An Interview with .J.Fox

[Guest guest]

He is such an inspiration

Hug's

Jan xox

The conversation in Esquire with J. Fox

Touched me. He has brought to our attention the

Obstacles faced by many 'un-famous' ordinary

People with Parkinson's disease. Often health

Challenges nudge us to greater authenticity after

(and if) we clear the hurdles of resistance, grief,

And bitterness. So let me share a few of his insights

That prompted me to peace with my flight delay and

Greater acceptance of this moment, right here,

Right now...

Sharing what Mr. Fox refers to as this 'one little thing

In my brain', here are his comments about his life

That awakened mine:

MJF: "If I let it affect everything, it's gonna own everything.

I don't deny it or pretend it's not there, but if I don't allow

It to be bigger than it is, then I can do everything else."

RH reflection: Resistance of what is drains our access to

Happiness. Where we place our focus is what grows

Whatever we perceive to be our reality. This is how our

Choice plays its part in our experience of joy.

MJF: "I can't always control my body the way I want to,

And I can't control when I feel good and when I don't. I

Can control how clear my mind is. And, I can control how

Willing I am to step up if someone needs me."

RH: reflections: Reaching for clarity is the unfolding journey

Of life, and showing up when someone needs us (even

When that someone is our self) is what it is all about.

There is joy and meaning in the crevices, and even in

The obstacles of life, that often go unnoticed or resisted

As we are busy making other plans.

MJF: "My happiness grows in direct proportion to

My acceptance, and in direct proportion to my expectations.

Acceptance is the key to everything. Which isn't to say that

I'm resigned to it, or that I've given up on it, or that I don't

Think I have any effect on the outcome. It's just that, as a

Reality, I get it."

RH reflection: Control of outer circumstances is an illusion,

And the degree of our willingness to accept what is and

To acknowledge and move beyond what is out of our

Control (that we wish were within our control) determines

The degree of our happiness.

MJF: Discipline is just doing the same thing the right way

Whether anyone is looking."

MJF: "No matter how much money you have, you can lose it.

No matter how much fame you have, it doesn't really

Belong to you."

RH reflection: seems to be clear that the expectations

And judgments of others we too often let be the only things

That define us. It is our perception of our self that matters

Most. We need to live from our heart.

MJF: "I have to think of myself as a regular human being.

" Speaking of how he shows up, applying his fame to

Political and health causes, he says, "It's like the barn is

Burning down and you have a bucket of water. I don't

Know how I got the bucket of water, I don't remember

Going to get it, but it's in my hand so I guess I gotta

Throw it."

RH reflections: I applaud all of the extraordinary ordinary

Human beings, including J. Fox and each of you

(me, too), who wake up each morning willing to give life

Another go.

In Joy,

Rhonda

MWL4 TriciaC

03/15/2006

"Geometric Frame Stationary set"

By Kochous Creations