Once in a while, the YouTube algorithm will get it right. I will be watching something, and when it ends, the recommended videos will include a clip which sparks my interest.
It happened a few weeks ago. I forget what I had been been watching, it’s not really important.
The suggested video was an interview with actor Michael J. Fox. In it, Jane Pauley talked with Fox about his life with Parkinson’s. I am always wary of these videos turning into inspiration porn. However, I thought this was well done for the most part. If you would like to see the video, you can watch it for yourself here.
At the end of the video, Fox describes how he maintains his positive attitude in the face of a progressive neuromuscular disease. This is a question often asked of people like me and Fox who live with serious disabilities. The answer he provided is one I also ascribe to.
With gratitude, optimism is sustainable.
I use gratitude lists to help me get through dark times, as I have written about in many earlier blog posts. I find optimism by counting my blessings. I have no control over much of what happens with my disability. I can’t control the speed at which my muscles deteriorate. I can do my best to preserve what function I have, but I know I will continue to decline over time.
What I can control, what all of us can control, is how we react to the activities in our lives which challenge us. Do we choose to wallow in self-pity for days on end or do we decide to tackle the unknown one small bit at a time? Do we ignore the support of others and try to fix a problem on our own, or do we reach out and ask others for help? Are we vulnerable in our need, or do we shelter ourselves due to fear of rejection?
There are times when I may do all of those things. I make poor decisions. I wait too long to ask others for assistance due to my stubborn need to prove I can manage independently. I have been known to shut out the world for an afternoon of feeling sorry for myself while indulging in a pint of mint chocolate chip ice cream instead of calling a friend.
However, underneath it all I am an eternal optimist who is always grateful things aren’t as bad as they could be. When I have had enough sulking, the way I pull myself out is to start a new gratitude list. It is what got me through the emergency room after I broke my femur. Gratitude lists made it possible for me to endure the long wait for independent mobility when I bought a new accessible van. Well, that plus antidepressant medication. I mean, gratitude lists can’t do everything!
But, they can help you shift your mindset from one of misery to one of optimism. If you don’t believe me, listen to Michael. With gratitude, optimism is sustainable.