It’s easy to become a victim when life throws difficulties our way.
One such actor who knows this all too well is Michael J. Fox.
“I’m not gonna lie, it’s getting harder,” Michael J. Fox candidly admits about his battle with Parkinson’s disease.
Speaking to Jane Pauley on CBS Sunday Morning, he doesn’t shy away from the truth: “It’s getting tougher. Every day gets tougher. But that’s the way it is. I mean, who do I see about that?”
Whether you know him as Alex P. Keaton or Marty McFly, Michael J. Fox has been a familiar face since his youth.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s at just 29, Fox has consistently approached life with a positive and optimistic outlook.
Fox opened up about his health struggles, including a spinal surgery to remove a benign tumor.
This procedure, he explained, impacted his ability to walk.
The actor has faced numerous falls and injuries, including broken arms, a hand, and facial bones.
“Every time I see you, I can see it’s taken a little bit more of something,” Pauley observed.
“It’s been 30+ years; not many of us that have had this disease for 30 years,” Michael responded.
“It sucks having Parkinson’s.” It’s been four decades since “Family Ties” first aired, introducing us to Michael J. Fox.
Fox reminisced about his iconic role as Alex P. Keaton during his chat with Pauley.
He shared a fun tidbit about how he ad-libbed the character’s middle initial: “I just did this ad-lib thing where I was supposed to say, ‘Hello, this is Alex Keaton,’ and I just went, ‘Hello, this is Alex P. Keaton.’ And it became a big part of the character.”
When Pauley asked if “P” was funny, Fox quipped, “P is funny. P is percussive. Percussive P!”
Despite the challenges, Fox has humorously described his disease as “the gift that keeps on taking.”
Now 61, he has spent almost his entire adult life living with Parkinson’s.
He reflects on mortality, noting that one doesn’t die from Parkinson’s, but with it.
There’s a silver lining, though.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation has raised a staggering $1.5 billion for research.
A recent breakthrough includes a biomarker for Parkinson’s, paving the way for faster diagnosis and treatment.
Fox’s life, career, and journey with Parkinson’s are the subjects of his new documentary, “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.”
When Pauley inquired about the title’s significance, Fox replied, “I could never be still, until I couldn’t be still.”
Pauley added, “Still has other meanings. Still here. Still committed.”
To which Fox enthusiastically agreed, “And I’ll take ’em all!”
Michael J. Fox, with his wit and wisdom, remains a compelling figure.
Despite the physical challenges, his mind is sharp, engaging in lively banter with Pauley.
He concludes, “I recognize how hard this is for people, and I recognize how hard it is for me. But I have a certain set of skills that allow me to deal with this stuff. And I realized, with gratitude, optimism is sustainable. And if you can find something to be grateful for, then you can find something to look forward to, and you carry on.”
Hear Michael J. Fox share his wisdom with the world in the video below. Despite the hand he’s been dealt when it comes to his health he is still optimistic.
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