New Year's resolution: Meet Michael J. Fox

Michael J. Fox is one of my heroes. This is not because he is famous or one of the world’s great actors, although he is very good. It is because he uses the power of his celebrity to do good in the world. He also maintains an extraordinary attitude while living with a chronic disease.

A few years ago he wrote a book: "Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist”. What a great book. It is about his life and more importantly about living a happy, productive and full life in spite of living with a chronic illness: Parkinson's disease.

I wrote him a letter and received a form letter in return. Silly me. He probably receives hundreds of letters every day from his fans and my letter was just like all the rest, but not to me! In it I explained that while he may be suffering from "Incurable Optimism", I was living with a condition that is far worse. You see, I have "Chronic Euphoria”. The doctors have told me that I am far too happy for my circumstances and that there is no treatment.

That is what my letter to Michael J. Fox was about.  Not your typical fan mail. I would love for him to read it and, if the opportunity is made available, would love to meet him. I am hoping that somehow, someway we can get this letter to him. So I am asking for your help. If you happen to know that "McFly" guy, or knows someone who does, would you please pass my letter on to him? The letter is posted below.

LESSON: If you don't ask, you don't get.

I will let you know what happens….and thank you.

Dear Michael;

While you may be suffering from Incurable Optimism, I live with Chronic Euphoria. The doctors have told me that I am far too happy for my circumstances and there is nothing they can do.

                                     

My condition is a challenge for me. I have to wake up happy everyday and am not able to see my world as a glass that is half-full. Instead my glass is always over-flowing. I have more blessings than I can begin to count and have had to hire a new accountant to help me do that.

Next week I am seeing a cardiologist because my heart is always full. Then, I am going to the ophthalmologist because I seem to be having a problem with my perspective.

Clearly, my condition is much worse than yours……..don’t you think?

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. When I heard about your upcoming show, immediately I wanted to write to you and say “Me too”. Like you, I live with a disease, multiple sclerosis, that has greatly affected my physical abilities. Yet living with a disability has taught me about gratitude, much more than I ever could have learned in a life without incident. Again like you, these past several years have been some of the happiest years of my life.

We are not alone. I have found many people, often severely impaired by their disability, who have discovered the key to waking up happy every day of their life: GRATITUDE. That is my theory and philosophy. I imagine that yours is similar.

I also have a confession to make. You are one of my heroes. I say that because you have and continue to use the power of celebrity to do good in the world.  You are a visible representation to the world of what it means to be alive, functioning and living with a disability. My goals is to increase the visibility of disability. You do that today.

I am not in the entertainment business, but have met a number of celebrities over the years. Truthfully, I am not impressed by someone because of their status. But, rather who they are as a person, who they are in the world. You, sir, are someone who impresses me. If the opportunity was made available, I would be thrilled and honored to meet you.

With warmest regards and my very best wishes,

Michael B. Gerber

Cell (213) 804-1249

michaelbgerber@gmail.com

www.mgerber.blogspot.com – “Perspective Is Everything”

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