By Randy L. Thurman
When I received my Parkinson’s diagnosis, the world seemed to stop spinning for a moment. Like anyone facing this news, I felt a mix of fear, uncertainty, and grief for the future I’d imagined. But in the days that followed, I discovered something profound: while Parkinson’s wasn’t my choice, how I responded to it absolutely was.
When Parkinson’s enters someone’s life, they face a fundamental decision – will the condition define them, or will they define how they live with it? Those who choose the latter often find it makes all the difference in their journey.
Perhaps no one exemplifies this power of choice better than Michael J. Fox. Diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s at just 29 years old and at the height of his acting career, Fox could have retreated from public life. Instead, he chose a different path. After initially keeping his diagnosis private, he went public in 1998 and transformed his challenge into a mission, establishing The Michael J. Fox Foundation, which has since become one of the largest nonprofit for Parkinson’s research in the world. “I had a choice to make,” Fox has said. “I could either wait for a cure or get busy living.” His decision to approach Parkinson’s with optimism, purpose, and even humor has not only advanced research but inspired millions to see that a diagnosis isn’t destiny.
A positive attitude doesn’t mean ignoring reality or pretending challenges don’t exist. Instead, it means acknowledging them while refusing to give them more power than they deserve. It means finding joy in small victories, gratitude in daily blessings, and humor in life’s unexpected turns.
What’s remarkable is how our attitude ripples outward, touching everyone around us. When I approach each day with optimism, my family and friends respond in kind. They take their cues from me. If I can laugh at my occasional clumsiness or celebrate the good days with enthusiasm, they feel permission to do the same. For example, I’ve become quite philosophical about my handwriting – I tell people it’s not illegible, it’s just written in code only I can decipher (well … most of the time)! My positive outlook gives them strength and reassurance in what could otherwise be an uncomfortable day where nobody wins.
Living with Parkinson’s often means redefining what’s a winning day. Some days, it’s accomplishing everything on a to-do list. Other days, it’s simply appreciating the sunshine streaming through a window or enjoying a conversation with a friend. Both are victories worth celebrating in their own right.
The greatest gift we can give ourselves and our loved ones is the decision to face each day with courage and grace. This doesn’t mean we never struggle or feel frustrated – we do, and we will. But it does mean that after those difficult moments, we choose to get back up and move forward with hope rather than despair.
Parkinson’s may change how we move through the world, but it needn’t change who we are at our core or what matters most to us. In fact, many find it clarifies priorities and deepens appreciation for life’s precious moments that might otherwise go unnoticed.
Each morning when I wake up, I make a conscious choice about my attitude. Some days it’s harder than others. Some days it’s bloody hard, but it’s always my decision to make. I’ve found that approaching life with gratitude and humor doesn’t just make my journey with Parkinson’s more bearable – it makes it meaningful, even beautiful at times. And in those moments when my hands won’t stop shaking, I remind myself that I’m just enthusiastically applauding this wonderful, unpredictable life I’ve been given. After all, attitude isn’t just something we have – it’s something we choose each and every day.