The Power of OptimismA reflection of “Always Looking Up - the Adventures ofan Incurable Optimist” by Michael J. Fox

Stacey Harris, HuebnerPetersenJuly 2009

“Happiness does not depend on whowe are or what we have, it dependssolely on what we think.” - Anonymous

Optimism: an inclination to put themost favorable construction uponactions and events or to anticipatethe best possible outcome.

Source: Webster’s Dictionary

Traits of an Optimist

Optimists explain positive events as having happened becauseof their own efforts

Optimists see positive events as evidence that more positivethings will happen in the future, and in other areas of their lives

Optimists see negative events as not being their fault, but asflukes that have nothing to do with other areas of their lives

What does this mean?

If you’re an optimist, this bodes well for your future

Negative events are more likely to roll off of your back, butpositive events affirm your belief in yourself, your ability tomake good things happen now and in the future, and in thegoodness of life

Always Looking Up

A candid personaljourney of anintrospective, humble(funny) man, husband,father, friend, star andpolitical advocate makinghis way through his 40’s,struggling against adisease with no cure.

“While not a strict narrative, AlwaysLooking Up describes journey of self-discovery and reinvention. The storyis a testament to the consolationsthat get me through and givemeaning to every area of my life.”- Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox describes himself as alucky man. He believes that whateverchoices may have been taken fromhim because of his Parkinson’s, theyhave been replaced with better ones.

It’s all in the details….

Michael is a fantastic storyteller, using anecdotes and personalrecollections to draw the reader into his world

He doesn’t come right out and say “Optimism is this or that”,he provides examples and allows the reader to draw his or herown conclusions

Impact of the Book

Readers can see first-hand the challenges he faceswith PD as well as people in other tough situations,and the impact on his family

Readers get a sense for how Fox’s optimistic outlookinfluences every part of his life

Optimism & Faith

“Unlike optimism, hope is the product of knowledge and theprojection of where the knowledge can take us.” - ChristopherReeve

“If optimism is a happy-go-lucky expectation that the odds arein my favor, that things are likely to break my way, and if hopeis an informed optimism, facts converting desire into possibility,then faith is the third leg of the stool. Faith tells me that I’m notalone. And as my years with Parkinson’s disease has taughtme, if any of those legs are missing, I’m gonna fall on my ass.”- Michael J. Fox

Optimism & Family

“Over the past nineteen years, I have come to understand thatno parent can get his or her arms around all of the could’ve,would’ve, should’ves, mights, maybes, and what-ifs. Each newmoment gives you a sufficient load to carry, and I’ve learned,especially as my arms have grown shakier, that there are timeswhen the wisest thing to do is to let go.” - Michael J. Fox

“For everything this disease has taken, something with greatervalue has been given - sometimes just a marker that points mein a new direction that I might not otherwise have traveled. So,sure, it may be one step forward and two steps back, but aftera time with Parkinson’s, I’ve learned that what is important ismaking that one step count; always looking up.” - Michael J.Fox

About Parkinson’s

More than 1 million American’s have PD

Symptoms include tremors, stiffness, rigidity, slowness inmovement, postural instability, and lack of facial expressions

Onset is usually gradual (occasionally rapid)

Other changes such as depression, sleep disturbance,constipation, difficulty chewing, speaking and swallowing

Usually affects people over 50 - Michael J. Fox as diagnosed in1991 at the age of 30

About the Michael J. Fox Foundation

Founded by Michael in 2000

Dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s Disease and toensuring the development of improved therapies for those livingwith Parkinson’s today through research

More than $142 million funded research since 2000