Life is Beautiful, Enjoy the Ride

Mitch Koppel

Description

At the young age of 23 Mitch Koppel received a devastating diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Twenty years of extreme health challenges inspired him to express his journey through poetry. These poems immediately went viral with friends and family to the extent that they urged him to create a book about the story and the poetry it inspired.

Sujets

• Assertiveness
• Poetry

Informations

• Publié par: First Edition Design Publishing
• Date de parution: 10 juin 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781622876174
• Langue: English

Extrait

Life is Beautiful, Enjoy the Ride
Mitch Koppel


First Edition Design Publishing
Life is Beautiful
Enjoy the Ride

First Edition Design Publishing
Life is Beautiful, Enjoy the Ride
Copyright ©2014 Mitch Koppel

ISBN 978-1622-876-18-1 PRINT
ISBN 978-1622-876-17-4 EBOOK

LCCN 2014940356

May 2014

Published and Distributed by
First Edition Design Publishing, Inc.
P.O. Box 20217, Sarasota, FL 34276-3217
www.firsteditiondesignpublishing.com



ALL R I G H T S R E S E R V E D. No p a r t o f t h i s b oo k pub li ca t i o n m a y b e r e p r o du ce d, s t o r e d i n a r e t r i e v a l s y s t e m , o r t r a n s mit t e d i n a ny f o r m o r by a ny m e a ns ─ e l e c t r o n i c , m e c h a n i c a l , p h o t o - c o p y , r ec o r d i n g, or a ny o t h e r ─ e x ce pt b r i e f qu ot a t i o n i n r e v i e w s , w i t h o ut t h e p r i o r p e r mi ss i on o f t h e a u t h o r or publisher .
The poetry in Mitch Koppel’s book teaches life lessons not soon to be forgotten and respect for a man that one never thought possible. He is an inspiration to so many, has a passion for everything he writes, and strength that many will never understand. This poetry demonstrates perseverance to move forward in life and true ability to overcome every obstacle.
Andrea Landerman

Mitch’s poetry and love have inspired me to persevere and grow through any of life’s challenges. Thanks for the gift, Mitch – I am enjoying the ride!
Jeff Pluto

In the time that I have known Mitch Koppel, I have seen the manifestation of his strength, determination, perseverance and courage on a daily basis as he battled MS. His book and related poetry perfectly define these attributes. Regardless if one suffers from chronic illness or not, his poetry guides us on how to live life to its fullest. Mitch is a blessing and inspiration to my life.
Jason W. Soulje
Life is Beautiful
Enjoy the Ride
written by
Mitch Koppel
Acknowledgements

I would like to first and foremost thank my family, without whose love and encouragement this book may still be nothing but a seed planted in my head. My brother, sister and parents’ support has been beyond words; as is my love for them. Big hugs go to Andrew and Griffin especially. Your spirit inspires me to higher heights every day! Thank you for reminding me what life’s all about.
I also want to express my sincere gratitude to Tim Schellhardt for the unique and profound views of my journey that he so eloquently expressed in this book’s Foreword. Many thanks go to my editor, Susan Pluto for her guidance and direction in bringing what were essentially thoughts on a page to a cohesive, easy to read book. Finally, to my best friend, Scott Perlow, who year after year, as my health declined, was there for me through thick and thin, always willing to provide his words of wisdom as well as his never ending love, care and support. I love you, Scott.
Also, to my countless friends, AJ, AL, BL, CH, DG, DS, EF, FN, JP, JS, PR, RG and scores of Facebook friends that would randomly see a poem and suggest that I broaden my message out to a wider audience, offer words of support, visit me in the hospital, bring over lunch and show a level of care and concern that completely restored my faith in humanity.
Also, a tremendous debt of gratitude is extended to my friend Jodi Lobel Gillig. Her care and support during some of my darkest days are unrivaled, but mainly for being the first person back in 2011 to urge me to write a book. It was Jodi with whom I give the most credit for almost willing me to get my story out there. Jodi, I'm forever lucky and blessed to call you a dear friend.

God’s speed to one and all.
Love Mitch
Saved by an Angel

Guiding light
Flickering flame
Dark place
Where streets have no name

Perfect location
Perfect vocation
Perfect salvation
Perfect deprivation

Don't be sincere
I've had enough
The voices in my head
Are grim and rough

Maddening and real
If only I could share
Thoughts battered
Mind surreal

Decision made
Decision degrade
Anguish arrival
Suffered enough

Gun loaded
Hand shaking
Gun cocked
Brain waiting
Looking around
Witnessed wings
Confusion illusion
Barely sound

Faint words
Chirping birds
Safety overheard
An angel I learned

Off ledge
Stepped back
Dropped weapon
Panic attack

Hand held
Breathing slowed
Profuse sweating
Eyes welled

Thunderstorms above
Rainbow appeared
She spoke of self-worth
She spoke of love

Why me
Why disease
Why appease
Why please

Spoken surprise
In the ether of space
She spoke candidly
Straight into my eyes

Shaking sad
For those to be left behind
My boys wept
They didn't understand

She spoke of suffering
She spoke of pain
She spoke of sorrow
She spoke of life regained

She carried me home
Tucked me in bed
She saved a life
That wasn't better off dead

Goodbye stranger
Goodbye savior
Goodbye danger
Goodbye anger

Sleeping sound
In the arms of an angel
She is the reason
I'm still around

She said life is beautiful
I couldn't see why
She said in due time
I will enjoy the ride
Table of Contents
Foreword
About Mitch

Chapter 1
"Dropping the Hammer"

Chapter 2
"A Long Road Ahead"

Chapter 3
"A Year of Hospitalizations, a Year of Discovered Spirituality"

Chapter 4
“This is Their Story"

Chapter 5
"Turning Around/Questions Resolved"

Chapter 6
"Spiritual Renewal"

A Word from the Author
Poetry
Foreword
by Tim Schellhardt

Mitch Koppel is one of a kind. I first met Mitch over the phone. At the time, I was chief of The Wall Street Journal’s Chicago bureau and Mitch was trying to interest me in a story idea for a client. His idea didn’t quite fit the Journal’s needs. But what captured my interest was Mitch’s straightfor­ward approach, his magnetic personality and, most importantly, his knowledge of the Journal . While his client pitch didn’t work, it was clear that Mitch knew the publication. Frankly, that was rare.
I didn’t meet Mitch personally until after I had retired from the Journal and became a tiny part-owner of a technology communications company, Corporate Technology Communications (CTC). Mitch was also a part owner; handling media relations for clients and CTC.
If they made a model media relations professional, Mitch would serve as the prototype. First, he is a true profes­sional. He knew CTC’s clients, their media requirements, and he knew the media contacts and their needs. Second, he was – and is - amazingly personal and engaging; you smiled instantly when you heard Mitch’s voice (and you still do). And he was – and is – a raconteur who absorbs what’s going on in the world and uses that knowledge to engage and to communicate. Just ask him anything about Jessica Alba!
When I worked with him at CTC and also at its eventual buyer, the major PR agency Ketchum, I never saw Mitch getting down about anything. He was always positive and always wearing a smile; which sparks another remarkable reality.
I never knew that Mitch had MS until after I left Ketchum to join another agency nearly seven years after its acquisi­tion of CTC. He never mentioned it and no one in the large office ever brought it up. When I discovered it, I figured I must be the poorest excuse for a journalist ever! I had noticed a few physical changes. He limped a bit, but I chalked it up to an exercise injury.
Not until later did I understand the degree to which depression played an everyday part in his life. He always put up his facade of positive thinking. I also didn’t realize until much later how MS proved such a burden. I found out about Mitch’s MS when a mutual friend said that Mitch was working from home and explained why. But the friend didn’t mention how Mitch’s health had worsened. That was Mitch. Don’t bother friends with your troubles!
I came late to experiencing the scourge of MS through friends’ struggles with it. And I really only knew of four close acquaintances, including Mitch.
One was a friend from Alexandria, Virginia, where my wife and I lived when I worked in the Journal’s Washington bureau. She was a professional harpsichord player who swam and walked every day, and kept herself trim through exercise to keep MS at bay. She knew the warning signs of an imminent attack and acted swiftly to deal with them.
The second was the wife of a Journal colleague who got progressively worse over the years. Eventually, her husband couldn’t really handle her needs.