly guaranteed a spot in The Sunday Series book which I plan for 2015 — then now is the time to speak up. You can reach me on this blog, or by e-mail at markbrodinsky@gmail.com

For today and to wrap up this long weekend of thanks and gratitude, I thought it appropriate to share my gratitude for each of those who have presented me with the honor of sharing their story. It is a privilege and there there would be no Sunday Series without you; I am forever in your debt. It is my way to give back and at the same time share my own gift of story-telling on this blog, one which now reaches nearly every corner of the globe on WordPress, Huffington Post, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Tumblr, Google + and more. Thank you for the “shares” and the courage to share your story and your deepest thoughts, fears and joys with me. I know together we affect each other’s lives and if your story can touch even one more life, than this is all worth it.

We have only just begun.

So in gratitude for those who have either presented me with their idea or story, been referred to me, or had the courage to step up and share your amazing journey, or that of someone you know — this is for you.  We’ll start with #49 and work our way back:

#49: Thank you to Josh and Kelsey Begley – you are just beginning the fight and we and thousands of other hearts are here to pray with you for eventual good health and a bright future with Baby Begley:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-49-with-mark-brodinsky/

#48: Thank you to Alex and Raquel Penduk for giving so many others who might have lost their way a reason to believe:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-48-with-mark-brodinsky/

#47: Thanks to Lesly Winer Bogash for finding your own way and then learning to share what you have learned to teach others to live in health and wealth:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-47-with-mark-brodinsky/

#46: Thanks go Lisa Oster, who wants us all to remember that Gray Matters, and brain tumors should not be the “forgotten” illness:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-46-with-mark-brodinsky/

#45: In gratitude to Richard Mosca who sacrifices his heart to help give other patients even a few moments of hope in their own:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-45-with-mark-brodinsky/

#44: Thanks to Madelyn Schloss, whose beauty both inside and out is a testament to how she has handled her life-long challenge:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-44-with-mark-brodinsky/

#43: In gratitude for Neha Kundagrami, who despite her health challenge believes she is one of the lucky ones:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-43-with-mark-brodinsky/

#42: Thanks for the inspiration – Eric Thomas, Darren Hardy and Kirk Franklin. 3 Videos, 3 ways your life could change:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-42-with-mark-brodinsky/

#41: In gratitude for the life lived by Larry Bensky – his ride, his journey is one we all should know better, because it will make you better:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-41-with-mark-brodinsky/

#40: It’s the story I wanted to tell, but didn’t for much too long – in hopes that my own struggle with speech might help someone else:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-40-with-mark-brodinsky/

#39: Thanks to Nestor Aparicio, for showing all of us the only way to live is to stay true to yourself and that guy in the glass:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-39-with-mark-brodinsky/

#38: In gratitude to Vickie Gelfman, who proved to us all a heart is not judged by how much you love, but how much you are loved by others:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-38-with-mark-brodinsky/

#37: Thanks to Amanda Endres who shows us all her light by fighting her way out of the darkness. Her smile is as bright as the sun:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-37-with-mark-brodinsky/

#36: Thanks to Pete Kohlasch, a young man I love like a brother who has chosen to put his life in “Perspektive” to help make your life as big as it can be:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-36-with-mark-brodinsky/

#35: Thanks to three men who embraced failure with such love, dedication and devotion, it got them to the Hall of Fame:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-35-with-mark-brodinsky/

#34: In gratitude to Robert Kaitz who chose to put his selfish pride on the shelf and share his battle with a rare male disease. He’s one man you wouldn’t want to mess with:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-34-with-mark-brodinsky/

#33: With deep and sincere appreciation for Harvey Brotman, one of the men who helped save the world for the rest of us. There aren’t many of them left:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-33-with-mark-brodinsky/

#32: Thanks to Jennifer Aparicio. Courage doesn’t get any bigger than this. She’s #JennStrong:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-32-with-mark-brodinsky/

#31: In gratitude to Natalie Fischer, and the other cyclists who prove that life is a journey, not a destination:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-31-with-mark-brodinsky/

#30: Thanks to Jennifer Drucker for proving that love is unconditional. It wasn’t what she expected, but is now everything she’s about:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-30-with-mark-brodinsky/

#29: In gratitude to Ivelisse Page. The beauty of her name is surpassed only by the beauty and scope of her dream, to Believe Big:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-29-with-mark-brodinsky/

#28: Thanks to Jill Eisenberg who is riding nearly every day to change the lives of those with MS:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-28-with-mark-brodinsky/

#27: Thanks to Ashley Silcott and her battle for breath, a woman so strong and determined she was able to breathe life into another:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-27-with-mark-brodinsky/

#26: In gratitude to my wife Debbie. She is truly the gift which keeps on giving:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-mothers-day-sunday-series-with-mark-brodinsky/

#25: Thanks to Beth Fisher, who is keeping the memory of her husband alive and her kids on track:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-25-with-mark-brodinsky/

#24: Thanks to Ali and Rob Lazorchak for sharing the story of Hayden’s “heartlight”:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-24-with-mark-brodinsky/

#23: In gratitude to Greg Merrill and his mission to save thousands of lives:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-23-with-mark-brodinsky/

#22: Thanks to Nanda Oliveria for sharing her story of coming to America. Bold, beautiful and inspiring:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-22-with-mark-brodinsky/

#21: In gratitude to Sophie Brodinsky who literally taught me how to speak from the heart:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-21-with-mark-brodinsky/

#20: Thanks to Diane Hyatt, her loss forced her to go it alone, but now she has found a way to connect:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-20-with-mark-brodinsky/

#19: In gratitude to Brian Morrison who has shown us all how to Believe in Tomorrow:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-19-with-mark-brodinsky/

#18: Thanks to Debbie Fink Green who is fighting the fight and taking it one day at a time:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-18-with-mark-brodinsky/

#17: Thanks to Gail Parker for sharing her love story with Craig Wehrle, forever in her heart:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-17-with-mark-brodinsky/

#16: In gratitude to four men I never met, but who helped to change the world:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-16-with-mark-brodinsky/

#15: Thanks to Brennan Stark who proves you can’t make it if you never try:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-15-with-mark-brodinsky/

#14: Everyone has a story and a purpose. This is mine:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-14-with-mark-brodinsky/

#13: Thanks to Penny Kinkade. She lost the man who “breathed life into her”, but had the courage to share her story:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-13-with-mark-brodinsky/

#12: In gratitude to Aiden James who gave Ashley Navitskis a gift she carries with her the rest of her life:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-12-with-mark-brodinsky/

#11: Thanks to Debbie Fink Green. This is where her story began and she’s all in for life:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-11-with-mark-brodinsky/

#10: Thanks to my Top Ten, the very first ten Sunday Series:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-top-10-with-mark-brodinsky/

#9: In gratitude to Rich Polt. You would be hard pressed to find someone who does it better:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-9-with-mark-brodinsky/

#8: Thanks to Sandy Pagnotti who is living her life’s purpose in the House That Love Built:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-8-with-mark-brodinsky/

#7: In gratitude to Michele McFarland and her family who are touching lives with comfort:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-7-with-mark-brodinsky/

#6: Thanks to Daron Fisher who fought the good fight and taught us how to Keep Punching:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-6-with-mark-brodinsky/

#5:  Thanks to Abby and Lexi for their smiles, their energy, their Flowers for Powers:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-5-its-just-about-life/

#4:  In gratitude to Jerry G. One of the brightest stars of my life:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-4-its-just-about-life/

#3: Thanks to Jodi Hume who from the moment you meet her you knew she is in the business of life:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-3-its-just-about-life/

#2: Thanks to Traci Kodeck for sharing her “soul purpose” and her battle to become a Mom:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-2-its-just-about-life/

#1: In gratitude to Marci Scher. It was her request to tell Ian’s story that launched The Sunday Series. Marci I am forever in your debt:
http://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-begins-its-just-about-life/

To all those who allowed me the privilege to share your story, many of whom I never met before we spoke, thank you for your trust – you are forever in my heart.

Close your eyes
let me tell you all the reasons why
I think you’re one of a kind.

• Lyrics from Close Your Eyes, by Michael Buble

Next week: #50.

Until next time, thanks for taking the time.
Mark

Mark Brodinsky, Author, Blogger, Financial Services

The #1 Amazon Best-Seller: It Takes 2. Surviving Breast Cancer: A Spouse’s Story
(http://www.spouses-story.com/)

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