I encountered a life-changing human being. He inspired me to learn my passions and follow them completely.
Mark Brennaman, a college instructor, motivational speaker and writer, shared his story last Tuesday and Thursday about his life-altering incident that he faced.
In October of 1999, Brennaman was the victim of an unprovoked knife attack by a fellow tenant in his apartment building. He was stabbed three times, the last one nearly ending his life.
But his story wasn't over.
He struggled through the highs and lows of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and his victorious outcome led me to examine and evaluate my own life. His passions in life are to teach students and help smokers become non-smokers.
He is a survivor and more passionate than ever. I wondered what I was passionate about.
As students, some of us tend to wait until the last moment before taking charge and seizing our dreams.
After Brennaman's attack, his perspective on life has changed.
"I can't tell you how different life is. It's never ever going to be the same," he said.
I was encouraged to find my passions and stick to them. We never know what tomorrow will bring.
The same is true for relationships. He inspired me to not take any relationship that I have for granted.
"Be careful with every relationship you have, because you never know when that relationship could come to an abrupt end," Brennaman told the class. "Precious memories are made in an instant and last forever."
Brennaman didn't wait for tragedy to happen, it came to him. He didn't ask for it, but it happened.
The more he spoke, the more I realized what wonderful opportunities we have to be passionate about something, anything.
Of course, he said, he wishes it didn't happen, but then he thinks about how he wouldn't be where he is today if it didn't.
"Anytime that you are exposed to a life and death situation, your life is changed," Brennaman said. "What a waste if I didn't try to pass some of this [knowledge] along." He taught me the point is to seize dreams and take hold of opportunities, take nothing for granted, because we never know what tomorrow will bring.
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