Avoiding Stinkin' Thinkin'

Michael J. Fox – Seeing the Positive in Parkinson’s

Imagine being a young, healthy actor who loves to play ice hockey, jam on your guitar, and play with your young son.  One day your pinky finger starts twitching.  Soon you learn that that the little twitch in your pinky finger is more than a little twitch.  In fact, it is the first visible sign of a disease that over the next few years will progress at an unknown rate forcing you to completely change your life.  In less than 10 years you will suffer from uncontrollable muscle spasms, have your arms at times hang heavy and immoveable at your sides, your voice weakened to no more than a whisper, your speech slurred, and your face void of emotion. 

In 1991, Michael J. Fox was the man described above.  Throughout the 1980’s he starred in a successful, popular TV series and several blockbuster films, including the Back to the Future series.  He was married to a beautiful young actress, and they were just beginning to build a family together when he was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease (PD), the 2nd most common degenerative neurological disease in the United States, kills nerve cells in a region of the brain that causes a gradual loss of muscle control.  PD can progress at different rates, affects people young and old, and has no cure.

Today Michael J. Fox says, “I refuse to define it in terms of a hardship or difficulty.  Having Parkinson’s disease is part of an amazing life, and not an ‘otherwise amazing life.’  It is part of what makes my life amazing…Yes, it is a horrible condition.  Would I choose not to have it?  Yeah, I think so, but it’s not my choice.”

A man, who made a living and a life on screen, using his face to express emotion and his body to play characters, now often has little control over his facial expression or his body.  PD is slowly taking away his ability to enjoy his two other passion, ice hockey and guitar, and yet, he remains positive.  He started the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research and has raised $128million in 10 years for PD research.  He speaks in front of Congress, to doctors worldwide, and continues to be a public figure because he knows he can help make a difference in finding a cure for this disease.

Michael J. Fox has made a choice to live his life with a positive outlook, instead of asking “why me?” and his attitude serves as an example for people young and old to overcome adversity with an optimistic attitude. 

Discussion Questions:

1. How do you think Michael J. Fox felt when he first learned he had Parkinson’s disease?
2. What has he done to avoid stinkin’ thinkin’?
3. What are some ways you can use the traits Michael J. Fox has to remain positive when you
     are struggling with something?