Everyday Inspiration

By Marcus Engel

Inspiration doesn't always have to be a dramatic, mountaintop experience.

In “Everyday Inspiration” Speaker and author Marcus Engel shows how our lives can be impacted and profoundly changed through common experiences – if we are willing to look at life a bit differently.

As a follow up to Marcus’ bestselling memoir, “After This...An Inspirational Journey for All the Wrong Reasons,” that chronicles his amazing journey from a typical college freshman, to being blinded and nearly killed after being struck by a drunk driver. Through it all, Marcus remained committed to his goal of recapturing life. This unforgettable story is the basis for “The Drop,” a multi-award winning short film, and is currently in development as a feature film.

“Everyday Inspiration” gives you a look into life “after” – and how he continues to make it all work.

With his down to earth writing style, Marcus demonstrates the profound impact in hidden in everyday encounters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marcus Engel
• Release date: Oct 14, 2012
• ISBN: 9780978678401

Marcus Engel

Marcus Engel Official Biography Marcus Engel is a bestselling author and speaker whose messages inspire, impact and influence audiences. His powerful story is customized for each individual organization and always includes the basis of overcoming adversity, commitment to higher goals, honoring health care professionals and embracing the truly important aspects of life. Marcus’ keynotes have been witnessed by tens of thousands of audience members including major Healthcare Institutions, Corporations, Faith Based Organizations and many of the country’s top rated Universities and Colleges. No matter where audience members are personally or professionally, there is something for everyone! Marcus’ memoir, “After This...An Inspirational Journey for All the Wrong Reasons,” chronicles his amazing journey. As a college freshman, Marcus was blinded and nearly killed after being struck by a drunk driver. Through two years of rehab, over 300 hours of reconstructive facial surgery and adaptation through a multitude of life changes, Marcus remained committed to his goal of recapturing life. This unforgettable story is the basis for “The Drop,” a multi-award winning short film, and is currently in development as a feature film. Marcus’ other books include “The Other End of the Stethoscope: 33 Insights for Excellent Patient Care,” “I’m Here: Compassionate Communication in Healthcare,” “Everyday Inspiration” and “Open” (an e- novelette written with Amy Glenn-Vega). Institutions around the country, such as Columbia University, Clemson University, University of Central Florida, Missouri Baptist Hospital, and Wakemed Health continue to use Marcus’ books as required reading for students and health care professionals. Marcus holds a B.S. in sociology from Missouri State University and an M.S. in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University, NYC. He lives in Orlando, Florida with his wife, Marvelyne and Seeing Eye dog, Garrett.

Book preview

Chapter 01: Forgive and Forget?

I love BBQ! It’s the carnivore in me, true, but I also just love casual time hanging with friends, eating with your fingers, and gallons of sweet tea. Anyway, here’s a tale about one of my more memorable BBQ experiences.

It started off fine, just half a dozen casual acquaintances sitting around talking and chowing. Somewhere in the night, one of the carnivores posed the question, Marcus, how did you lose your sight? I gave the Cliff Notes version; the vital info, but without details.

As soon as I had the words drunk driver out of my mouth, some male voice from behind me launches into a string of profanity that would make a drunken sailor blush.

Next thing I know, we're all held hostage as he explodes through his own emotional and horrifying story of a crime committed against him. His tale of woe and suffering took half an hour to tell. The facts of the case (his home was burglarized) were stated in the first half-minute. The remaining 29 minutes and 30 seconds were spent saying stuff like this:

If I ever catch that little (insert profanity), I'm going to lynch his (more profanity) up to the highest (yep, still more profanity) tree because that (you know the routine) doesn't deserve to live another (yada yada yada) day on this earth! God, I hate him!

What did that despicable thief steal? Thousands of dollars worth of heirloom jewelry? Irreplaceable art? High dollar antiques handed down through generations? Nope! A couple hundred bucks and a few DVDS... over four years ago. Yet, his rage boiled as if someone had stomped his puppy into the ground. Oh, the drama!

I just smirked. I have zero tolerance for drama queens and emotions that are out of proportion. Well, that and because I'm a (insert profanity) disturber!

This dude, nearly half a decade later, is so eaten up with anger that it still controls his life. He's chosen to nurture his rage and tell this story at every opportunity. We've all been hurt. Pain is part of life. But pain that comes directly because of another person's actions can be especially difficult to bear: abuse, neglect, violence, and unfortunately, the list goes on.

Almost every time I give a keynote, someone asks, Have you forgiven the man who took your sight? Until recently, I've answered, I don't know. Forgiveness is such a vague concept. When I come up with a definition, I'll let you know.

Well, I've come up with a definition. Ready? Here goes: Forgiveness arises when a wronged party can accept they were harmed, yet that realization has neither negative influence nor control over their life now.

Before I started writing this, I popped in definition of forgiveness into my fav search engine, dogpile.com (yes, there really is a site called dogpile.com). To my surprise, philosophers, theologians and psychologists have been working on a definition of forgiveness for years... and they still can't agree on one! Still, I was happy to see that mine came close to a few of their examples!

Forgiveness is vague, subjective and personal - very personal. I don't claim my definition works for everyone - but it includes the one aspect that, to me, sums up the whole idea of forgiveness: having no further negative influence or control.

Forgiveness is almost always centered on the offender; i.e., Have you forgiven him? That whole idea seems backwards. To me, the real power in forgiveness is coming to a place of understanding. Not necessarily understanding the offender, and certainly not sweeping the incident away, but realizing that without being willing to let go of the pain, our own spirit will be damaged. Without forgiveness, we remain a victim of someone else's actions.

Forgiveness is basically something we do for ourselves. If I don't forgive, it means a significant amount of my emotional energy (EE) is eaten up by wallowing in the past. I don't want that. I've got better places to spend my EE. So, instead of dwelling on the hurt and pain - I make a choice to 'let it go.' Easier said than done, believe me I know. And sometimes, especially in the beginning, it seems to be a moment-by-moment decision! But it does gets easier - over time. And with practice.

Does that mean I've turned the other cheek, 70 times seven, as is written somewhere? Hardly. I'm human. I'm flawed. But I try. I really do, because I don't want my life to be diminished because of history.

Forgiveness is a huge subject, one that even the most educated thinkers of our time can't quantify, so I certainly don't pretend to be an expert. But over the years I have learned one thing; whatever your definition of forgiveness, embrace it. The choice to live in the past takes away your ability to direct your future.

We can't control the things that happen to us - but we can, and must, control our reaction to them. It’s the only path to internal peace.

Chapter 02: Rock & Roll Philosophy

It was the summer I turned eight. Cable television had just come to the Engel household... and I was milking it for all it was worth!

My quickly expanding butt was planted in front of the tube, day in and day out. Grease 2? Saw it 16 times. Star Wars? 28 times. But Rocky III was the grand champion for the summer, weighing in at a whopping 38 views!

Rocky? Did someone say Rocky? Dun duntta dun duntta dun duntta dun. I can hear you humming along! Don't deny it!

It's almost biological, isn't it? Someone mentions the word Rocky and that song springs to mind. Whether it was Gonna Fly Now (the true title to the dun duntta dun song) or the more popular Eye of the Tiger, the music was always the catalyst for Rocky to pummel some mere mortal boxer into a puddle of human pulp.

There's hardly anyone who doesn't associate these songs with tapping into inner strength, pushing the envelope to the outermost limits, and gaining strength and momentum. Are we just that classically conditioned? That similar to one of Pavlov's pups? Simple answer? Yes!

I draw strength and inspiration from a lot of places, and yes, one of them is watching old Rocky flicks. But there are tons of other sources of strength. Friends and family, of course. Listening to wisdom passed down from those with more life experience or different perspectives than me. And sometimes those insights come from a certain stranger who continually provides a steady stream of truth. This person says things that speak to my heart and constantly help shape my attitudes and my life. Listen to some of the thoughts of my favorite philosopher:

You've got to learn to live with what you can't rise above.

It ain't no sin to be glad you're alive.

Fear is a powerful thing, it'll turn your heart black, you can trust.

Every fool's got a reason for feeling sorry for himself.

These are some of my phrases to live by. Have you guessed who uttered such profound insight? Aristotle? Plato? The Bible? Yoda? Nope. None other than the Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen.

Bruce's lyrics not only have an effect on me that is emotional, but one that's intellectual as well. His words contain a philosophy of empowerment and reality, mixed with the idea that everything is possible through imagination and hard work. Simply put, his lyrics just make sense.

During many difficult times, I've flipped on a Springsteen CD, listened to the lyrics, and found inspiration to live my best life. Maybe it's the emotions of his guitar or the tenor of his voice, or, more likely, it's the way I apply his lyrics to my life.

Recently while speaking in New York, I witnessed a miracle. The cosmos aligned, my travel schedule worked perfectly, the gods smiled upon me and I got to see Bruce Springsteen in concert at Madison Square Garden! Then, when we got to the show, the REAL miracle happened!

Wristbands were attached and a guard led us down into the orchestra pit; closer and closer and closer until we were a mere 30 feet from the man himself, so close I could hear the whiz of middle aged women's underwear as they flew by my head (Ha! Get it? Whiz?!)

I'm not just a fan of Bruce, but his lyrical philosophies have impacted my life in oh so many ways. So, for me, this show was almost like a trip to the holy land. And ya know the weirdest part of it all? Bruce Springsteen has no earthly idea who I am nor how deeply he's touched my life. He doesn't know the first thing about Marcus Engel, but that doesn't change the effect he's had on me.

This idea always makes me pause. Do you and I have the power to be like Bruce? To have far reaching influence on others? Much more far reaching than we'll ever know? The answer is YES! And that's some powerful stuff, don't ya think?

Whose lives do we have the opportunity to touch? What insights and lessons and encouragements are ours alone to pass along? Are we making the most of the chance we have to positively affect others? Who, right now, needs something you have to offer?

These are the questions I ask myself every day. Not because I'm growing my business, not because I want accolades, not because I want women's drawers whizzing at my head, but just because it's the power I have to help change my part of the world.

You don't need to be on stage at the Garden to inspire others. Don't wait for the perfect opportunity, just get out there and live YOUR best life now, and just watch what happens!

Awww – such a cutie!

- says the wife 

Chapter 03: Atten-TION!

A few years back, I had surgery; something that’s become all too familiar. I signed about a million HIPAA documents that gave a surgeon permission to slice into my gut like it was a Butterball turkey. Don’t worry, it wasn’t serious and I’m fine, thanks for the concern! Still, since he played Jack the Ripper on my tummy tum tum, it meant staying overnight in a hotel where the staff wakes the guests every hour with a thermometer and blood pressure cuff.

For 24 hours I had the privilege (and I use that word loosely) of sharing a room with two gentlemen (and I REALLY use that word loosely). Seriously, these two guys were redneck residents of Cornfield County. Salute!

Since the walls between us were made of cotton, I was kept awake most of the night by their blaring TVs; one tuned to Judge Judy and the other to, so help me God, re-runs of Petticoat Junction. The severity of this miserable experience was only lessened by one thing: drugs. Every two hours, a nurse showed up at my bedside and gave me a shot of something that made me think 60s sit-coms are actually funny. Then… the shift changed.

I waited for my new nurse. And waited some more. And kept waiting. Finally, she arrived and, just as she walked in, her cell phone rang. It was either a personal call, or there’s a