Personal Stories

Live long enough and you just might just see it all. The good, the bad, the ugly… the heartbreaking. It’s been several days now since Brian Feit died on a road just outside Towson, Maryland. His car crossed the center…

There is an infinite bright light which shines in all of us. It’s a light which guides us and if we are so inclined will light the way for others. Sometimes we let darkness slip in, not on purpose, but…

You know the signature line by now: Everyone has a story. That’s why this is YOUR book because the stories are all about you! I’m writing this blog today because I’m proud to announce the paperback release of The Sunday Series…

Never discount the power of the human spirit. Through strife, setbacks or challenges it is always there, present, ready to rise to the challenge. You need only invoke the power through faith and fortitude. We all possess this strength, but…

In this life one of the greatest keys to happiness is to realize one simple fact: you are who you are and unlike anyone else. Yet the great challenge of this existence is to live up to that responsibility, to…

Any given moment is a chance to change, the opportunity to turn in all around…especially in your mind. Thoughts are things and thinking stuff has the ability to permeate, penetrate and fill the spaces of the universe.  In other words,…

Sometimes you just feel it. The pure beauty, the overwhelming joy, the magic that is life. It’s there for the taking in any given moment, for every moment is a reason to change, to renew, to begin again. No matter…

No real introduction needed today…let’s get right to the point. Everyone has a story. I am Mark Brodinsky and this is The Sunday Series. The Sunday Series: The Book! To love. To serve. To care. To share your story. Many…

It’s been said God doesn’t give us more than we can handle. Yet sometimes it’s so challenging, so tough, we wonder if that statement can stand in its truth. It can. The secret is faith. To live by faith, not…

Life is full of bright and vibrant colors, but sometimes we feel trapped in the black-and-white. We see only the straight lines instead of the curves, the narrow path before us instead of the tiny trail which could lead us…

Life is all about love. How we love others and how we love ourselves. Simple concepts but in practice, especially the latter, can be a challenge… mainly because we don’t always know how. This inability can define our path, at…

In life we all know there is one thing you should not do, run away. Not from your problems, your challenges, nor any adversity. You should run… but in the other direction. Toward all of it. Directly into the storm,…

The answers to the questions we have about life – they are rarely, if ever, black and white. There are gray areas and even more so colors – some dark, some bright and vibrant. And sometimes you get caught in…

When the unexpected becomes accepted the world shifts, hearts grow, perceptions change. What can appear on the surface to be a difficult challenge to overcome, if viewed in a different light and from a place of faith, gratitude can be…

One of the great mysteries in life is that things are not what they seem – and the closer you get to something you thought you knew – the more you realize how little you really do. It’s eye-opening and…

It’s as close to a sure thing as death and taxes… as a matter of fact if you haven’t experienced it you certainly aren’t living, or at least living right. It’s the “F” word. Failure. But how many of us…

If you are old enough to remember, you will never forget.  If everyone has a story, then on this day, everyone lived a story they will share as long as they are alive. Today we remember and in many respects…

It’s not always what you expect out of life, it’s about what you get, or more importantly what you are given. What do you with the circumstances of your life defines who you are. The more love you love, the…

A celebration of moments. In the big scheme of things this is what makes up a life, moment after moment. What gets lost in the shuffle is that we rarely take the time, if ever, to embrace the moments we…

It’s the journey, plain and simple. We are all traveling along and the path is rarely straight, or flat. It is filled with twists, turns, hills, valleys and sometimes mountains to climb. But learning from others who have found the…

It’s pretty simple. If you are going to live a life of significance, it will have to be one which serves other people. No matter what your challenges, you still have gifts. These gifts are your responsibility to find a…

The ability to know you are more than who you are. It’s inside each and every one of us. As much as we are different, we have many things in common. We are all broken… and yet at the same…

It starts with the offering to go deep and to ask a few questions. Perhaps it’s never been explained better than through these words from author Dean Del Sesto: “The empty pleasantries of dancing on the surface of people’s lives…

If I could reach the stars Pull one down for you, Shine it on my heart So you could see the truth. Eric Clapton, lyrics from Change the World We all know the truth: the reflection of your true heart…

It’s like finding a diamond in the rough. Meet someone and from the experience of that encounter you gain something totally unexpected. Some people just find a way to shine through whatever darkness tries to mask their light, and for…

Fight. Hit back. Overcome.  When you feel like giving up, when it seems you are in your darkest place, that’s the time to grab a-hold of everything inside you, because it is inside each and every one of us, the…

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.” – William Shakespeare We all, each…

I guess it’s kind of like Blogging 101. Why I do what I do – so perhaps, if someone doesn’t get it, they can develop a better understanding. It’s time to turn the beat around. For what I believe I…

#100. It’s just a number, but numbers are significant in our lives. They mark. They measure. They matter. They make an impact on nearly everything we do, including the passage of time and space, the years of our journey. Sunday…

This week, this Sunday, I’m going to tell you a story and for the first time in 98 weeks of this Sunday Series, I’m going to ask you to lend a hand, not for me, but for the girls, and…

“We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do…

To live life and appreciate every moment you can, there really is no other way. If you realize that life is meant to be lived in just this manner, strive to reach your potential, give back to others, embrace the…

A new year. A new beginning. But for who? You? Maybe you don’t want to change, maybe you like you right where you are. That’s OK. But how many of us are truly satisfied with every part of our lives:…

Everyone has a story. Everyone has a calling and part of mine is to share yours… to be the vessel through which you can tell the world your tale and others can appreciate the courage, hope and inspiration from your…

Dear Sophie, How do you weave the past, the present and the future into a single night? Spend the evening with the person who nearly 16 years ago did the one thing no one else on earth could do…you made me…

This week I am taking a short pause in The Sunday Series to answer a question I have been asked lately, actually quite often. Why? Why do this? From where I sit there is no reason to question why I…

If you want it, you need to do one simple thing, go after it. Want to change your life? Want to change someone else’s life? Then follow your heart. Reach deep inside, bring out all the courage you’ve got, fight…

You might not know exactly how it happens, but you will always know why. After all if you find your why and mix it with your passion, your purpose and unrelenting persistence then you’ve found the right recipe, then anything…

This is the Thanksgiving Tradition for The Sunday Series, to recap what has come before.  Last year on Sunday November 30th it was the first 50. Since that time there have been nearly 40 more… if I told your story,…

When do you learn what you’re really made of? Usually it’s when you least expect it. When your back is up against the wall and you must rise to the occasion. It’s not always easy  to see when you are…

Frequently life will introduce you to unexpected revelations. Live long enough and you will discover something for which you never gave more than a passing thought. Then circumstances bring it into your sphere of focus and the knowledge becomes an…

It was Aristotle who first defined the word “community” as a group established by men having shared values.  Merriam-Webster defines it as a group of people with a common characteristic, or interest living together within a larger society. In this area…

For more than two years now – and on most Sundays-  there’s this mirror, one in which I have other people look into, as they talk about themselves and their lives, be it challenges, or triumphs. Their  reflection and their…

Love. This one word means so many things to so many people, yet at its core — it nearly defies explanation. How is it humanly possible to wrap your head around an emotion which courses through your heart, mind, body…

No one should ever go through a life challenge alone. Few do. Because we all feel the deepest of human experiences together – love and loss. When forced to make a choice, when pushed to decide to live or to…

We all know it can happen in the blink of an eye. We just think it won’t happen to us. But life happens. For nearly the past two weeks Brian Granek’s life has been happening as a series of life-changing…

Think you can’t change the world?  Then you are not thinking big enough, dreaming big enough, or believing big enough. Because you can…. but only if you believe in yourself first. Everyone has a story. I am Mark Brodinsky and this is…

It’s not what controls you, it’s what you control. You get to decide how to live your life. You get to make the choice. You can choose to react, or respond. You make this life happen. Everyone has a story….

This is really what started it all: courage, hope and inspiration. Before The Sunday Series and my mission began to share other people’s stories with the world, there was the book. September 26, 2013 we published our very personal journey, It…

They say you never get over it, you just get on with it. A year later, one woman is learning this lesson. It’s not easy, but it has to happen, for life must go on. Everyone has a story. I…

To be the best, to take your talent and rise to the top you have to work harder, want it more than most and look for the chance to shine. That’s it, there is no secret. You can’t get there…

Sometimes it’s personal. Courage, hope, or inspiration. The inspiration which a child can bring to your life and the magic and wonder of watching them grow. Everyone has a story and this is The Sunday Series. The Sunday Series (80):…

Never give up. Never lose faith. Never say die. That’s the mark of a champion. Against all odds, when the chips are down and it seems hope is lost, you find a way to push through. The most successful, significant…

Lexi Thomas and Abby Levin went on a mission: to bring smiles and love in a unique way. They helped to form Flowers For Powers – to bring healing powers and smiles to those who need it most, to some…

These are the stories of courage, hope and inspiration. Today, this Sunday, a story which is meant to bring about hope in one of the toughest of circumstances. It’s serious, it’s wrong, it’s sick, it’s demoralizing and it needs to…

It’s always about the smile and this time it’s personal:  The 4th installment of The Sunday Series iTunes Podcast, is dedicated to my father-in-law and great friend Jerry Gross who we lost to esophageal cancer in 2009. Diagnosed in June…

Live in gratitude and never take it for granted. We’re talking about life of course. It’s not about what happens to you, it’s about what you do to make something happen.  Be grateful, be transparent, challenge yourself and most importantly turn…

Thirty days from today I turn 50 years of age and reach the halftime of my life, (I’m living to 100), and today I am offering another way to give back. To me this is simply another layer of giving,…

It’s life. You live it – or at least you try – and when faced with circumstances which appear to go beyond what most others have to deal with, you take what is in your control and give it everything…

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But the reality beneath what we behold, might not be what we expect.  Sometimes the delicate lines of a pretty face mask a fragile existence, spent facing tough challenges and a…

As a parent you only want the best for your child, for them to be healthy, successful, to flourish, or in rare cases, to simply survive. The Cowan family knows this all too well and today their story continues. I…

Resiliency. It is the ability to overcome challenges of all kinds–trauma, tragedy, personal crises, plain ‘ole’ life problems–and bounce back stronger, wiser, and more personally powerful. It’s important because this is what we need to do when faced with life’s…

All too often life is not what is seems and sometimes your own is misunderstood. It might be the fragile facade you put up to mask your pain. Repressed feelings are ten times more powerful than those from which you…

It’s a fact: we are all unique. Some are fortunate to be more so than others, but  in ways you might not imagine. It all comes down to your perspective on these differences. What you and I might view as…

There may be no better example of courage, hope and inspiration. Today and tomorrow we show our respect, admiration and gratitude for the men and women who serve our country, who sacrifice their own safety, their own lives to protect…

It’s there for all of us. The question is do you hear it, are you truly listening? It’s that voice telling you who you are, what you are really all about and what talent or gift you may have hidden…

It’s a common fallacy. People think just because you are here, there was no trip, no roller coaster ride you took to get there. The success you have now was not part of a fierce battle for survival, it just…

There are really only two true paths in life, go all in, or get left out. If you simply hang out in the middle, you don’t give much, or get much in return. But find your purpose, take pride in…

If all the world is a stage, then such is life. So many of us want the world to see our front stage, the performance, sometimes raw and real, but so many times simply an act, as we conceal what is…

Sometimes to appreciate where you are, you have to go back to how it all began. In life there is undoubtedly some obstacle, some struggle, some lack of faith you had to overcome before you could get to where you…

I never met Debbie Fink Green in person, not in the face-to-face physical sense, but we spoke on the phone on two different occasions for more than three hours. In fact, that is how 99% of these Sunday Series interviews…

You heed the call, especially for someone you love,  someone who shares your heart, someone who shares your blood.  When it’s time to step up and say “I will”, family comes first. By demonstrating your courage and sharing your story…

In this thing we call life there are so many moments, happy, sad, joy, despair and everything in between. The challenge of truly living your life comes from the ability to face it head-on no matter what the circumstance. Make…

It’s just Life. After all if it were easy, everyone would do it. The it is to live life no matter what…to know that whatever the challenge is, you are facing it head on, finding the courage to overcome, feeling…

We all have something to say. Everyone has a story. Yours might just change someone’s life. The secret to making that happen? Speak from the heart… I am Mark Brodinsky and this is The Sunday Series. ————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————- The Sunday Series…

We never know what might push us to the limit, make us step out over the edge and peer down into the abyss. The question is how do you pull yourself back? It  can be done. No matter how dark……

Sometimes it’s those who are at the mercy of others, who can do little or nothing to help themselves, where you find the true need for change. It takes courage to make a stand, to reach out, create hope and…

Pain does one of two things to you, it either drives you or it destroys you. Not everyone can rise up and turn adversity into advantage. But if you really dig down deep, listen to your heart and dive head…

Sometimes life just stops, or so it seems. One day you feel like a million bucks, with your life in flow and balance, and the next you are scared to death. It’s a fact of life, every 24 hours the…

“Life is not the way it’s supposed to be. It’s the way it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.” – Virginia Satir The stories on the pages of this blog, on The Sunday Series,…

It’s one of the most basic of  human desires, the need to communicate, to speak and to be heard. When the thoughts are there, the ideas are many, the gift you want to share is on the tip of your…

It is pure and raw courage from those who live through it. It is the inspiration from those afflicted and then from those left behind. It is a living, breathing beacon of  light and hope, from those who find a…

The Sunday Series begins a new year.  What we do here each week is to share a story, one of courage, hope, or inspiration. A story about you –  you overcoming a great challenge, you lending a helping hand, or…

Today belongs to you. Your story, your inspiration, your courage and the hope you could bring to so many. This is The Sunday Series. The Sunday Series (51): Vision of Love You don’t have to have perfect sight to have…

We’ve reached #50. Fifty Sundays of stories, a milestone on this blog and hopefully for how the world is affected by stories of courage, hope and inspiration. I thank you for the opportunity. I love to write, I love to…

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…

So don’t yield to the fortunes you sometimes see as fate, they may have a new perspective on a different day. And if you don’t give up and don’t give in it may just be OK. – The Living Years,…

You can help someone in need, but only after you help yourself first. You change and things change for you. You become an inspiration by showing others how it’s done. This is The Sunday Series. The Sunday Series (47): Wealth…

We all fall down. Sometimes it’s because of our own mistakes, or bad decisions and sometimes because of outside forces, elements out of our control. But the true, deep meaning of life is how you get back up. It’s your courage…

Lighting the way as a beacon of hope, demonstrating courage to others fighting the fight, being an inspiration when someone needs it most. For one man, it’s become a way of life. The Sunday Series (45): A Man of Good Hope…

What if I had your heart? What if you wore my scars? How would we break down ? What if you were me, what if I were you? – Lyrics from What If, by Five for Fighting Everyone has a…

Personal commitments: Orioles playoff games, religious holidays, an impending speaking engagement today, all combined to fill my 168 hours this week and I could not make time to do an interview, let it marinate in my heart and mind and…

The courage to move forward. A dedication which inspires us all. The hope for a better tomorrow. September marks National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and today the story of one young lady who is finding her way out of the…

  There is no doubt words have power. Whether written or spoken words can create feelings, emotions, change thoughts and change lives. The reason…because we all share something simple, yet deep – the human experience. The Sunday Series (42): Only Human…

It can be exhilarating or excruciating and many, many layers in between. In this crazy thing we call life we try our best to find our why, our way, a hero, inspiration, and meaning. We respect those who show great courage, and we…

You can be amazing You can turn a phrase into a weapon or a drug You can be the outcast Or be the backlash of somebody’s lack of love Or you can start speaking up Lyrics to Brave, by Sarah…

Your purpose, your mission, your WHY. Doing what you love to do and getting paid for it, making a living at something which feeds your soul – it’s no longer work – it’s inspiring to everyone around you. But even in…

“… how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind, but now I see….” – Amazing Grace The Sunday Series (38): Amazing Grace “A heart is not judged by…

They say never give up. Learning from those who refuse to lose might be the greatest inspiration of all. The Sunday Series (37): Amanda’s Sunrise Just days away from a major milestone in her life, 17-year-old Amanda Endres is feeling…

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes, how do you measure a year in the life?  Or in this case, how do you measure a year without one? That’s what the Fisher family has done since husband and father,…

21-12. An uphill battle. His team down by nine points heading into the 3rd quarter of the state championship game and the biggest game of this young man’s life. This quarterback, the leader of his Harrison High School football team, suddenly…

Many thanks to Rich Polt and his mission of Talking Good, (http://www.talkinggood.com/), for choosing to interview and feature my story today.  Back in December I featured Rich in The Sunday Series, (https://markbrodinsky.com/the-sunday-series-9-with-mark-brodinsky/) and today he turns the tables and by doing so,…

Failure after failure after failure. Massive failure. Inside all of it just a modicum of success. For many the daily grind would break them, the glimmer of hope would not sustain them. But these humans have that something extra which…

When life comes at you on a curve you adjust your swing, change your approach, maybe alter the way you live your life and the way you share that life with others.  You show courage, channel hope and inspire others by your example. The Sunday…

I only wish you got to live the dream I did. It was so good, so much fun there are times now I look back and think it might have been just that, a dream. But it was real. I got…

It’s Sunday. Time to share your story, one of tremendous courage, hope, or inspiration. You are someone making an impact on the world. A change-maker, a thought-leader, and today…. a hero.  During this weekend as we celebrate our independence, the…

The mission: to move and inspire you with the heroism of others. Those who show tremendous courage in the face of adversity, those who give hope to others who need it the most, those who show us all how to live a life fulfilled. This…

You have a voice, you have a story, everyone does. On Sunday, I share yours. Courage, hope and inspiration: The Sunday Series. The Sunday Series (31): From Sea to Shining Sea I want to ride, ride like the wind, to…

Rarely have I blogged twice in one day. But just before 2pm today, I got this e-mail from the team at Huffington Post: Thank you very much for your blog post. It’s been published. This is my first blog published…

Everyone has a story to share. For 30 Sundays now I have shared yours. Each one I hope brings about perspective, emotion, inspiration, and life’s greatest reward: Love. Love is at the core of all human experience and today, it…

To inspire, have courage, keep hope alive. All of these are traits of winners, those who are leading the way, showing us all how it’s done, overcoming obstacles and helping in any way they can to be change makers. These…

“The inspiration I am getting is from my kids, they are doing great. They are busy, social and active and have amazing friends and it’s also from other people. That helps replace the sadness.” – Beth Flaks Fisher The fighter…

It’s nothing more than a muscle, a small part of your makeup which beats in rhythm to sustain life. Yet it holds so much significance, not just in its ability to exist at the core of your body, but at…

Sometimes it’s not only hope, courage or inspiration…how about innovation? How about innovation with a purpose, to save another human being? The Sunday Series (23): How to Save A Life It might just be the number one risk to your…

Sometimes it’s personal. The Sunday Series (21): In Full Bloom, Again The focus of this series, real stories, your stories is to provide perspective on life, through others who are showing us the way with their courage, hope and inspiration….

20 Sundays. 20 of your stories. The mission: to provide courage, hope, inspiration and help put life in perspective. The Sunday Series (20): Hope Matters There is single parenting, then there is something else. Those who are forced to go…

I could see from the moment she walked in the door, this would be big, no matter which way it went. I already knew it was a big deal, we all did and I was glad I came home early…

All of us have a finish line. For most of us it’s invisible. We don’t know when, we don’t know where, we don’t know how, but we are going to cross it. Unfortunately for others, it is a vision. Maybe…

Putting life in perspective. Stories of hope, courage and inspiration. The Sunday Series (17): Hold Onto My Heart It happens every day, though we frequently don’t notice, or are simply not aware. A light is kindled, another extinguished. One soul…

This Sunday it’s history and inspiration. If music is a part of your life in any way, shape or form, then the significance of this date in history is impossible to ignore. Today we commemorate a watershed moment in music,…

Sometimes you prepare and sometimes you are surprised. There was not going to be a Sunday Series this week. After an incredibly busy week flowing into an even busier Saturday, there was no time in the schedule this week to…

Courage. Hope. Inspiration. Sometimes you can find all three in the spirit of one special person. This Sunday you get to meet her. The Sunday Series (13): Never Be Alone “When I met him everything changed. I am a confident,…

It’s your story every Sunday. Your courage, hope, inspiration, or ability to share your gift with the world. But this time, on this day, a dozen Sunday Series on the books — we might actually be able to save a…

Courage, inspiration, hope, strength, love. It’s Sunday and the theme of The Sunday Series is to share a story which should make you think, gain perspective, perhaps bring a smile,or a tear, but with every story to speak from the…

This Sunday it’s a look back, which appears to be the trend this time of year. It’s the Top Ten stories in the Sunday Series, which is easy to do because since it launched back in October there have only…

Sunday. It’s your turn, your story, a chance for me to pour my life into yours. And as we go full steam ahead into the season of miracles, I can’t think of a better story to share. The Sunday Series…

Sunday. A day to reflect and share your story. One of hope, courage, joy, inspiration, or someone showing us all how it’s done by doing what they were born to do… and making a dent in the universe. The Sunday…

It’s Sunday on a Thanksgiving Weekend, the perfect time to settle in for a story of inspiration. A story about someone born to do what they do. Someone living their why, their purpose, and in turn changing lives. The Sunday…

The Sunday Series (7): TLC “They know me in a way no one ever has. They open me to things I never knew existed. They drive me to insanity and push me to my depths. They are the beat of…

It’s Sunday. The day I pour my life into yours. The day I tell your story. A story of courage, hope, or inspiration. The Sunday Series (6): A Fight to the Finish Throughout history there have been epic battles fought…

It’s Sunday which means it’s your turn. Your story…hope, courage, love and inspiration. The Sunday Series 5: Flowers for Powers “I know a girl… she puts the color inside of my world.” – Daughters, by John Mayer I know a…

It’s all about you. Stories of inspiration, hope, courage, those who beat the odds, do what they were born to do, or lead the way for us all. One man embodied so many of these traits. Today, his story. The…

This is the Sunday Series. YOUR stories, in which we all can share, learn, empathize, be inspired and become more. People who bravely face the tough challenges life throws in their path, people who lead the way, or people who…

You have taken this to community and beyond. The first Sunday Series was the most viewed/shared blog ever posted on this site, like nothing I have ever seen. And we are only scratching the surface of what is possible. I…

I begin a new chapter with the blog today, as I continue with the mission: to become more, by helping others to do the same. In essence my goal is to touch other people’s lives, one word at a time….

The very fact so many of you care to pay attention is humbling beyond words. Since I began what will end up here as a trilogy of blogs about our daughter Sophie and her very special Bat Mitzvah weekend, the…

It was in a word, phenomenal. There was barely a dry eye in the room when Sophie Rose finished her thank you speech Saturday night. She had touched people’s hearts in a way that will long be remembered. There were…

I can still remember the moments well. Late fall of 1999. At the time I still worked at WJZ-TV in Baltimore, and had my own segment called “Fly Friday”. We launched the helicopter every Friday morning from Martin’s Airport and…

All I could think was, “that’s my baby”. Another moment. The other night my youngest, Emily, stood up from amongst the other orchestra members on stage at her elementary school, with microphone in hand and did it. She didn’t sing,…

Begin with the end in mind. You’ve gotta know your WHY. A few days ago I posted my first blog ever – on the morning of my daughter Sophie’s 13th birthday and I have tremendous gratitude for the terrific feedback…

A blog is born. It’s time. No time to wait. In life you should do one of two things: get going or get out. So let’s get going.  A blog, huh?  At first I was nervous to move over to an…