My inspiration for this post comes from my longtime blogging friend, Debbie@Musings by an ND Domer's Mom, who posts Thankful Thursday each week.
So, thank you, dear friend! 💕
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I believe that Thanksgiving Day is something we should celebrate every day of the week and all year long. I've also read that gratitude produces endorphins, which are natural opioids that can help relieve pain and boost happiness. And I've got to say that from my own experience, I found that true. I believe that gratitude feeds optimism.
The more thankful I am, the better I feel overall.
So, before I get out of bed in the morning, I take a quick minute to remind myself of how wealthy I am - body, mind, and spirit. And as I move throughout my day, I have the intention of sharing that wealth with others.
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I've always had tremendous admiration for people who have had extreme adversity in their lives and want to know how they moved through it.
Those are the individuals from whom I seem to learn the most.
One of those people is Michael J. Fox...
Michael J. Fox -
Michael won three Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award for his work on Family Ties. In 1988, he married his co-star, Tracy Pollan, and they welcomed their first child, Sam, a year later. During his 20s, while filming Doc Hollywood in 1991, Michael developed a tremor in his pinky finger. A consultation with a neurologist revealed a surprising and devastating diagnosis: he had young-onset Parkinson’s disease (PD). He was only 29 years old.
Michael kept his illness under wraps for many years and worked steadily. In 1995, he and Tracy had twin daughters, Aquinnah and Schuyler. In 2002, Michael returned to series television in ABC’s Spin City. The role won him another Emmy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. During the series’ third season, Michael realized that he could no longer hide his Parkinson’s, which prompted him to reveal his diagnosis to the press and general public. After one more season of Spin City, Michael retired from full-time acting to focus on advocacy and fundraising for Parkinson’s disease.
Last year I watched the documentary, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie, and was not only touched but also deeply inspired by how Michael took what happened and turned it into something that allowed him to move forward with determination and grace.
If you haven't seen the documentary, I highly recommend it. I've watched it twice. What's incredible about the film is that it's not the slightest bit depressing. It is uplifting, humorous, and honest. You come away feeling empowered.
It's a love story too.
What touched me the most was how his wife, Tracy, stood by his side from day one and has been with him ever since. Their relationship exemplifies true unconditional love.
Michael's family...
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Michael and Tracy today...
Thank you, Michael. You an inspiration!
*Links:
Ron, this post touched me so deeply! Yes, I watched the MJF documentary when it first aired because I an such a big fan of his (Family Ties, Back to the Future, etc.). What I didn't know was that he was only 29 years old when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's and has lived with it for 33 years!
ReplyDeleteI didn't find the documentary at all depressing either. As a matter of fact, I found myself laughing through many parts of it. His sense of humor has never been altered by the disease. He's still brilliantly funny!
Love the photos you shared of Michael and Tracy. You can feel the loving bond they have for each other. And to think that they have been together since Family Ties!!! I see them as true soulmates.
Beautiful post, Ron! And you're right, we should be celebrating Thanksgiving Day all year long! Thank you for the reminder. xoxo
Hola, Denise!
ReplyDelete"What I didn't know was that he was only 29 years old when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's and has lived with it for 33 years!"
OMG, I know! Can you believe that?!?! I had no idea he was diagnosed at 29. He's lived his life longer with Parkinson's than without.
Yes, I found myself laughing too. Especially the part when he was walking outside with his friend and tripped next to that girl who was walking past him and he joked that she was so beautiful, she knocked him over. LOL!
You're right, the disease didn't alter his sense of humor one bit. He's still hilarious!
Can you believe that Tracy and he have been together that long? Yes, I TOTALLY agree...they are SOULMATES!
Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Hope you're having a fabulous week!
X
Oh my, Ron! You had me teary-eyed reading this. And for many reasons.
ReplyDelete" I believe that gratitude feeds optimism." - you are so right! And I also believe that gratitude keeps the flow of gratitude moving. From us, to others.
I have not seen the documentary, but have every intention of watching it. I had seen something online last year, but it totally slipped my mind. Damn! I'll watch it this weekend.
Throughout the years, I've watch many interviews with Michael and was in awe of his incredible spirit. Not only was he a phenomenal actor, but he's a teacher as well. I teacher of LIFE.
Beautiful photos. That last one of he and Tracy embracing on the beach is so touching. It says it all! L.O.V.E.
Thank you for sharing this, Ron! I'm going to pass it on to a good friend of mine who I know will enjoy it.
Ron, what has impressed me the most about Michael J. Fox is that he's never seen himself as a "victim" of what happened to him. I'm sure he went through various stages of grief, however, from the documetary and interviews I've seen with him, he never acted like "Woe is me."
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, the bond that he and Tracy share is one-of-a-kind. And I'm sure had much to do with his moving through it with such grace. They are the true meaning of "in sickness and in health."
You're so right, Ron, Michael is a true inspiration. To us all!
Excellent post! I needed this right now. And thank you for the links. When I have more time, I'll check them out.
Hey there, Daniel!
ReplyDeleteTrust me, I got extremely teary-eyed myself putting this post together. The photos alone made me emotional.
I freaking LOVE what you said...
"And I also believe that gratitude keeps the flow of gratitude moving. From us, to others."
You are spot on about that! Gratitude is an "energy" that can be felt by others. And be transfered to others. And I really believe that.
" I've watch many interviews with Michael and was in awe of his incredible spirit. Not only was he a phenomenal actor, but he's a teacher as well. I teacher of LIFE."
He most cetainly is a teacher of LIFE. Big time! And in spite of Parkinson's, when he talks, you can feel his personal power coming through. And he's still as funny as ever.
"It says it all! L.O.V.E."
Yes! Yes! Yes!
Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing on this topic, my friend. Have a great rest of your week!
X
Ooops, I forgot to say in my previous comment how much I enjoyed the quote in the first photo of Michael about "Acceptance doesn't mean resignation..." I'm going to print that out and place it by my desktop so I can read it every day.
ReplyDeleteRon, "Family Ties" was my favorite sitcom of the 1980's. And the character Michael J. Fox played (Alex) was my favorite. Second, I loved Justine Bateman as (Mallory). I loved all their scene together. They were such opposites that is was HILARIOUS!
ReplyDeleteI watched Still when it was released and really enjoyed it. Like you, I've seen it twice. Maybe even three times. I was a bit apprehensive about watching it because I did think it would be depressing, but it wasn't. Not in the least.
I have such admiration and love for Michael J. Fox. He took a horrendous happening and turned it into a positive one. As far as I'm concerned, he became even a bigger star after Parkinson's.
Great post, Ron! Thank YOU. xo
Greetings, Robert!
ReplyDelete" he's never seen himself as a "victim" of what happened to him."
Yesm you are soooooo right about that! And that's one of the MANY things I admire about Michael. He took what happened and turned it into an opportunity to experience his life in productive way. God, I so admire that about him. And that's what I felt when I watched that documentary. I was in awe!
I so love what you said here....
"I'm sure had much to do with his moving through it with such grace. They are the true meaning of "in sickness and in health."
As I watched the film, I kept getting the feeling that they were meant to meet each other at such a young age because they had things to do together in the future. As one of my reader's said in their comment, " I see them as true soulmates."
Yes, when you have the time, check out the links. Especially the one on Parkinson's. It's so inspiring. I follow both he and Tracy on Instagram.
Thank you so much for stopping by, Robert. Always so nice to read your comments.
Have a superb rest of your week!
X
Isn't that quote FANTASTICALLY inspiring? I found so many great quotes from Michael and had a hard time choosing these two. Glad you enjoyed!
ReplyDeleteHelloooooooooooo there, Candice!
ReplyDeleteDidn't you freaking LOVE "Family Ties"?!?!? The whole dynamic between Alex and Mallory was so well excuted. You're right, they were HILARIOUS together. I loved the mother and father too. The whole show was so original and well-remembered. I will sometimes find episodes online and watch them. Memories light the corners of my mind. LOL!
Yes, I too thought that the doc would be on the depressing side, but it wasn't. Not in the least. And I really like how they interjected the scenes with scenes from his movies and TV shows. Genius!
" As far as I'm concerned, he became even a bigger star after Parkinson's."
I couldn't agree with you more!
Thanks so much for stopping by tonight, Candice. Hope you're having a fantastic week so far!
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" Their relationship exemplifies true unconditional love." ---- how true that is, Ron! It's like how Christopher Reeve and his wife (Dana Reeve) were after he had that horrible fall. She stuck by him until the end. And then only two years after he passed away, she passed away as well. Yet, when you read about their life together, all you feel is the LOVE they shared.
ReplyDeleteI have not seen the documentary, but will make a date to watch it soon. And I am glad to hear that it wasn't depressing. That right there tells me what kind of man he is.
"he took what happened and turned it into something that allowed him to move forward with determination and grace." ---- how powerful is that? I saw Michael and his wife (Tracy) on late night TV and found them so sweet. I could feel the love they shared with each other. It was so palpable.
I like your idea about taking a moment every morning before getting out of bed and remind yourself of the wealth in your life. I will try that tomorrow morning!
I absolutely adore their family, and that documentary was incredible.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I couldn’t agree more—we should celebrate Thanksgiving every day, week, and month of the year. There’s always so much to be thankful for. And thank you for recommending another blog for me to check out—I’m headed there next!
I love how Michael and Tracy’s children each resemble one of them, with one daughter being a perfect blend of both. ❤️
There’s something so special about a down-to-earth celebrity couple, and they are just lovely together. Thank you for sharing this, my friend. Have a wonderful rest of your week. 😘❤️
Good morning, Abby!
ReplyDelete"Yet, when you read about their life together, all you feel is the LOVE they shared."
Yes! And that's a perfect example of unconditional love as well. I remember back in the 90s when Christopher Reeve had that horse-riding accident and how his wife supported him every step of the way throughout his life. By the way, did you see online about the new documentary (Super/Man - The Christopher Reeve Story) coming out in September? I cannot wait to see it!
No, the Michael J. Fox doc is not at all depressing. It's honest, but not in a depressing way. What surprised me the most was how much humor was threaded throughout the film.
I agree, the love he and his wife share is so palpable. That to me, is what was so evident in the documentary. You really get a strong sense of the bond they share.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Abby! Hope you're having a great week!
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Goooooooood morning, Kari!
ReplyDeleteWasn't the documentary incredible? Being a film-lover like me, I KNEW you had seen it! I enjoyed it so much that I ended up watching it twice in one year. It's one of those docs that you go back to and repeatedly get inspired.
"I couldn’t agree more—we should celebrate Thanksgiving every day, week, and month of the year. There’s always so much to be thankful for."
My feelings exactly! And what I find amazing is that when I do that, all the little annoying stuff in my life fades away because I am reminded of what's really important.
"I love how Michael and Tracy’s children each resemble one of them, with one daughter being a perfect blend of both. ❤️"
Yes, I agree! You can definitely tell that they are related. Such a handsome family!
Thanks so much for stopping by, my friend. Have a faaaaaaabulous rest of your week!
X
P.S. You will loved Debbie's blog. She is such a wonderful writer. And you'll love her dog too!
No Ron, I didn't know about the upcoming documentary on Christopher Reeve, so thank you for sharing the link. I can tell it's going to be awesome. I got alll emotional just from the trailer.
ReplyDeleteI got all emotional too! I can't wait to see it.
ReplyDeleteI love this post, Ron! I adored both Family Ties and Spin City. Alex P. Keaton is probably my favorite TV sitcom character of all time! Michael was amazing in that role. In fact, I think he inspired me to be a business major in college. AND we were going to name our first child Alexander, if it was a boy. I had a girl though, and by the time we finally had a son, I was annoyed that everyone was naming their daughters Alex, so we chose a different name.
ReplyDeleteI have not watched the documentary, but I'm glad you mentioned that it is not depressing. My FIL died from Parkinson's, and it was a difficult thing to watch. Isn't Tracy a real hero in this story?? 'Caregivers' are so often overlooked when we talk about diseases/illnesses/disabilities. And just the fact that they are still married is noteworthy, not just among celebrity couples, but couples in general.
Thanks for the photos and the reminder about gratitude. Like Daniel, I felt teary-eyed reading this. I'll try to check out the documentary soon. I hope you have a cool holiday weekend, Ron. The last few days have been awful and the AC in my car died last week, so it's not been fun. XOXO
Ron, I clearly remember when Michael J. Fox officially announced to the public that he had Parkinson's in 98'. I was heartbroken. And what angered me was when he talked about how the paparazzi harassed him at his home, prior to his announcement. It only reiterated to me just how heartless those people can be.
ReplyDeleteYes, I the documentary about a month after it was released. Like you, I was surprised by how non-depressing it was. It was open and honest. He told it like it was, without an ounce of self-pity. What an inspiring human being he is. And so is Tracy, his wife. Her undying love and support is truly breathtaking. That photo of his family is so sweet. And they're all so attractive.
Thank you for sharing this post today, dear Ron. What a beautiful tribute. And I agree, Thanksgiving should be celebrated 365 days a year! xo
Good morning, Bijoux!
ReplyDeleteI TOTALLY agree 100% with you about his portrayal of Alex P. Keaton being my favorite TV sitcom character of ALL time! Isn't it wonderful how when he was still acting, he left such a powerful imprint on everything he did. Such a great actor!
" I think he inspired me to be a business major in college. AND we were going to name our first child Alexander, if it was a boy. I had a girl though, and by the time we finally had a son, I was annoyed that everyone was naming their daughters Alex, so we chose a different name."
Thank you for sharing that!!!! How fabulous! And you're right about Alex being both male and female. It's such a great name. Strong!
Yes, that's why I mentioned it not being depressing because the topic of Parkinson's can be very heavy. But Michael presented it in such a different way. It was honest, however, it wasn't sad. It was more touching and uplifting. And what's really cool is how he splices clips from his movies and TV shows into the documentary, that help tell the story.
"And just the fact that they are still married is noteworthy, not just among celebrity couples, but couples in general."
You are so right about that! And Tracy IS the real hero in this story. Absolutely! That's what touched me the most about the documentary.
" The last few days have been awful and the AC in my car died last week, so it's not been fun."
OMG, I would DIE! I remember when that happened to me while still living in Florida during the middle of the summer. UGH!
I cannot WAIT until autumn gets here. I am beyond over this summer. We just had another horrendous heatwave. However, all of next week it's only going to be in the 70s!
*happy dance*
Stay cool, my friend. And thanks so much for stopping by!
X
Helloooooooooo there, Elaine!
ReplyDeleteOMG, me too! I clearly remember when he made his announcement to the public after living with Parkinson's for 10 years.
" It only reiterated to me just how heartless those people can be."
They are pure SCUM!
" It was open and honest. He told it like it was, without an ounce of self-pity."
Yes, that's what blew me away about the documentary. I was all prepared to feel really sad, but I didn't. I was definitely moved by it (and got emotional), but it was because I was so inspired by his amazing spirit. And Tracy's too!
"Her undying love and support is truly breathtaking."
TOTALLY! And you can see (and FEEL) that in the photographs of them together. Such a beautiful couple!
Thank you so much for stopping by this morning, my friend. Aren't you excited about the low temperatures we're going to have next week? After the past two days of INFERNO heat, it will be such a relief!
Have a superb weekend!
X
My friend, thanks so much for the link (and here I am being lazy and not doing a Thankful Thursday post today -- grrr!)
ReplyDeleteI admire your attitude is gratitude philosophy and am a strong proponent of that as well. I love Michael's final quote, "With gratitude, optimism is sustainable." How true! I wonder if that's why so many people seem depressed these days -- that they're failing to zero in on the things they have to be thankful for. Yes, we've all got challenges of one kind or another, but taking time -- before we get out of bed, during our day, and again at bedtime -- to focus on the GOOD makes all the difference!
I'm glad you opted to participate in the challenge, Ron. I think it's a wonderful way to remind others of the things they, too, can be thankful for -- and to dig a little deeper to find that spark of gratitude. Happy rest of your week! xx
Hey there, Debbie!
ReplyDeleteYou are so welcome, my friend! Reading your thankful posts each week gave me the inspiration to share a thankful post myself.
What you shared below is something I thought myself. Which is why I feel, more than ever, we need to focus on the positive things in our lives...
"I wonder if that's why so many people seem depressed these days -- that they're failing to zero in on the things they have to be thankful for. Yes, we've all got challenges of one kind or another, but taking time -- before we get out of bed, during our day, and again at bedtime -- to focus on the GOOD makes all the difference!"
You are soooooooooooooooo right!!!!
"With gratitude, optimism is sustainable."
Don't you just love that quote from Michael? That's why I wanted to conclude this post with those words.
Again, thanks for the inspiration and for stopping by, Debbie! Happy rest of your week to you too!
X
P.S. Just wanted to let you know that I won't be posting Thankful Thursday every week. I want to leave it open to whenever I feel inspired to do so. X
Ron, before I left a comment I wanted to watch the documentary because I had not seen it. And WOW...what a powerful and inspiring story it was! And you're right, it wasn't depressing at all. It relieved so much of what Michael had gone through when first diagnosed. And I didn't realize this had happened when he was only 29 years old. So young. I have always admired his talent as an actor, but after watching the documentary, I have a whole NEW respect and admiration for him.
ReplyDeleteThe photos of Tracy and Michael are so telling of how much they love each other and how strong a bond they share. And what a beautiful family!
Thank you for sharing this, Ron. I can see WHY you watched it twice because I will be doing the same.
Have a nice weekend! x
Hello there, Clair!
ReplyDeleteI am sooooooooooo happy to hear that you watched the documenatry before leaving your comment. And THANK YOU! Isn't it such a powerful, touching and inspiring story? I felt "altered" after watching it, that's how touched I was. I know, I had NO IDEA that he was only 29 when diagnosed. That blew me away. And also that he lived with it for 10 years, and was fully functional, before revealing it to the public.
"I have a whole NEW respect and admiration for him."
Me too! BIG time!
..."telling of how much they love each other and how strong a bond they share."
TOTALLY! As one of my readers said in her comment, "Isn't Tracy a real hero in this story??" And she is!
Thanks again for taking the time to watch the documentary and for stopping by to let me know!
Have a faaaaaaaabulous weekend!
X
You are so right, Ron! My girlfriend and I watched the Michael K Fox documentary when it first came out because she and I were HUGE fans of Family Ties (we STILL watch it) and not find it depressing in the least. We came away so inspired by his strength to take what had happened, and moved forward. Tracy was a major part of that too!
ReplyDeleteWho would have thought that after all his success at such a young age, that his life would suddenly change and take his down a different path. I so admire that man!
"I believe that gratitude feeds optimism. The more thankful I am, the better I feel overall."
Me too!
Powerful post, dude! And thank you!
Hiya Matt!
ReplyDeleteWas Family Ties one--of-a-kind? I watched a wonderful documentary about the creating of that show and, man, did it go through A LOT of changes before it caught on. But when it did, the show flew to the TOP for many, many years. Even today, that shows remains stellar!
"Who would have thought that after all his success at such a young age, that his life would suddenly change and take his down a different path. I so admire that man!"
I know, I thought that same thing while watching it. AND at such a young age! He's lived longer WITH Parkinson's than WITHOUT. Bless Tracy!
Thanks so much for stopping by, Matt! Hope you had a great holiday weekend!
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