Last Thursday there was a prime time special on Michael J Fox, the actor from “Family Ties,” “Back to the Future,” and “Spin City.” When I think about him the first thing that comes to mind is the bouncy energy that he always seemed to have. It turns out that in 1991 he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He has written a book called "Always Looking Up: Observations of an Incurable Optimist."
I really liked the title of his new book! I would imagine that it would be really tough dealing with a chronic illness that you know is only going to get worse over time. Optimism, attitude, and a positive outlook in life can really affect how well you live and when and how you die.
I must say that I feel disappointed when I think about how little integration we have between western medicine and eastern medicine in North American culture. I would think in this day and age that we would be wise enough to know that every practitioner has their role in maintaining and improving health. It is slowly getting better but not fast enough. A person like Michael J. Fox would benefit tremendously by an integrative approach to health and wellness. With the condition like Parkinson’s your main objective is not cure it, but rather to keep it from progressing any further.
In the TV special there was one scene where Michael J. Fox was in Asia and he noticed his symptoms were better than they had been in a long time and he was able to reduce his medication significantly. He didn’t actually know what was making the improvement but perhaps being out of the media spotlight and being surrounded by a culture that encouraged relaxation, happiness, and joy made that much of the shift in his health?
If you know anybody who has a family history of the degenerative illness or was even just beginning to suspect an illness like Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, or cancer, encourage them to have a look at their lifestyle and see what they can do to bring it back into balance.
~Think Vitality!~
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